Custody (2023) — Movie Review

In "Custody", police constable Shiva (Naga Chaitanya) has the task of safeguarding an important witness and criminal, Raju (Arvind Swami), from imminent threats to his life. The catch? All of this must be complete within a tight timeframe.

Upon hearing the fundamental premise of "Custody", parallels may draw to other films involving high-stakes scenarios. However, director Venkat Prabhu strives to distinguish his narrative by focusing on the protagonist's personal journey amidst the escalating tension.

Shiva (Naga Chaitanya) is a dedicated constable with a strong sense of duty and integrity. He is so into his principles that he wouldn't hesitate to stop a Chief Minister's convoy to allow an ambulance to pass. Together with his partner, Revathi (Krithi Shetty), they dream of tying the knot soon. Despite his diligent work and good intentions, Shiva often feels undervalued in his personal and professional life. This changes dramatically when he encounters Raju (Arvind Swami) and becomes committed to safeguarding him, despite Raju's criminal past.

"Custody" truly shines when it zeroes in on the plot. The first half primarily revolves around developing Shiva's character and establishing the world he inhabits. We see the challenges he faces, including the prejudice of his girlfriend's parents and his boss's doubts about his abilities. However, the pace can feel sluggish at times. The sporadic songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja and Yuvan Shankar Raja sometimes interrupt the narrative flow. The excessive focus on Shiva's backstory and love life doesn't always seem to serve the plot. Particularly, when director Venkat unveils major plot twists.

The film's latter half maintains a more consistent pace, and while the inclusion of Ramki's cameo during an action scene adds an interesting twist, tighter editing could have made the narrative more cohesive. Scenes featuring IG Natraj (Sarathkumar) and the emotional moments with Jiiva seem disjointed from the overall story, while Vennela Kishore as Prem and Premgi Amaren provide a humorous meta scene. Raju's character could have been developed further, but the director's focus remains on Shiva.

Nevertheless, "Custody" shines with its impressive fight sequences, credited to Mahesh Mathew. Particularly noteworthy are a one-take fight in a police station and another on an open ground. Additional praise goes to Abburi Ravi's dialogue, Ilaiyaraaja and Yuvan Shankar Raja's background score, and SR Kathir's cinematography, all contributing significantly to the film's overall appeal. The cast, including Goparaju Ramana, Priyamani, and Ramki, give commendable performances, even in limited screen time. However, the primary weight of the movie rests on Naga Chaitanya, Krithi Shetty, and Arvind Swami, and they carry it off admirably. The end credits featuring the Jagada Jagada remix manage to grab attention.

While the plot of "Custody" might be predictable and some characters could have been fleshed out better, if you appreciate action dramas with an emotional undertone, this film will cater to your tastes.