Makkal Selvan Vijay Sethupathi returns to the big screen with Ace, a Tamil-Telugu bilingual crime-comedy directed by Arumuga Kumar. Released on May 23, 2025, the film also stars Rukmini Vasanth, Yogi Babu, Babloo Prithveeraj, and BS Avinash. Despite its intriguing premise, Ace struggles with weak execution and a lack of engaging storytelling.
The plot follows Bolt Kashi (Vijay Sethupathi), who arrives in Malaysia looking for work. He befriends Jyanam (Yogi Babu), who helps him settle in. Soon, Kashi meets Rukmini, a financially troubled woman, and turns to poker to help her. But things spiral out of control when a gangster named Dharma (BS Avinash) cheats him, forcing Kashi into a desperate bank robbery. What follows is a series of chaotic events lacking coherence or tension.
While Vijay Sethupathi delivers his usual calm and nuanced performance, the character itself is underwritten. Rukmini Vasanth looks convincing but her role lacks depth. Yogi Babu provides some early comic relief, but even that fizzles out by the second half. The supporting cast fits into their roles without leaving a strong impact.
Technically, the film disappoints. The screenplay is sluggish, and the direction lacks spark. The music by Justin Prabhakaran and Sam C.S. is forgettable, and the cinematography by Karan B. Rawat is passable. In the end, Ace turns out to be a dull and forgettable ride, failing to deliver on its genre-blending promise.