Bharatiraja could not be accused of sticking to the same formula in his movies, even early in his career. Just when he was being branded as a 'village director', he made the slick thriller Sigappu Rojakkal with Kamalhassan as a psychopathic killer. Tik Tik Tik marks his second such urban thriller with Kamalhassan again in the lead. While not as pathbreaking or surprising as Sigappu Rojakkal, this movie too has its moments.

Oberoi(Shyamsundar), a wealthy businessman, has identified an innovative method of smuggling in diamonds from abroad. He sends beautiful women to foreign lands at his own expense. Once abroad, the unsuspecting women are operated upon and the diamond is inserted into their bodies. Back home they are once again abducted, operated upon to extract the diamond and then killed. Now he has selected Sharada(Madhavi), a dancer, Radha(Radha), a model and Swapna(Swapna), a pop singer for this purpose. Due to his closeness with the three women, Dilip(Kamalhassan), professional photographer, becomes the main suspect as Swapna and then Radha are killed by Oberoi's men.

For a thriller, the movie does not boast of many surprises or twists. The identity of the villain, his modus operandi for smuggling the diamonds and the reason the models are being targeted and killed are all revealed within a few reels. Kamal being caught in the middle of all this and trying desperately to clear his name is what the movie is all about. Considering this, the movie manages to introduce a fair amount of tension into the proceedings. Kamal's attempt to escape from Swapna's apartment and Radha's unsuccessful attempt to reach Kamal are scenes where the tension is ratcheted up. The way Kamal hides behind Oberoi's secretary when she is being killed is another clever scene.

Considering that Bharatiraja is an old hand at romance, the romance between Kamal and Madhavi here is cliched. There are some nice touches, especially in the picturisation of the Poo Malarndhida... song sequence, but the fight between them and the resulting thick beard on Kamal's face are entirely cinematic. Making their final patchup similar to their initial meeting is a clever touch but the following car chase and the moments in the car surrounded by barking dogs seem long and unnecessary.

The coincidences get bigger and the proceedings get more cinematic as the movie progressses. Thiagarajan's attempted murder of Kamalhassan when he is being chased by the police and has no inkling about the people behind the killings seems unnecessary. Similarly, the way he finds out about the man behind it all is laughable. The chases in the mansion are routine.

Kamalhassan spends a lot of time running. If he is not on the run from the police or villains, he is running away from Madhavi or her dog! He is impressive, especially when expressing his confusion after seeing Swapna dead. Madhavi, one of the few Tamil heroines to look flattering and not vulgar in a two-piece bikini, overacts just a little during the initial portions. Radha looks unglamorous and nothing like the heroine who ruled Tamil cinema just a few years down the road. Shyamsundar makes a credible villain with his shifty eyes and smile. Ilaiyaraja's songs are nothing short of classics. Netru Indha Neram... and Idhu Oru Nilakkaalam... are melodious while sounding modern.