Arulnithi's varied selection of scripts continues and K-13 is the latest addition to that list. This Barath Neelakantan directorial is an intense thriller that has hit the screens today, May 3. Mathiyazhagan (Arulnithi) and Malarvizhi (Shraddha Srinath) get locked inside a single apartment and Mathi doesn't know how he ended up there. Things look puzzled for him as his only companion in the room, Malarvizhi is unconscious.

Arulnithi, as Mathi, holds the film with his intense acting that gives him a high scope to perform. The talented actor instils the tension in the viewers through his acting and he tries his best to do justice to the character of Mathiyazhagan. He also brings out the hardships of a failed filmmaker who struggles to make his first film. The actor inside Shraddha is neatly explored and her presence is there throughout the film. Her character happens to be the core essence of the film. She emotes the guilt, greed, and frustration in a neat manner.

Yogi Babu, Ramesh Thilak, Rishikanth, Jaangri Madhumitha, and Eruma Saani Vijay come in brief appearances. Despite having just one scene, director Adhik Ravichandran is impressive and he scores with just that one scene. The main protagonists of the film have a writer's background that suffices the proceedings in an exciting manner. More than anyone else, a person who is attracted towards writing and literature, will have a special connection with the film. The characteristic features of a writer are neatly explored and explained by Barath Neelakantan through his characters and the film showcases the eccentricity of a writer.

The final 15 minutes of the film will keep you uptight and glued to the seats, which uplifts the overall movie watching experience. There is a certain amount of smartness that you see coming out of Barath Neelakantan as a writer and he is definitely a very good writer. The director inside him also succeeds to an extent, but there is a tinge of lack in executing the scenes to the screen. Barath also inserts dialogues about assistant directors and his love for cinema through the gaps and situations where he gets to. The guessing game of finding Mr X is interesting and that leads the film from the front.

The audience's intelligence is tested with the screenplay writing and the film demands 100% attention of the viewer as you might miss the flow even if the slightest of the things aren't noticed. The scene between Adhik, Gayathrie, and Shraddha is one beautifully written and executed scene that has some intense moments. The short runtime of just 1 hour and 40 odd minutes is a positive for the film as anything more than this could have reduced the impact. One can tell that K-13 is a no-nonsense thriller that respects its audience.

On the downside, the film's engagement factor is quite less and you need to give it the time and space to establish the characters and the conflict. There are a few cinematic liberties taken to keep the momentum going as the logic takes a backseat at places. The narrative gets complex and confusing in the second half when things unfold one by one. Too many things happen within a short period of time. However, towards the end, the director brings the audience back on track.

Also, there is a possibility of people getting the deja-vu feels after the climax as the Kollywood audience have seen similar endings in the past. The scene between Yogi Babu and Jaangri Madhumitha is an unnecessary commercial addition that neither helps the flow of the film nor evokes laughter.

On the technical front, cinematographer Aravinnd Singh's shot compositions are neat and composed. The usage of dutch angles and fish eye lens is wise and noteworthy. A major part of the film happens inside one single apartment house and the cinematographer plays well with the space given to him. The team has shown some good production value despite the low budget of the film. Composer Sam CS' songs are weak and uninteresting, but his background score helps in keeping the momentum at a good pace. Editor Ruben's cuts are sleak and apt.