Vettaiyan movie review: Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Vettaiyan has hit screens worldwide today.
Vettaiyan movie review: Tamil cinema cops are trigger-happy. They have always been so, and in all probability, they will continue to be. That’s why a film like Vettaiyan is important. Tamil cinema, and even Indian cinema, needs to take a step back in glorifying the bravado of police officers when it comes to the issue of encounter killings. We have gone long enough placing the guns in the hands of cops who are shown walking sporting aviators, exuding unlimited swag, and bumping off accused without giving them their day or more in our judicial system. However, the problem with Vettaiyan is that a similar glorification of a trigger-happy cop named Athiyan (Rajinikanth) happens for far too long for the changeover to actually leave an impact.
Judge Satyadev (Amitabh Bachchan), the moral compass of Vettaiyan, kickstarts proceedings by dismissing voices that refer to encounter specialists as heroes. And parallely, we see how Superintendent Athiyan isn’t patient enough to let the law take its course. His logic about extrajudicial activities is the usual argument we’ve heard in hundreds of films and thousands of real-life cases – Justice delayed is justice denied. But then, the film is also about what Amitabh Bachchan says, “Justice hurried is justice buried.” Between these two extremes lies a film that is extremely confused.
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The film is centred around the inspiring life and gruesome death of govt. school teacher Saranya (Dushara Vijayan). This triggers a series of events that involves so many tangents that it gets too overwhelming for Gnanavel and Co. Points have to be docked for the scene featuring the heinous assault on Saranya. It gets unnecessarily graphic, and Gnanavel doesn’t make things better by relentlessly hammering this scene on our senses on multiple occasions. Another major problem with Vettaiyan is how it uses red herrings throughout the film. No, you can’t say and show one thing, and then put the onus on the audience for judging characters and their actions. This lack of coherence is a major problem in Vettaiyan because it is a film that needed to be clear about its allegiance and stance.
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Vettaiyan is also burdened by the presence of Rajinikanth, the superstar. TJ Gnanavel is torn between giving a Rajini film and making a commentary on encounter killings. It gets even tougher because the struggle is never internal, and we don’t really get to understand the machinations of the role. Does he really understand the consequences of his actions? He says he understands, but never for a moment, do we buy into his mind.
Also, the film is predictable to a fault, and it takes away from the kind of tension associated with such procedurals. It also doesn’t help Vettaiyan’s case, considering one of the biggest names of the cast isn’t introduced till almost three-fourths of the film.
What really works for Vettaiyan is the central conceit of the film, and the commentary on India’s education system. Vettaiyan goes into some interesting places, and ruffles a few feathers. The intent is on point, and the execution too isn’t faulty either. Probably why the detours to elevate the superstar at the centre of it all dilute the proceedings. Gnanavel is saddled with a double-edged sword of using one of the most influential voices to say a pertinent point, and stylise the voice saying it. While he doesn’t always do a good job of balancing it, it isn’t for the want of trying. In many places, he reins in the urge to go all out, and ensures the entire package serves the film and not the superstar. This shines bright, especially in the way Anirudh’s effective background score is used in the film. Even the stunt sequences were rather subdued, much like the visuals of Vettaiyan.
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Another aspect of Vettaiyan where Gnanavel delivers a mixed bag is the casting and characterization. Considering the stature of the star cast, one can’t help but feel that names like Manju Warrier and Rana Daggubati were given a raw deal. Fahadh Faasil plays a rather quirky role that could have been a lot more, and it is a pity that his scenes act as a mixed bag of fun detours and distracting speedbreakers. Dushara Vijayan doesn’t get to do much, but shines as the soul of the film.
Vettaiyan is a film that bases itself on the shoulders of Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth, and these two veterans prove once again why they are icons of Indian cinema. Every single time Amitabh is onscreen, you understand the meaning of towering presence. And Rajinikanth does the heavy lifting in the elevation scenes, even if there isn’t enough on paper. However, the scenes featuring both of them don’t really have those explosive moments. Most of the dialogues aren’t sharp enough, especially considering how the narrative unfolds. The lengthy monologues, especially by Rajinikanth, aren’t exactly powerful either. Gnanavel’s strength in Jai Bhim fails to get translated in Vettaiyan, and the long-drawn court monologues are basic at best.
Finally, as the credits of Vettaiyan roll, yours truly was left with the thought about the film being better served with a ‘smaller’ star. A star who wouldn’t overwhelm the film, and allow it to breathe. Because confining Rajinikanth to a box isn’t easy as the world is still grappling with the dichotomy of being torn between wanting to see Rajinikanth in a new avatar, and wanting to see him exude style and charisma like old times. What do we really want? Well, the hunt for the answer is on.
Vettaiyan movie cast: Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Fahadh Faasil, Rana Daggubati, Manju Warrier, Ritika Singh, Dushara Vijayan
Vettaiyan movie director: TJ Gnanavel
Vettaiyan movie rating: 2.5 stars
