Ashwath Marimuthu brings out Pradeep Ranganathan’s role as the voice of the middle-class youth, offering a timely and much-needed story in an era where unemployment, social media envy, and a deep sense of discontent have taken hold of the younger generation.
There’s something effortlessly authentic and relatable about actor-director Pradeep Ranganathan that makes it easy to see him as an impressionable Tamil middle-class youth. In Love Today, where he not only directed but also starred, Pradeep left a lasting mark as the lovable, flawed boy-next-door, capturing the pulse of the times. Now, with Dragon — a story written by Pradeep himself and directed by Ashwath Marimuthu — it’s clear that Pradeep is staying true to his strengths. Dragon is a well-crafted mix of engaging storytelling and commercial elements, and it has the potential to elevate Pradeep to the status of the ‘Tamil Jesus’ — a relatable figure for the middle-class youth, torn between lofty dreams and the harsh reality that seems to shut them down.
Pradeep exudes even more confidence in Dragon than he did in Love Today, and it’s fascinating to see, especially since the character he portrays is a stark contrast to the actor-director we’ve come to know. Under Ashwath’s direction, the character of D. Ragavan is painted as both repulsive and oddly amusing — a deeply flawed individual who mooches off his working friends and lies to his parents about his job situation. When his girlfriend Keerthi (Anupama Parameswaran) dumps him because of his reckless, aimless lifestyle, Ragavan reacts violently, even attempting to choke her. This moment reflects a disturbing truth — he’s a young man conditioned to think such behavior is acceptable.
This young man allows his sense of self-worth to hinge entirely on his romantic relationship, convinced that he’s only truly successful if he’s in one. Ragavan is an aimless, lost soul who only takes stock of his life when his romantic dreams come crashing down. It’s as if he views his life as incomplete without a partner, which is why the rejection from his high school crush cuts him deeply, while his impressive achievements — a gold medal in Computer Science and a 96% GPA — feel irrelevant. When Ananya rationalizes that girls are drawn to bad boys, Ragavan completely reinvents himself for college, adopting the persona of Dragon (DRagavan), the classic Tamil cinema “college don.” His recklessness even leads him to abandon his engineering degree after a confrontation with his principal, Mayilvahanan (played by Mysskin in a notably grounded role).
This time, when Ragavan’s girlfriend Keerthi breaks up with him, he becomes determined to prove her wrong by becoming ‘successful’ — specifically, earning a rupee more than her future fiancé. Once again, his pursuit takes a dark turn as he resorts to unethical means to secure a job. Miraculously, his gamble pays off, catapulting him to a level of success and social status he never anticipated. In the process, he even becomes engaged to a kind-hearted woman, Pallavi (Kayadu Lohar).
Dragon (Tamil)
Director: Ashwath Marimuthu
Cast: Pradeep Ranganathan, Anupama Parameswaran, Mysskin, Kayadu Lohar
Runtime: 157 minutes
Storyline: A young man’s crooked path to success leads him into trouble, putting his relationships, career, and family in jeopardy.
Much like Sivakarthikeyan’s 2022 film Don (which shares several thematic similarities with Ashwath’s Dragon), stories like this are crucial, especially in a time when youth are grappling with unemployment, social media-induced envy, and a pervasive sense of dissatisfaction. The inclusion of a key dialogue between Harshath’s character and Ragavan about ‘boomer advice’ becomes even more significant in this context, as younger generations seem to be increasingly desensitized to genuine emotions and traditional guidance.
Ragavan’s journey offers a modern twist, serving as a counterpoint to the typical Tamil college dramas that glorify the bravado and swagger of their heroes. For those who were late to understand what gethu truly means or those who wish they could go back and change their college experiences, they’ll likely resonate with the message Ashwath presents in Dragon.
