Synopsis: When Motivation Turns Macabre
In School, director Antony tackles a bold theme: the dark consequences of toxic motivation in academic environments. The film follows Principal Nambirajan (played by Bucks), an overzealous educator who believes his self-authored motivational book Mindset of Success holds the key to every student’s future. But when his school becomes haunted by the spirits of students who allegedly died under pressure, it sets off a bizarre chain of supernatural events—complete with combusting books, ghostly apparitions, and mysterious numbers scrawled on school walls.
Performances: Veterans Trying to Salvage the Chaos
Bucks delivers a sincere performance as the obsessive principal, maintaining a straight face even as the plot veers into absurdity. Chaams, as his clueless assistant, provides some comic relief, albeit in a predictable manner. KS Ravikumar, playing the skeptical cop Kaleshwaran, tries to inject gravitas into the chaos, especially when his own son goes missing.
Yogi Babu and Bhumika, although competent, appear far too late in the film, their presence feeling more like a plot patch than an organic development.
Tone & Genre Confusion: A Haunted Lecture Hall
The biggest challenge School faces is its tonal inconsistency. It swings between mild comedy, horror, and melodrama, making it hard to invest emotionally. Is it a satire on academic pressure? A paranormal thriller? A cautionary tale? The film seems unsure.
Even the message about student suicides and mental health, though timely and important, is delivered in a jarring, almost careless manner. Moments meant to be impactful are often undercut by out-of-place humor or cartoonish special effects.
Direction & Screenplay: A Manual in Mayhem
The idea of a motivational book becoming a cursed object is intriguing—but poorly developed. The Mindset of Success, at 500 pages, becomes a literal and metaphorical burden. Its presence throughout the film is more comedic than inspiring, unintentionally becoming a symbol of everything the film tries (and fails) to take seriously.
Scenes that should evoke fear or empathy instead inspire confusion or laughter, thanks to outdated visual effects and inconsistent pacing. The exorcist’s arrival—dressed like a 90s action hero—is the tipping point where logic completely surrenders to spectacle.
Technical Aspects: Stuck in a Time Loop
Visually, School looks like it was made two decades ago. The cinematography lacks finesse, and the production design feels amateurish. Ilaiyaraaja’s music, a rare highlight, adds emotional depth in fleeting moments—but even the maestro can’t rescue this mess.
Final Thoughts: A Lesson in What Not to Do
School had the potential to be a powerful film about the dangers of academic pressure and blind ambition. Unfortunately, its confused storytelling, outdated visuals, and tonal chaos bury its message beneath layers of unintentional absurdity. Despite moments of humor and some veteran performances, it ends up being a disjointed mix of haunted house horror and motivational spoof.
Verdict:
“School tries to teach a lesson about ambition and mental health, but ends up being a crash course in bad execution.”
Short Verdict:
“A well-meaning tale about academic pressure and mental health, lost in its clumsy execution and tonal confusion.”
” ஸ்கூல் ”
நடிகர், நடிகைகள் :
யோகி பாபு – கனகவேல்
பூமிகா சாவ்லா – அன்பரசி
கே எஸ் ரவிக்குமார்- இன்ஸ்பெக்டர் காளீஸ்வரன்
பகவதி பெருமாள் (பக்ஸ்)- பிரின்ஸ்பால் நம்பிராஜன்
சாம்ஸ் – அசிஸ்டன்ட் பிரின்ஸ்பால் மன்மதன்
நிழல்கள் ரவி – மஸ்தான்
ஆர்.கே வித்யாதரன்- உலகநாத சுவாமி
தொழில்நுட்ப கலைஞர்கள் :
இசை மற்றும் பாடல்கள் – இசைஞானி இளையராஜா
ஒளிப்பதிவு : ஆதித்யா கோவிந்தராஜ்.
எடிட்டிங் : ராகவ் அர்ஸ்
கலை : ஶ்ரீதர்
ஸ்கிரிப்ட் கன்சல்ட்ண்ட் : V. நிவேதா
விளம்பர வடிவமைப்பு : சதீஷ் J
மக்கள் தொடர்பு : புவன் செல்வராஜ்
இணை தயாரிப்பு : K. மஞ்சு
தயாரிப்பு : Quantum Film Factory R.K.வித்யாதரன்.
கதை, திரைக்கதை, வசனம் எழுதி இயக்கியிருக்கிறார் R.K. வித்யாதரன்.
