The Tamil sports drama Test, which was released on Netflix on April 4, 2025, is streaming with Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam dubbing. Directed by S. Sasikanth, the film stars R. Madhavan, Nayanthara, Siddharth, and Meera Jasmine in the lead roles. Did this story, which revolves around human relationships and ethical dilemmas in the context of cricket, thrill me, connect me emotionally, or bore me? Let me tell you about my feelings, movie highlights, and shortcomings in this review
What is the story?
The lives of three characters—Arjun (Siddharth), Kumuda (Nayanthara), and Saravanan (R. Madhavan)—intertwine with each other in the backdrop of an India-Pakistan Test match in Chennai. Arjun is a former star cricketer, but now he has lost his form and is under pressure to retire. He dreams of ending his career with dignity and excelling in this match. His wife Padma (Meera Jasmine) and son Aadi support him. On the other hand, Kumuda dreams of becoming a school teacher and mother through IVF, but financial problems and her husband Saravanan's focus on his project disturb her. Saravanan, a scientist with a double PhD from MIT, gets into debt and gets caught up in ethical dilemmas to get his hydro-fuel project approved. How do the lives of these three people intertwine between match-fixing, personal dreams and family responsibilities? Who will win their test? This is the story.
My Feelings: A good start, but a flat finish!
Shortly after the film started, seeing Arjun's cricket pressure, Kumuda's desire for IVF, and Saravanan's struggle for the project, I felt, "Wow, this is going to be new and emotional!" In the first half, the character buildup, cricket scenes, and Saravanan-Kumuda dynamics were very engaging. Especially, the scenes where Saravanan deals with loan sharks for debts, and the scenes where Arjun is under pressure for a place in the team seemed realistic. "This film will be a good thriller!" I thought.
But, in the second half, the story lost its groove. The script became drawn out and dull with predictable twists. The match-fixing angle and Saravanan's character transformation seemed forced. "Wow, they set up so well, but why did they end it like this?" I felt. Kumuda and Arjun's characters lack emotional depth. The 2 hours and 25 minutes runtime felt too long. The Telugu dubbing quality was so-so, Madhavan's voice dubbing did not sound natural. Overall, despite the star cast and promising premise, the screenplay flaws stopped the film halfway.
Technical aspects, acting
Viraj Singh Gohil's cinematography is a plus for the film. The cricket scenes shot at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai looked authentic and professional. In one scene, the scene shot with red lighting between Saravanan and Arjun was visually impressive. Shaktisree Gopalan's music was so-so, and the BGM could not elevate the emotional scenes. T.S. Suresh's editing could have been tighter, the second half felt stretched. YNOT Studios' production values are decent.
R. Madhavan scores as Saravanan in the acting department. His grey shade character, especially in the desperation scenes in the second half, makes you feel like, "Whammo, Madhavan is acting!" Nayanthara does well as Kumuda in some emotional scenes, but her character couldn't create that much impact in the script. Siddharth as Arjun captures the stubborn, arrogant vibe well, but his character's emotional arc feels subdued. Meera Jasmine is decent as Padma in her limited screen time, but her role is underutilized. Nassar and other supporting cast are a waste.
Likes and Dislikes
Likes:
Madhavan's performance—His grey shade as Saravanan, the desperation scenes were great.
Cricket scenes—The sequences shot in the Chennai stadium were authentic and visually impressive.
Nayanthara's few scenes—She did well in the emotional moments.
Cinematography—Viraj Singh Gohil's visuals, especially the red lighting scene, were impressive.
Premise—The concept revolving around human relationships and ethical dilemmas seemed fresh.
Dislikes:
Weak screenplay—The second half was stretched, unexpected twists, and lacked emotional depth.
Slow pace—The runtime of 2 hours and 25 minutes was boring.
Telugu dubbing—Madhavan's voice dubbing lacks naturalness, translation is so-so.
Underutilized cast—Meera Jasmine, Nassar, supporting roles are a waste.
Music—Shaktisree Gopalan's score fails to elevate the emotional scenes.
Who can watch it?
Test is a decent watch for those who like cricket dramas, character-driven stories, and ethical dilemmas. Fans of Madhavan, Nayanthara, and Siddharth may like it for their performances. With a U/A certificate, there are match-fixing and emotional dilemmas in some scenes, so it will suit youth and Tamil movie lovers. However, this slow drama may bore family audiences and those who expect fast-paced thrillers. It is available on Netflix with Telugu dubbing, so those who want to watch it lightly on the weekend can try it, but don't expect a blockbuster experience.
Rating: 2.5/5
Test impressed with the performances of Madhavan, Nayanthara, and Siddharth, and with Viraj Singh Gohil's visuals. Although the premise revolving around cricket and ethical dilemmas seems fresh, the slow pace, weak screenplay, and lack of emotional connect make the film dull. You can watch it once on Netflix for the star cast, but you will miss the “mind-blowing” feeling.
Release Date: April 4, 2025 (Netflix)
Streaming: Netflix (Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam)
Director: S. Sasikanth
Cast: R. Madhavan, Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine
Music: Shaktisri Gopalan
Cinematography: Viraj Singh Gohil