Movie: Good Bad Ugly
Rating: 2.25/5
Banner: Mythri Movie Makers
Cast: Ajith Kumar, Trisha Krishnan, Prabhu, Arjun Das, Prasanna, Sunil, Rahul Dev, Yogi Babu, Priya Prakash Varrier, Tinnu Anand, Sayaji Shinde, Jackie Shroff, Simran (guest role) and others
Music: GV Prakash Kumar
DOP: Abinandhan Ramanujam
Editor: Vijay Velukutty
Stunts: Supreme Sundar, Kaloian Vodenicharov
Producers: Naveen Yerneni, Y. Ravi Shankar
Written and Directed by Adhik Ravichandran
Release Date: April 10, 2025
"Good Bad Ugly" marks the Tamil production debut of Mythri Movie Makers, a leading name in the Telugu film industry. Starring Ajith Kumar, the film generated relatively low pre-release buzz in the Telugu market.
Let’s take a look at what the film has to offer.
Story:
AK (Ajith Kumar), once a dreaded gangster known as Red Dragon in Mumbai, gives up his life of crime when his wife Ramya (Trisha) gives birth to their son, Vihaan.
She refuses to let him hold the baby until he returns as a normal man, not a don. Keeping his word, AK renounces his past and agrees to serve an 18-year prison sentence.
With just months left until his release, AK learns that his son Vihaan — now living in Spain with Ramya — has been arrested in a drug case. Both Ramya and AK quickly realize that their son has been framed.
But who orchestrated Vihaan’s arrest? And will AK get out of jail in time to exact revenge?
Artistes’ Performances:
Ajith Kumar has recently been focusing more on roles that emphasize his screen presence and swagger rather than those that demand strong performances. In that regard, this film continues the same trend. One notable aspect is his appearance in multiple avatars — including a younger version of himself, achieved through de-aging technology. His styling and dialogues are tailored to please his fans, and they likely will.
Trisha plays AK’s wife and the mother of a teenage boy. She suits the role well, though her screen time is limited.
Sunil appears as Ajith’s sidekick in a forgettable role. Arjun Das, who plays the main antagonist, starts off on an interesting note. His dance to the Ilaiyaraaja classic "Otharoova" is a fun moment, but beyond that, his character becomes repetitive and tiresome.
Karthikeya Dev, as Ajith’s son Vihaan, makes a good impression. Priya Varrier is passable in her role. Simran’s brief guest appearance might evoke nostalgia for Ajith fans, especially those who fondly remember Vaali.
Technical Excellence:
GV Prakash Kumar stepped in to compose the music after Devi Sri Prasad exited the project. He ended up scoring tunes for songs that had already been shot. Unfortunately, the result is underwhelming — the songs fail to make a lasting impression. Ironically, the old Tamil hits used throughout the film sound fresher than the new compositions.
The production values, cinematography, and action choreography follow the standard template typical of mass entertainers — functional but nothing exceptional.
Highlights:
Style and production values
Ajith Kumar
Drawback:
Over the top narration
Second half
Lack of high moments
Too many slow-motion shots
Analysis
One doesn’t expect much in terms of story or novelty from mass-hero films, especially those starring top stars like Ajith Kumar. Much like Balakrishna’s films in Telugu, Ajith’s movies often prioritize heroism and stylized elevation shots over solid storytelling. The trailer for Good Bad Ugly made that clear — it’s all about Ajith Kumar.
And that’s exactly what the film delivers: one elevation sequence after another. The movie opens with Ajith serving his prison sentence, acting as a night-time enforcer among inmates, and maintaining a bond with a jailor friend who arranges video calls with his son.
From the start, we’re bombarded with flashbacks, declarations of his dreaded gangster past, and his anticipation to reunite with his son after 18 long years. By the end of the first half, whatever little story there is gets wrapped up. The second half is simply Ajith fighting to save his son — but it drags on for over an hour, severely testing the audience’s patience.
There are numerous callbacks to Ajith’s earlier films — references, old songs, and fan-service moments abound. The soundtrack even includes Ilaiyaraaja classics and the “Jamal Kudu” track from Animal.
To truly enjoy these, one either needs to be a die-hard Ajith fan or deeply familiar with Tamil cinema and its references. For Telugu audiences, many of these moments may feel disconnected or tedious.
Ajith’s fans affectionately call him “Thala” — a term repeated throughout the film. At times, he keeps reiterating the “good” and “bad” motif to the point of fatigue. What starts as mildly entertaining fan service quickly becomes overwhelming in the second half.
After the interval, the narrative completely loses direction. Sunil, Redin Kingsley, and Tinnu Anand appear solely to sing praises of Ajith’s gangster persona. There’s even a bizarre sequence where Jackie Shroff fires a machine gun while seated at a massive dining table. With so many characters making fleeting appearances and none having meaningful roles, the entire second half feels like a glorified tribute to Ajith’s style.
Director Adhik Ravichandran clearly intended to cater to Ajith fans — and to some extent, he succeeds. But in doing so, he completely overlooks the importance of a cohesive script and engaging narrative.
In summary, Good Bad Ugly has its moments — both good and bad — but unfortunately, the bad outweighs the good. Particularly for Telugu audiences, much of it fails to connect.
Bottom-line: For AK fans