The most entertaining part of Eli comes from seeing Vadivelu deliver the smoking disclaimer before the movie begins. That should be enough to tell you what kind of experience awaits—it’s a lengthy, tedious film that isn't particularly humorous. Director Yuvaraj Dhayalan seems to be aiming for a parody of spy movies, but the filmmaking lacks any sense of comedic timing, and the story, which borrows ideas from films as different as Ragasiya Police 115 and The Departed, feels stretched out, with scenes dragging on endlessly. The narrative centers around law enforcement attempting to apprehend a cigarette smuggling operation led by Nagarajan (Pradeep Rawat), who has managed to evade capture due to a traitor within the police force. Consequently, the commissioner (Adithya) enlists Elisamy, known as Eli (Vadivelu), who once dreamed of becoming a police officer but ended up a minor criminal after being disqualified from the exam for a small technicality, to infiltrate the group, gather evidence against them, and discover the identity of the mole. One of the most frustrating things about Eli is that events unfold without any clear logic. It’s unclear why the film takes place in the 1960s. Perhaps the period setting was intended to automatically inject humor into the proceedings. However, this aesthetic isn't consistently maintained; modern buildings and scenery appear in the background whenever outdoor action occurs. Ironically, the writing itself feels outdated. The villain is smuggling cigarettes—why not diamonds or drugs, like usual? Apparently, it’s meant to convey a message through the film. There’s also a musical number where Vadivelu lip-syncs to Aaradhana's "Mere Sapnon Ki Rani" while romancing Sadaa (who is technically the heroine but doesn't appear until the second half of the movie). Why a Hindi song? It seems the filmmakers believed that Vadivelu singing in Hindi would be funny—but it isn’t. The film features numerous characters who seem to think they are humorous, but instead come across as annoying. The dialogue is meant to elicit instant laughter, yet the delivery is so off that you can count the moments when anyone actually chuckles. As for Vadivelu himself, he's introduced with an entrance typically reserved for a major star, gets to perform action sequences, and tries his best to get laughs, but there’s simply not enough material here for him to truly entertain. Some of his physical comedy is effective, but at times it becomes tiresome (like when he attempts to make faces like a rodent). The film serves as a warning sign for the talented comedian whose career is currently at a critical point.

Source on TMDB