Official Trailer:

Netrikann should have been shorter by 30 minutes, should have ended when the killer gets caught. That way even with logic holes and predictable twists, it wouldn’t have been boring. We pretty much wait for the movie to get over. There are only few saving graces. Nayanthara brings out the vulnerability of Durga character well. Specifically, when Durga is stuck on the middle of the road with high traffic (focus is more on her predicament than the traffic whizzing past), and when she encounters the killer alone at the hospital. Manikandan’s character arc is better etched as the derided cop and Manikandan (the actor) has played that role with the right pitch. We root for him more than Durga. Scenes of Durga and Manikandan going about their investigation together did work well. Nayanthara, Manikandan, and Saran Shakthi (as Gowtham) keeps us engaged to some extent.

Netrikann does have a good premise that would have made an interesting investigative thriller, a blind woman cracking and catching a psychopath. Durga and Manikandan would have made an interesting pair of detectives in the hands of a good writer and director. Unfortunately, Netrikann completely misses out in the writing department. There are only few twists. You know a story is not working when you crack the twist much earlier than the protagonist – the delay came across as a deliberate ploy to increase the run time of the movie. Also, the director has conveniently forgotten the fact that we live in 2021. Cops sending Durga to psycho’s den without a phone tracker? DGP level cop involved in interrogation, and it doesn’t occur to no one to search the house of the killer (they give a truth serum instead)? Can’t take a screenshot of WhatsApp video chat to get the identity of the killer? A deadly serial killer locked up in low security prison with only 3 cops? Empty mall, empty metro? Hello?

There are bits thrown in that don’t add anything to the characterization, or narration. Like Durga is with CBI, backstory of the psychopath, name of some medical disorder. When the focus is on how the killer is going to be caught instead of who (the killer is), it needs be backed by strong plot with decent logic, dots need to be connected well, and few WOW moments.