Vettaiyan is not your average Tamil blockbuster. It is 100x the intensity, the performances, and the entertainment- A complete spectacle. What else do you expect when you have superstars Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan sharing the screen? Directed by T.J.Gnanavel, Vettaiyan is packed with great acting, strong action sequences, grand mass moments, and a gripping climax. There is no shortage of entertainment. With plenty of standout moments that will keep you glued to your seats, here is my in-depth review of the movie:
Performances:
Performances are the first thing you talk about when you have Rajinikanth and Big B act together. Both play their roles fantastically, adapting to different emotions. It is Mr.Bacchhan’s debut Tamil role and he aces it. Rajinikanth defies his age and manages tricky action sequences in his usual style. The entry was fabulous. There are a lot of slow-motion shots, powerful dialogues, and one-on-ones that send the theatre into a frenzy. Other actors including Fahadh Faasil, Dushara Vijayan, and Ritika Singh have a great screen presence and do not disappoint. Rana Daggubatti plays the perfect villain and serves as the main antagonist during the climax, ending the film on a high. Each character is well-thought of and there are no unnecessary roles.
The Plot:
Even though the movie is blessed with a talented star cast, the plot is rather slow and gets predictable after a point. Rajinikanth plays the role of Athiyan, a Superintendent of the Kanyakumari district where he is popular as Vettaiyan for his criminal encounters. His team involves Patrick(played by Fahadh Faasil), a cybersecurity expert who helps him track down criminals with online clues. Athiyan is tasked to unmask a fraud scammer Natraj who runs an online education center to dupe people of money by guaranteeing 100% results. The entire plot turns into a fiasco when the person who uncovered this fraud is found dead and is close to Athiyan. I felt the plot was overused and there was very little new to offer. There are some emotional moments with a lot of people dying unexpectedly, but all-in-all the script could have been better. The final standoff between Athiyan and Natraj(played by Rana Daggubatti) is worth watching.
Why To Watch Vettaiyan?
It is certainly Rajini and Big B who grab all the attention, but other actors perform equally well. There are strong emotional scenes that go well with the action sequences. A great addition is the captivating background music by Anirudh Ravichander, who comes up with powerful scores to keep you hooked on the seats. Even though the plot is slow-paced, it is not boring. A lot of things happen in the first half which might confuse you, but the story straightens out in the second half. The chemistry between Rajini and Malyali stars like Fahadh, Manju, etc. is amazing. There is some good humor as well, which keeps the environment lighthearted.
Final Thought:
I would definitely recommend watching Vettaiyan on the big screen. It is a completely different experience. The crowd will go wild at the entry of Rajinikanth. The background music also feels great in the theatres and elevates the action scenes. Even if you are not a Rajini fan, you will enjoy the plot but wish it was a little faster. Apart from some sloppy writing and decent editing, the rest is worth the watch! Ten-on-ten recommended, just go for it!