Viduthalai Part 2

Viduthalai 2 is a rare instance of a Vetrimaaran film not hitting the anticipated highs. Sure, the efforts are evident in terms of writing and performance, but this is Vetrimaaran pulling off a Gautham Menon in terms of excessive voiceovers - it's always "tell" and not "show." The love story in Part 1 was one of its top redeeming qualities, but the Vijay Sethupathi - Manju Warrier romance is not as resonating. Maybe, both their wigs were too distracting for me. It gets better in the second half, however.

Ilaiyaraja's score is fantastic, especially adding more fervour to the action blocks. Vetri crafts the pre-intermission corn field set piece really well. Placing the blow horn-esque Viduthalai theme amid it was also a solid decision. Then again, the editing (as is the case in several Vetrimaaran films) is choppy. We can sense a matter-of-fact, information-dump nature to the proceedings with Rajiv Menon and company (offering some odd hilarity in the process), but an extra dose of melodrama (and preachiness) is added to the flashbacks.

I'm not sure if it's an editing flaw or because Vetri has the habit of rewriting dialogues at the time of dub, but the voiceovers at times tend to overlap with dialogue exchanges; that was jarring as hell. Technicalities aside, this is probably Vetri's most politically charged film to date, even when some loose threads don't really get anywhere. How you take to that can also affect your viewing experience. The film's concluding scene reinstates how good a writer Vetrimaaran is, and how great a performer Soori is.

Also, did CBFC really choose to blur out those gory scenes after an "A" certification? I don't get it. The same goes for cuss words.

Vetri had done something not many can do. I know he lived in North Arcot district in his early days. I have heard few stories about Naxalits and i can see he had heard too 😊

Dialogues were poweful and it's a politics lesson for all. It's coming at a time right wing is dominating india.

As always Sethu supporting these kinds of movie is not new but hats off again.

End of the day, i was wondering why Vetri did this movie. For sure this got less scope for a blockbuster movie like aadukalam or vada chennai. I see this as, Vetri liked to share what a communist party and back in days, the so called naxalites got created. More than that, he makes us all feel violence is not a solution but politicizing people is the solution, which is what Thiruma keeps saying 😊

I already knew the 2nd part would focus on VS's character since they already teased us in the end credits of the first film. But to be honest this is a far less intense, less thrilling successor...it's a proper political based film on how the leader of the common backward people is born n how people of authority abuse power...The film is mostly msg oriented n u will lose patience after some time, even as a hardcore movie buff...it was a total drag in between and the romantic angle of VS n Manju Warrier was a total waste of time. In fact Manju Warrier was a huge letdown, I truly beleive there were far more superior actors who could portray that role so well n would have taken the film to a new level...being a superstar from Malayalam film industry doesn't mean u can be a good actor in Tamil or any other language...She was chosen only due to her star power n hype was a major disappointment. I'm from Kerala n this is my honest opinion. Soori was a treat to watch in the first, but I felt he was a bit sidelined...I wished the narrative would have focussed more on Soori's POV storytelling n VS was rather a lead cameo character. Probably Vetrimaaran's least enthusiastic film imo.

Showcased what are the injustice done to the oppressed people.

How industrial revolution happened in tamilnadu and who are the backbone behind it. And people failed to recognise them and government who portrayed them as villain. And there is no end for revolution and revolutionist. For every time and then such revolution are being done and will be done by people who are at ground and working Acting by VJs is 10/10. Kishore and manju warrier are great balance to the story. Suri is us who watched this injustice and taken perfect decision that is required for this world. Kudos to Vetri in sculpturing this story.

Detailed review -Viduthalai Part 2, directed by Vetri Maaran, features a star-studded cast including Vijay Sethupathi, Manju Warrier, Soori, GVM, Rajiv Menon, and others. While the first installment primarily centered on Soori's character, the second part shifts its focus to Vijay Sethupathi.

The film weaves two parallel narratives. The first revolves around the aftermath of Perumal's arrest, while the second is shaped by Vijay Sethupathi's character, with some narration from Soori's perspective towards the end. Vetri Maaran incorporates subtle political and social undertones into the character arcs, adding depth to the narrative. For example, Perumal's wife, Mahalakshmi (played by Manju Warrier), cuts her hair short to signify resilience, and Karuppan (Ken Karunas) giving himself a name reflects a poignant personal choice.

The performances by the cast are commendable and do justice to the story and the director's vision. However, some characterizations leave room for questions. Anurag Kashyap's role feels unexplored-what purpose did his character serve? While Rajiv Menon, Chethan, and Manju Warrier deliver well-crafted performances, GVM's role lacks substance. The most disappointing aspect is the sidelining of Soori's character, who was the heart of Viduthalai Part 1.

Viduthalai Part 2, despite its strengths, doesn't reach the heights of its predecessor. The film becomes overly preachy at times. In Part 1, Soori's character was beautifully developed, and his diminished presence in Part 2 is a missed opportunity. This installment is dominated by Vijay Sethupathi, who carries the film with his stellar performance. However, Vetri Maaran, known for his sharp writing, appears to falter here. The film's heavy reliance on dialogues becomes tiresome, diluting its impact.

The disclaimer at the beginning of the movie, stating that the story does not target any political figures or entities, feels like a cop-out. If Vetri Maaran wanted to convey a specific ideology or message, he should have been more forthright. Using cinema as a platform to push personal ideologies without clarity undermines the craft. While the film retains its ideological and social relevance, it lacks the boldness and finesse one expects from Vetri Maaran. This isn't the kind of filmmaking that resonates deeply or leaves a lasting impression.

In a nutshell, Vidhuthalai Part 2 is nothing but a collection of too much dialogue with no depth. Vetrimaaran wanted to say something but he did not have enough guts to openly tell what he wanted to say. Stupidity at its best. This is the worst movie in the making of Vetrimaaran and a disappointing one.