Viduthalai Part 2

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.

Must watch movie👌

Viduthalai Part 2 is a masterstroke by Vetrimaaran, blending emotional depth with gripping intensity. Vijay Sethupathi shines as Vaathiyaar, delivering a performance that is both commanding and poignant. Soori's portrayal of Kumaresan brings raw vulnerability, making the moral dilemmas even more impactful. The film's visuals are stunning, with every frame telling its own story, while Ilaiyaraaja's score heightens the tension beautifully. The narrative strikes a balance between action and emotion, leaving you deeply moved. A compelling and unforgettable sequel that cements its place as a standout in Tamil cinema.

Stories of people who are in authority (capitalism) are sculptured as history but the history of people who fought for the oppressed and minorities with (communism) ideology are not even being written as stories. This ideology is still prevailing and will prevail until common people are given the authority.

It's a crime for Vetrimaaran to direct a movie that is too good and convey messages like these which are important for the future generations.

This film as a single masterpiece has made an everlasting impact on me and I hope that stories like these should be encouraged in Tamil cinema. Already the reviews are bashing its way to the top as being Vetrimaaran's best film and I personally thought that no film would be equal to Vada Chennai in future but, Viduthalai has proved me wrong. However there will be some people criticising every movie that gets released. For those people, whoever criticises this is not criticising the movie and the direction but to be understood in a way that he is supporting capitalism and not aligning with Vetrimaaran's or ours ideology.

Viduthalai Part 2 is somewhat similar to 2003 Tamil Drama "Anbe Sivam" starring Kamal Hassan and Madhavan. Both of them are bases upon the Marxist ideology of equality and annihilation of oppressors. Yet both are completely different in a way that later one is slice-of-life comedy drama that has hint of violence while the former is cruel and brutal yet filled with raw emotion and political depth.

The second installment of 2023 version of Vetrimaaran's political crime drama is as gripping and thrilling as the first one. Part 1 was all about Soori's character Kumaresan, this part solely focuses on the rebellion leader Vaathiyar Perumal played by none other than Vijay Sethupathi. Isn't this enough to get everyone's attention!!!

Part 2 depicts the backstory behind the events that turned a school teacher into the leader of an extremist group. Perumal himself narrates his origin story to the policemen who are escorting him to a secure location after his arrest. Kumaresan is not completely out of picture though. Even after playing a significant role in the capturing of Perumal, he's still facing the moral dilemma, caught between his sense of duty and the brutal reality of the police force he's working for.

Background score from Ilaiyaraaja is spot on as it was in the earlier version along with brilliant visuals that make this an epic saga.

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.