Vettaikaran Movie Review

What could be your expectation levels, when you’ve decided to watch Vijay’s film? An outmost entertainer that can be sparred even with realms of illogical aspects… Definitely, most of his previous films have lacked logics and yet engrossed the audiences with a racy screenplay and amusing ingredients.

But regrettably, some of his recent films overdosed with heroisms failed to reach the degree of our expectations.

Let’s put it this way…. ‘Vettaikaran’ is rigorously for the most ardent worshippers of Vijay, who’re ready to accept if he crushes down a rock with simply with his fists. Naturally, Vijay goes praiseworthy for his ability to evoke laughter sans any accompaniments of comedy actors. This time, he attempts for a different style of dance, which doesn’t involve his hyper-active gymnastic acts.

Debutant Babu Sivan seems to have crafted this story with strictish factors suitable for Vijay alone. His screenplay reminds us more off Vijay’s previous films and there’s nothing to praise about this craftsmanship’s work.

Ravi (Vijay) isn’t actually a devil-may-care youngster as his father (Delhi Ganesh) perceives him to be so. He’s a lofty aspirant of becoming a cop just like Devaraj IPS, who is talk of the town for reducing the crime rates by bumping off gangsters. Both Ravi and Devaraj share similarities, especially about failing 3 consecutive times in +2 exams. Finally, Ravi passes out on the 4th attempt and heads to Chennai for graduation course so that he can be qualified for police job. He hires an auto from his classmate’s father and drives it for his livelihood.

Well, he experiences a celestial joy as he falls in love at first sight with Susheela (Anushka), a college student.

When Ravi feels like paradise is almost nearing his life, situations urge him to face some of the worst goons Chella and his father Vedanayagam (Salim Ghosh), who’ve been ruling the city of Chennai.

What happens next is series of events making situations speculative for Ravi, the goons and so-called Devaraj IPS, who’s missing in town now.

As mentioned earlier, Vijay looks pleasant over the vistas of presenting comedic sequences and dances as well. To a certain extent his stunts are quite appreciable, but when it exceeds the level of normalcy, it turn’s be ridiculous.

The complete second half is brimmed with such elements of more stunts, punch dialogues. Thank God! The baddie Salim Ghosh doesn’t yell at high-pitched tones just as most of the villains are prone to. His performance is quite appreciable while the actor delineated with the role of police officer is appealing. On the flip side, his role is so similar to Manoj K Jayan’s characterization in ‘Dhool’.

There are some garbled factors, which completely acts as a spoiler. Devaraj IPS has been such a big shot continuously hitting headlines for his acts. But how come his gruesome disappearance is never showcased in media channels. At the other corner, Vijay advising his lady professor is so ridiculous.

Babu Sivan has followed the same principles of Dharani on characterizations: An honest police officer humiliated, a bad cop in support of goon, heroines with no prominences and so on.

Technically, Vijay Antony’s songs scores high as it works well with Vijay’s dance and Anushka’s glamorous show. Camera works are really annoying as shots aren’t based on creativity and simply centered for heroism attributes (low angle shots and immediate zoom-in and out) while V.T. Vijayan steps out of his usual mark and attempts to copycat Anthony.

As on marking verdict for ‘Vettaikaran’, it would’ve been better if Babu Sivan had avoided the cliched narration during second half. The 90mins first half has been done well though it takes entire portions to establish each and every character. But the second half of 1.15mins could have been trimmed as it turns us restless with repeated moments. Though Babu Sivan has attempted to furnish a different climax (again picked from Dharani’s ‘Dhool’ where hero acts as an instigator of villain’s culmination rather than getting it done with his fists), it doesn’t stand out for appreciation.

What works: First Half, Vijay’s dance and comedic portions, Anushka’s glamour, Music

What didn’t work: Second Half, hackneyed story and screenplay, overdosed heroisms, more action sequences.

Verdict: Average fare

Production: Sun Pictures, AVM Productions

Direction: Babu Sivan

Star-casts: Vijay, Anushka, Salim Ghosh, Shayaji Shinde, Satyan, Srinath, Sri Hari and others.

Music: Vijay Anthony