Vettaiyan

One cannot miss the chance to watch Rajini and Bachchan sharing screen for a movie. You just can't. Along with these two GOAT's, casting of Fahadh Faasil, Rana Daggubati and Manju Warrier is just icing on the cake. Pat on the back for T. J. Gnanavel.

Vettaiyan is an action packed, high octane crime thriller that despite its minor flaws, lack of logic, and predictable narrative is enjoyable till the end. Rajinikanth plays V Athiyan aka Vettaiyan, a police officer known for his foolproof encounters while Amitabh Bachchan is Justice Satyadev who contests that police encounters violate basic human rights and dishonours the Indian constitution. This is what this movie is all about, Vigilante Justice vs. Legal Justice.

With powerful emotional moments and few twist & turns, this film is a treat for all the Rajini fans out there.

Vettaiyan offers a compelling narrative that aptly explores the theme of "justice hurried is justice buried." While it might not fully embody director Gnanavel's signature style, it succeeds as a Rajinikanth film with Gnanavel's touch visible throughout.

The first half is engaging, well-paced, and filled with moments that keep you invested. However, the second half lacks the same punch, and it feels like it could have been tighter in terms of pacing and storytelling. Despite this, the cast delivers solid performances-Fahad, Ritika, Kishore, Dushara, and Amitabh all play their roles well, seamlessly contributing to the overall story. Anirudh music is repetitive.

Overall, Vettaiyan is a good watch, especially for those who appreciate a blend of commercial appeal with a strong underlying message, but it could have been even better with a more impactful second half.

I enjoyed this movie overall. The story conveys a strong message, and the character balance is thoughtfully handled. Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan share excellent chemistry, and Fahadh Faasil truly proves himself as a chameleon, adapting seamlessly to his role.

However, the film's length and certain screenplay choices weigh it down. Some scenes, like the death scene, are replayed excessively, and numerous lingering shots add to the runtime without contributing much to the story. The decision to introduce the villain so late also felt like a missed opportunity; it led to hurried exposition to catch the audience up, which disrupted the flow.

While I don't mind a lengthy movie if it has enough to say, this one felt stretched. Tightening up the pacing would have made for a more engaging experience without sacrificing the depth or impact.

"Vettaiyan" is a thrilling action drama that delivers on its promise of Rajinikanth's signature style and mass appeal. The film's engaging story, coupled with Thalaivar's powerful screen presence and goosebump-inducing moments, makes for a captivating first half.

Rajinikanth's performance as the titular character is a major highlight, showcasing his charisma and commanding presence. The action sequences are well-choreographed and visually impressive, providing ample moments of excitement for fans.

However, the film falters in its second half, with a screenplay that loses momentum and becomes predictable. While the initial intrigue and suspense are maintained for a while, the narrative struggles to sustain its grip, leading to a somewhat underwhelming climax.

Despite its flaws, "Vettaiyan" remains an entertaining watch for Rajinikanth fans and those seeking an action-packed drama. The film's strong performances, particularly from Rajinikanth, and its engaging first half make it worth watching. However, be prepared for a second half that doesn't quite live up to the initial promise.

I'm not really going to structure my review for this, and instead use this as an impression dump. "Vettayan" was definitely the best Rajni movie since "Petta", but it's also the case that there just hasn't been a half decent Rajni movie since "Petta". "Vettayan" does its best to hold ground, but it still ends up being a rather tiresome watch. The main reason for this is just how long this movie went on for when it didn't really need to.

The first half was pretty good and while that might have been enough to keep your attention for a while, the second half fumbles the ball as soon as they reveal the direction of the movie. There's nothing here really that you haven't seen a million times before, but at the very least, there wasn't anything embarrassingly bad... except maybe the action, as has been the case in every Rajni movie, where the best action choreography you could do with a 70 year old man is to get him to swing his arms and flick his wig.

It's a passable movie for sure, and by Rajni standards, that's a good thing.