Sashikanth’s “Test” justifies its title. It’s an atrocity to bear throughout, as unbearably elongated in a confused stew of clumsily written, patchy scenes as it is irrepressibly dull. Despite a reliable trio of stars, including Madhavan, Siddharth, and Nayanthara, the film never comes alive. It’s stuck in an overly manufactured, sagging bundle of amateurish scenes underlining its thematic angles of those who are victors and others shunted to being lifelong losers. What does it take for the latter to break out and lunge at making a mark, even if violent and coercive?

Arjun (Siddharth) is a once-shining cricketer who now fears a decisive test match between India and Pakistan. In fact, he doubts his capabilities. But more than him, it’s the executive board of the tournament that shows no confidence in him and has fully retreated. They give him the cue that his time is up. He has to exit the field and make way for the young to step in. Can’t you see you’re fumbling? They prod him. But he holds his ground.

This track runs parallel with the other couple, Kumudha (Nayanthara) and Sarvanan (R. Madhavan). She wants to be a mother, but he’s not as gung-ho about it, only mildly obliging her. He is a drifter who has accumulated a lot of debt. Now she has to clean up his mess, albeit he hides most of it from her. As pragmatic and thoughtful and savvy she is, he is flippant and has his head in the clouds. He’s an engineering graduate who hasn’t found a job. He still pins his dreams and ambitions on a project that will one day have the government’s backing and move into reality.

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