Madhavan & Nayanthara Test’s The Patience

When you hear the names Madhavan, Nayanthara, and Siddharth, expectations naturally soar. With a star-studded cast like that, curiosity is a given—and when the film is just a click away on Netflix, it's even more tempting. Originally intended for a theatrical release, Test, directed by S. Shashikanth, eventually made its way to OTT after multiple delays. A sports drama with emotional undertones, the film generated buzz—but sadly, it didn’t live up to it.

The story centers on Kumud (Nayanthara), a teacher, and Saravanan (Madhavan), a scientist. The couple, struggling with infertility, are pursuing surrogacy. Meanwhile, Arjun (Siddharth), a once-promising cricketer, is battling poor form and fighting to keep his place in the Indian team. Their worlds collide when Arjun’s son is kidnapped by Saravanan, pulling them into a murky underworld of match-fixing and betting syndicates—tied to a high-stakes India vs. Pakistan Test match. But the big mystery remains: how are these people connected, and why?

While the premise hints at something gripping, the execution falters. Director Shashikanth fails to weave a compelling narrative, and the emotional beats fall flat. The pacing drags, and scenes that should hit hard barely register. Despite committed performances from the lead trio, the lack of depth in character development and a meandering screenplay make the film feel more like an endurance test than an engaging watch.

In the end, Test becomes a misfire—ambitious in setup but weak in delivery. And unfortunately, it’s the audience who ends up losing this match.