Captain Miller review: Dhanush, Arun Matheshwaran bring a well-crafted revolutionary tale
“Captain Miller” is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language action-adventure film directed by Arun Matheswaran and produced by Sathya Jyothi Films. Serving as the first installment of a planned trilogy, the movie features Dhanush in the title role, supported by a cast including Shiva Rajkumar, Priyanka Arul Mohan, Aditi Balan, Sundeep Kishan, Edward Sonnenblick, and John Kokken.
The film’s premise revolves around Analeesan “Eesa,” a former British soldier known as Captain Miller, who embarks on a mission to protect people from British atrocities after witnessing a disturbing incident. The narrative is set in the 1930s, providing a backdrop for the action-adventure.
Cast:
- Dhanush as Analeesan “Easa” / Captain Miller
- Shiva Rajkumar as Sengolan
- Sundeep Kishan as Rafi
- Priyanka Arul Mohan as Velmathi
- Aditi Balan
- Edward Sonnenblick
- John Kokken
- Nivedhithaa Sathish
- Vinoth Kishan
- Nassar
- Alexx O’Nell
- Elango Kumaravel as Kannaya
- Viji Chandrasekhar
- Kaali Venkat as Kumastha Kanagasabai
- “Merku Thodarchi Malai” Antony
- Bala Saravanan
- Jayaprakash
- Bose Venkat
- Swayam Siddha
- Sumesh Moor
- Amir Ali Shaik
Production:
- The film was conceptualized in 2018, with Sathya Jyothi Films initially set to produce it.
- Officially announced in July 2022, principal photography commenced in September 2022 and concluded by late 2023, covering locations in Chennai, Tirunelveli, and Tenkasi.
- G. V. Prakash Kumar composed the music, Siddhartha Nuni handled cinematography, and Nagooran Ramachandran edited the film.
Development:
- Arun Matheswaran began writing the script in 2018, intending to cast Dhanush in the lead role.
- The film was tentatively titled D47 (Dhanush’s 47th film) before officially being named “Captain Miller” in July 2022.
- The director aimed to create an action-adventure on a massive budget without item songs, drawing inspiration from Tom Hanks’s character in “Saving Private Ryan” (1998).
Casting:
- Arun initially wrote the script without a specific actor in mind but later felt Dhanush would be perfect for the role of Captain Miller.
- Priyanka Arul Mohan, Sundeep Kishan, Shiva Rajkumar, and others joined the cast through 2022 and 2023.
- American actor Edward Sonnenblick made his Tamil debut with this film.
Filming:
- Principal photography started in September 2022 and concluded in October or November 2023.
- Shooting locations included Chennai, Tirunelveli, and Tenkasi, with specific sets erected for crucial scenes.
- Some filming scenes were leaked, leading to temporary halts and public concerns, but the team addressed the issues and resumed filming.
Music:
- G. V. Prakash Kumar composed the soundtrack and film score, collaborating with Dhanush for the seventh time.
- Saregama acquired the music label, and several singles, including “Killer Killer,” “Un Oliyile,” “Koranaaru,” “Kombari Vettapuli,” and “Rise of Miller,” were released leading up to the film’s release on 12 January 2024.
Release:
- “Captain Miller” released worldwide on 12 January 2024, coinciding with the Pongal festival, in standard and IMAX formats.