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Director: TJ Gnanavel
Cast: Rajnikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Dushara Vijayan, Fahadh Faasil, Ritika Singh, Rana
Daggubati, Manju Warrier, Abhirami
Genre: Action/ Crime
Rating: 4/10
The much-awaited Tamil movie Vettaiyan could’ve been a blockbuster considering the talent that is on screen. However, I was seriously let down and disappointed by its lacklustre screenplay, unnecessary fluff and lazy treatment.
The movie follows S P Athiyan IPS, a renowned encounter specialist in the Tamil Nadu police, played by Rajnikanth as he tries to hunt down a suspect in the murder of a school teacher.
The premise is interesting, albeit a bit overdone in Tamil cinema already. The film aims to shine a spotlight on India’s ‘education industry’ and the perils and corruption associated with it. And well, the infamous practice of ‘encounters’ too.
The screenplay should keep the viewers on the edge of their seats, but it meanders and lags so much that it just leaves you bored.
Rajnikanth appears to be on autopilot mode throughout. He’s great in the mass scenes that’s expected of him, but in the others, viewers don’t feel the zing!
The only person who appears to be having fun in this movie is Fahadh Faasil. He revels in the comedic role, often stealing the spotlight even from Rajnikanth in scenes where they share the space.
The movie also lacks a convincing villain in Rana Daggubati. The director has failed to utilise the stature and size of Daggubati, instead making him a conniving and calculating villain. This could’ve made an impact if Daggubati was given more to work with, but the villain is so cliched that it just doesn’t land.
It is not only Rajnikanth who appears to be on autopilot mode, the entire cast does. You would think that a supporting cast that includes stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Manju Warrier, Ritika Singh, and Abhirami would take the movie to new heights. But no, they leave little to no mark on the audience.
It’s not all bad news, however.
Parts of the movie where the police are investigating the crime are interesting. And the comic elements are entertaining. Overall, Vettaiyan was a let down.
- Deviprasad Nair
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