Test Movie Review: Madhavan and Siddharth struggle to elevate this promising drama

Test Movie Review

'Test' begins with a compelling concept that holds promise—exploring ambition, morality, and emotional conflict through a dramatic storyline. But what starts off strong quickly loses direction in the second half.

 Promising premise undone by a misguided climax

The plot veers into implausibility, with the climax feeling particularly misjudged. R. Madhavan’s character blaming Nayanthara’s character for his downfall is not only jarring but also tone-deaf, undermining the emotional intelligence the film initially suggests. The contrast between the so-called hero and zero, both supported by strong women, could have made for an interesting premise. Instead, the message feels muddled, and the resolution, misplaced. The film begins with purpose but ends in contradiction, leaving the audience more baffled than moved.

A plot with a convoluted conflict

The story of 'Test' centers on Arjun Venkatraman (Siddharth), a once-promising cricketer now on the brink of being dropped from the national team due to a prolonged slump in form. Parallelly, the film follows Kumudha (Nayanthara), a dedicated schoolteacher whose father once coached Arjun. Kumudha is married to Sarvanan, an MIT graduate struggling to get his hydro-fuel invention recognized by the state. Following a miscarriage, Kumudha is desperate to conceive and begins exploring IVF treatment, which comes with significant financial strain. As Sarvanan sinks deeper into debt after borrowing from a ruthless loan shark named Kutty, he finds himself cornered. In a moment of desperation, he hatches a plan—to kidnap Arjun’s son during a crucial test match, hoping the ransom will solve both his personal and professional crises. The plots revolving around Arjun and Sarvanan are ambitious but lack cohesion, and the tension never quite escalates in a meaningful way.

Shallow character arcs

While the stakes are high, the emotional gravity of the film is lost due to underdeveloped character arcs. Siddharth’s portrayal of Arjun is unidirectional—his interactions with family lack nuance, and his inner turmoil is barely explored. Madhavan’s shift from a frustrated inventor to a desperate kidnapper feels rushed and unconvincing, especially when the reveal about never wanting a child is casually thrown in at the climax. These should have been pivotal, cathartic moments. Instead, they pass by without resonance. By failing to build internal conflict, the film misses its chance to make the audience care about the choices its characters make.

Performances struggle under the weight of weak writing

Madhavan tries to inject energy into his unravelling character, but without the script to support him, it ends up feeling theatrical rather than terrifying. It feels odd to still see him channelling his ‘Shaitaan’ mode. Siddharth delivers a steady performance, but this film needed more emotional variation than he provides. Nayantara and Meera Jasmine bring authenticity to their roles, anchoring the chaos around them with realism and quiet strength. Yet they remain underutilized, despite having the emotional core the film sorely needs.

A fatigued drama that fizzles out

'Test' could have delivered a tense emotional drama with social undertones, but extended runtime and muddled storytelling dilute its impact. A potentially rich thread between Siddharth and Nayantara’s characters, referred to as childhood friends, is introduced and then forgotten. The final monologue, where Madhavan shifts the blame onto his wife and holds her responsible for his choices, is particularly tough to digest and leaves a sour aftertaste. It’s unfortunate because the film clearly aspires to say something meaningful.

Cast: R Madhavan, Nayanthara, and Siddharth

Director: S Sashikanth

Rating: 3/5