Movie: Vettaiyan
Rating: 2.5/5
Banner: Lyca Productions
Cast: Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Fahadh Faasil, Rana Daggubati, Manju Warrier, Kishore, Ritika Singh, Dushara Vijayan, GM Sundar, Abirami, Rohini, Rao Ramesh, Ramesh Thilak, Rakshan and others
Music: Anirudh Ravichander
DOP: SR Kathir
Editor: Philomin Raj
Production Designer: K. Kadhir
Stunts: Anbariv
Written and Directed by: T. J. Gnanavel
Release Date: October 10, 2024
Rajinikanth teaming up with the director of Jai Bhim for a pan-Indian project has generated significant interest. Additionally, the casting of Amitabh Bachchan, Fahadh Faasil, and Rana Daggubati has heightened the excitement. Despite minimal promotion, as with all Rajinikanth films, this one has already garnered substantial anticipation.
Let’s explore its strengths and weaknesses.
Story:
The story is set in Tamil Nadu. Athiyan (Rajinikanth) is the superintendent of police in the Kanyakumari district and an encounter specialist. Satyadev (Amitabh Bachchan) opposes the practice of encounter killings.
Athiyan takes down the Ganja mafia in the district after receiving a tip from Saranya (Dushara Vijayan), a government school teacher.
Following Saranya's rape and murder, Athiyan is determined to kill the perpetrator. When police officers (Kishore and Rithika) suspect a tech engineer is responsible, Athiyan prepares for and carries out an encounter. However, after the operation, Athiyan and his team realize they had killed an innocent person.
Who truly killed Saranya, why did it happen, and how does Athiyan seek to make amends?
Artistes’ Performances:
Rajinikanth plays the role of an encounter specialist with his trademark swag. His performance during the interval sequence, where he faces a moral dilemma, is outstanding.
Amitabh Bachchan’s character and presence add depth to the narrative.
Fahadh Faasil takes on a comedic role, which works to some extent.
Rana Daggubati, as the main villain, is decent, though his character is somewhat limited.
Dushara Vijayan, portraying a government teacher, leaves a strong impression.
Technical Excellence:
Recently, Anirudh Ravichander has been taking on the extra responsibility of delivering a strong background score for Rajinikanth's films.
However, this film lacks the catchy songs seen in Jailer, and Anirudh’s background music feels rather ordinary. He also makes an appearance in one of the songs.
The cinematography and editing are well-executed.
Highlights:
Interesting Interval Block
Rajinikanth’s swag
Drama around encounter killings
Drawback:
Weak final hour
Rana’s characterisation
Becomes routine after a point
Analysis
Vettaiyan addresses two distinct yet relevant issues: the use of police encounters and the scams perpetrated by Edutech corporate companies.
Director T. J. Gnanavel, who gained acclaim with Jai Bhim, once again demonstrates his talent by handling a social issue in a gripping manner.
The film begins by portraying Superstar Rajinikanth as an encounter specialist, hailed as a hero by the public. Soon, Amitabh Bachchan's character is introduced, questioning the legality of these encounters, challenging the police for bypassing judicial processes.
Rajinikanth dominates the first half with his powerful performance, convincing the audience with his perspective. The interval ends with an unexpected twist.
In the first half, Gnanavel seems to deliver another outstanding film, much like Jai Bhim. However, in an attempt to appeal to a broader audience and meet the expectations of a star-studded film, Gnanavel dilutes the narrative in the second half.
The focus shifts to the scams involving Edutech companies. While both subjects could have been strong foundations for the film, Gnanavel struggles to blend them effectively. As a result, the movie becomes overly simplistic, predictable, and preachy towards the end.
The characterization of the main villain, played by Rana Daggubati, and the morally upright Amitabh Bachchan could have been more developed. Manju Warrier’s role feels minimal and unremarkable. The climax of the film feels rushed, and Anirudh Ravichander’s music doesn’t add much value either.
Despite the director’s efforts to appeal to mass audiences, the film lacks thrilling moments that would typically engage regular viewers.
Overall, despite its flaws and a less compelling second half, Vettaiyan manages to hold the audience's attention. It offers a reasonably well-crafted watch with a clear message: police officers should be protectors, not hunters.
Bottom line: Reformed Hunter