Tunnel movie review: Atharvaa and Ashwin shine in gripping cop drama

Tunnel is a tense night patrol thriller where six rookie cops face a dangerous revenge plot. Atharvaa delivers a steady performance while Ashwin Kakamanu stands out as the menacing antagonist. Despite uneven pacing, the film offers gripping police-versus-villain drama

When six fresh police recruits are asked to head out on a night round even before their official joining orders are issued, they hardly expect their first task to turn life-altering.

Their patrol takes them into a settlement that looks like a puzzle of alleys, where something sinister is brewing. Among them is Atharvaa’s character, who quickly finds himself at the centre of a chilling game between men in uniform and a dangerous figure from the past.

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The film Tunnel moves between timelines, beginning in 2016 with a police encounter in which officers gun down a gang of bank robbers. A year later, a mysterious figure (Ashwin Kakamanu) emerges, targeting those officers one by one. The recruits’ seemingly routine patrol collides with this cycle of vengeance, pulling Atharvaa into a spiral of fear, survival and moral questions.

Tunnel keeps a certain sense of mystery alive. While parts of the first half lean on humour and a slower build-up, the second half picks up intensity, especially as the layers of the antagonist’s back story unfold.

Atharvaa shoulders the story with energy and a grounded performance, but it is Ashwin Kakamanu who leaves a stronger impression. His sinister yet sensitive portrayal gives the film a powerful antagonist. Lavanya Tripathi, though underused, does her best with the limited scope she is given.

Tunnel is not without its bumps. It tries to pack in romance, comedy, drama and social messaging all at once. Yet, when the focus is on the cat-and-mouse tension between Atharvaa and Ashwin Kakamanu, it delivers moments of real impact.

As a thriller with a social edge, the film engages more often than it falters, making it a worthwhile watch for those looking for a gripping police-versus-villain drama with a different flavour.