‘Vettaiyan’ Movie Review: A Rajinikanth Spectacle With Intermittent Sparks That’s Weighed Down by a Feeble Screenplay (LatestLY Exclusive)

Vettaiyan Movie Review: Blame it on Jai Bhim! TJ Gnanavel set such a high benchmark with his powerful sophomore movie that the struggle to match it was evident with his third film, Vettaiyan. Despite starring Suriya, Jai Bhim didn't compromise its strong screenplay for starry ambitions. Vettaiyan, however, is a different challenge altogether. It needs to be the perfect superstar vehicle for 'Thalaivar' Rajinikanth (Anirudh's score constantly reminds you of his superstardom, as if we could forget). At the same time, it must stay true to Gnanavel's reputation as a socially conscious filmmaker. So, does Vettaiyan balance both? It certainly tries, but while the film has its moments and aims to be a 'different' Rajinikanth movie, it falters due to a loose screenplay and weak editing. ‘Vettaiyan’ Review: Rajinikanth and TJ Gnanavel’s Investigative Thriller Earns Praise From Netizens, Anirudh Ravichander’s Score Shines.

SP Athiyan (Rajinikanth) is a celebrated encounter specialist, respected within police circles for taking down hardened criminals through extra-judicial killings. As expected, he's always under scrutiny from the Human Rights Commission, particularly from an aptly named officer, DGP Satyadev (Amitabh Bachchan).

Watch the Trailer of 'Vettaiyan':

When conscientious teacher Saranya (Dushara Vijayan) is brutally raped and murdered, Athiyan is shaken, as she once helped him shut down a drug ring. Under pressure from the public and politicians, the investigation team identifies a suspect, but he escapes their grasp. At this point, the department brings Athiyan on board with one task: find the suspect and eliminate him in an encounter.

'Vettaiyan' Movie Review - A Tricky Approach To Encounter Killings

Honestly, I was a little worried after watching the Vettaiyan trailer. In Jai Bhim, Gnanavel strongly condemned police brutalities and their harsh methods against the poor and downtrodden. The trailer for Vettaiyan hinted it might glorify cops and the controversial practice of encounter killings, especially with Rajinikanth in the lead.

While I wouldn't say I was completely on board with the film's approach eventually, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Gnanavel hasn't lost his socially conscious touch and doesn't go the expected path. Yes, Rajinikanth and his character are treated almost godlike, but Vettaiyan shows that even gods can make flawed judgments. They are at their best when they acknowledge their mistakes and seek redemption. This is where Amitabh Bachchan's casting is justified—who better to hold a mirror up to a god than a bigger god?

The first half of Vettaiyan effectively sets up the contrasting viewpoints of Athiyan and Satya, though let's be honest—this is still a Rajinikanth film. The superstar gets a stylish entry scene that lives up to his swag, and he maintains that charm throughout. The plot deepens with the introduction of Saranya and her tragic demise, and the investigation becomes intriguing, especially after Athiyan joins the team. A twist follows—while not mind-blowing, it steers the movie and its protagonist in an interesting direction, forcing him to reassess his approach.

'Vettaiyan' Movie Review - Thalaiva Gets His 'Coming-of-Age' Drama

In the second half of Vettaiyan, Athiyan attempts to right a wrong and bring the culprits to justice. What I liked about these sequences is how, at 73, Rajinikanth gets a 'coming-of-age' storyline—a rarity in his recent films. Some SPOILERS ahead... Athiyan has a catchphrase he repeats after every killing, something along the lines of, "If you’ve set a target, the prey must fall." However, at a crucial point in the film, he stops mid-way through the line and changes his stance.

A few minutes later, in a different scene, he repeats the catchphrase, but with a new context that reflects his changed attitude. Rajinikanth also gets a moment to slam-dunk the title of the film near the end—one of my favourite scenes in Vettaiyan. ‘Vettaiyan’: Rajinikanth’s Much-Awaited Film Hits Theatres, Fans Celebrate With Joyous Crowds in Chennai.

'Vettaiyan' Movie Review - A Disjointed, Stretched Second Half

Unfortunately, these moments aren’t enough to save the second half’s disjointed screenplay. The film criticises public support for encounter killings and the inherent classism of this unethical practice, reminding me of Jana Gana Mana, a Malayalam film that tackled a similar theme more effectively through courtroom drama. Like in Jana Gana Mana, Vettaiyan reveals that the initial crime covers up a bigger conspiracy, allowing Gnanavel to address another social issue—in this case, the exploitative nature of premium online coaching classes like Byju’s. While a relevant topic, its inclusion dilutes the investigation drama with the introduction of the main antagonists and doesn't bring about a narrative impact with its preachy approach and weak execution.

Vettaiyan sometimes has to remind itself that it's a Rajinikanth movie, and adds 'mass' moments that occasionally feel out of place, despite Rajinikanth’s charm and Anirudh’s background score coming to the rescue. The screenplay takes convenient turns, and it’s in these moments that Vettaiyan feels less like a Gnanavel film and more like a Rajinikanth superstar vehicle. This wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing, but in Vettaiyan, it highlights how much stronger the film could have been if the director had reined in the proceedings, especially given the languid runtime. Jai Bhim Movie Review: Suriya Puts His Best Foot Forward in This Powerful and Increasingly Relevant Legal Drama.

The film also adds unnecessary melodrama to hammer home certain points. Saranya's death is already gut-wrenching, so repeatedly showing the scene feels gratuitous. There’s another major death later on to raise the stakes, but the buildup is so cloying that it diminishes the emotional impact. The action scenes, too, are underwhelming and not smartly executed, considering who is in the spotlight.

'Vettaiyan' Movie Review - The Performances

If you're watching purely for Rajinikanth, I don't think you'll be too disappointed. It’s refreshing to see him in a socially relevant, plot-driven film where his charisma propels the story. He might not be convincing in every scene, but the superstar still delivers a powerful performance with ease.

Amitabh Bachchan's larger-than-life presence is well-utilised, and I appreciate the effort to use technology to make Prakash Raj’s dubbing in Tamil resemble Bachchan’s real voice. However, there are some lip-sync issues—it often feels like he’s speaking Hindi or English, with a Tamil dub overlaid.

Manju Warrier is fine in a role that offers her little scope as an actress. She doesn’t seem age-appropriate as Rajinikanth’s wife but has two standout moments -  her energetic dance in the “Manasilaayo” song and a brief Agent Tina moment for her character (that ends with a funny quip from Rajinikanth). Interestingly, the real ‘Agent Tina,’ Vasanthi, also appears in the film.

Fahadh Faasil plays Patrick, a wily cyber-criminal who helps Athiyan crack cases. He brings a likeable, light-hearted appeal to the narrative. Rana Daggubati appears in the second half; while his towering presence works well against Rajinikanth, his character feels one-dimensional. Dushara Vijayan, Ritika Singh, Abhirami, and Rohini perform their roles adequately.

'Vettaiyan' Movie Review - Final Thoughts

Vettaiyan is a film that tries to walk a tightrope between being a socially relevant narrative and a Rajinikanth superstar vehicle. While it succeeds in parts, particularly with Rajinikanth’s performance and Gnanavel’s attempt to inject his signature social conscience, the film ultimately stumbles due to its uneven screenplay and indulgent runtime. Thalaivar fans will undoubtedly find moments to savour, but for those expecting a tighter, more cohesive narrative, Vettaiyan might leave them wishing more for the sharper, more powerful storytelling that Gnanavel is capable of.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 10, 2024 12:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).