Rating: 3/5
Director: T. J. Gnanavel
Cast: Rajinikanth, Fahadh Faasil, Amitabh Bachchan, Manju Warrier, Rana Daggubati
Music: Anirudh Ravichander
Introduction:
“Vettaiyan” directed by T. J. Gnanavel offers a crime thriller with a mix of commercial and content-driven elements. With a stellar cast led by Rajinikanth and Fahadh Faasil, the movie sets expectations high especially given Gnanavel’s past success with “Jai Bhim.” But does it deliver?
Plot Overview:
The story follows SP Athiyan (Rajinikanth), a supercop revered for his encounter specialist status. He’s tasked with catching a suspect involved in the brutal murder of Saranya, a school teacher. The plot thickens when Athiyan encounters Patrick aka Battery (Fahadh Faasil), who challenges his methods and theories on justice. As the investigation deepens, it becomes a battle of ideologies between Athiyan and Sathyadev (Amitabh Bachchan), who opposes encounter killings.
First Half:
The first half of “Vettaiyan” is engaging, balancing Rajinikanth’s mass moments with an investigative thriller narrative. The murder mystery unfolds at a decent pace and the introduction of Fahadh Faasil’s character adds spice to the proceedings. There’s a good mix of action and suspense with the screenplay maintaining a solid rhythm.
Second Half:
Unfortunately the second half falters. As the plot moves into social justice themes and attempts to tackle larger issues the film loses focus. The narrative becomes predictable with typical commercial tropes creeping in and the tension built in the first half starts to fizzle out. The clash of ideologies between Rajini and Amitabh, which could have been explosive feels underdeveloped. Instead, the movie drifts into a routine hero-villain template and the emotional core is lost in the process.
Performances:
Rajinikanth shines as expected. Even in a predictable plot, his screen presence and charisma lift the film. Fahadh Faasil, though underutilized, brings a different energy, often stealing scenes with his sharp performance. Amitabh Bachchan, despite his limited screen time delivers as always, though his character could have been explored more. Sadly, actors like Rana Daggubati and Manju Warrier are wasted in roles that don’t leave much of an impact.
Technical Aspects:
The technical side of “Vettaiyan” is hit and miss. Anirudh’s background score, which is usually a strength, feels repetitive and doesn’t elevate the movie the way it should have. The songs, while decent, don’t leave a lasting impression. The cinematography gives the film a cheap look and production values, especially for a big-budget film, feel surprisingly low. Editing is inconsistent and some scenes drag unnecessarily.
What Worked:
- Rajinikanth and Fahadh Faasil’s performances are the highlights.
- The first half has a good pace with decent investigative elements.
- Some mass moments like the underground fight scene are well-executed.
What Didn’t Work:
- The second half becomes predictable and drags with unnecessary preachiness.
- The screenplay lacks tightness and focus, with multiple plot holes.
- Anirudh’s BGM fails to create the impact needed for this kind of film.
- Characters like Rana, Manju Warrier and others are severely underutilized.
Verdict:
“Vettaiyan” had all the ingredients for a gripping investigative thriller but ends up being an average watch. The film starts strong but loses steam in the second half with a weak screenplay and predictable plot twists. Rajinikanth does his best and Fahadh Faasil adds flavor, but the overall execution doesn’t do justice to the talent involved. While it’s a decent one-time watch, it doesn’t quite leave the mark it could have.