'Diesel' X Review, Netizens Praise Harish Kalyan's Performance In Shanmugam's Action Thriller

Shanmugam Muthusamy’s directorial debut, Diesel, the Tamil action thriller, was released on October 17, 2025. The film starring Harish Kalyan and Athulya Ravi in lead roles is produced by Third Eye Entertainment and SP Cinemas. The action thriller revolves around 'Diesel Vasu' (played by Harish Kalyan), a fisherman whose life becomes entangled in his father, 'Manohar’s' (played by Sai Kumar) diesel smuggling racket. Now that Harish Kalyan has transitioned into an action, let’s have a look at the netizens’ reactions.

Diesel, starring Harish Kalyan as an action hero, struggles to stand out

Shanmugam’s directorial debut, Diesel, is a Tamil action thriller that features a lesser-known world of crude oil smuggling. The film follows 'Diesel Vasu', a young man from a fishing community who becomes part of the diesel mafia gang run by his adoptive father, 'Manohar'. Their illegal business of stealing crude oil from government pipelines disturbs the livelihood of fishermen, and when the government comes into action, 'Vasu' finds himself in a dangerous cat-and-mouse chase.

Despite its strong premise, the action thriller struggles hard to connect emotionally with the audience. A strange subplot featuring a mermaid appearing in the dreams of Athulya Ravi’s character feels disconnected from the main plotline. The film’s narration by Vetri Maaran is informative, but it makes it laggy. Even Tiger Thangavelu, playing 'Vasu’s' clueless associate, leaves the audience confused. While the Tamil action thriller tries to mix social issues and crime drama, it fails to develop them effectively. The unnecessary romantic angle between Harish Kalyan and Athulya Ravi diverted the film from its original storyline.

Netizens' reaction to Harish Kalyan starrer

Soon after the film hit the big screens, movie buffs watched it. In fact, without wasting any time, they also shared their reviews on the action thriller. Taking to their X handle (formerly Twitter), the netizens have reacted to Harish Kalyan starrer. Giving a 3.75 rating out of 5, a user gave an overview of the action thriller. The user wrote:

"There have been many movies that have raised voices to protect forests. This is the first Movie that has called for the protection of marine resources. Director @shan_dir has shown us an unknown world called the Oil mafia. Actor @iamharishkalyan has tried his best to be an action hero in this and succeeded in it. @AthulyaOfficial has no other big job than helping the hero. The role of the villain, suits @VinayRai1809 perfectly like the police uniform. Corporate villain #SachinKhedekar's activities and plans are reminiscent of current businessmen. @dhibuofficial's identity is evident in the song, which has already become a hit, and the appropriate background music. #Diesel has become a Diwali film in that it presents true events in a commercial way."

Lauding the performance of Harish Kalyan, a user wrote, Bold attempt from @iamharishkalyan. It takes guts to deliver such fiery dialogues. Watch "#Diesel before some of the hard-hitting, controversial scenes get trimmed. The core message in the 2nd half is the real highlight. Despite a few flaws, lags & melodrama, Diesel stands out as a film with a strong societal message." Another user penned, "#Diesel races ahead with high-octane action and genuine emotion. @iamharishkalyan commands the screen with fresh confidence. The cinematography adds a raw, realistic texture to the film. Every frame feels energetic & technically strong. Overall, an Excellent commercial entertainer."

What are your thoughts on the movie, Diesel? Let us know.

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