Banner: UTV Motion Pictures, Tirupathi Brothers
Production: Ronnie Screwvala, Subash Chandra Bose
Direction: Lingusamy
Star-casts: Aarya, Madhavan, Sameera Reddy, Amala Paul and others
Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja
What would be your expectations when you’re all set to watch a movie from the maker of mass commercial movies ‘Sandakozhi’, ‘Bheema’ and ‘Paiyaa’? Yet another movie of its genre isn’t? Doubtlessly, ‘Vettai’ becomes a superb entertainer for all with its rich ingredients of commercial elements – fun, action, romance, glamour, sentiments, etc, etc… The basic plot of the film might be little hackneyed, for we get to know it right before the opening titles.
It’s so simple and can be read in just few lines.
It’s a story about two brothers Thirumoorthy (Madhavan), fearful and timid while his younger brother Gurumoorthy (Aarya) is completely opposite. It has been Guru’s birth nature that he cannot bear anyone hurting his brother and if it happens, next month they’re done to the dusts of grounds.
While their father, a sincere police officer unable to bear the shock over his transfer order breathes his last in sleep, Thirumoorthy is forced by Guru to take up the same job. Though he is nowhere away from timorousness, he wears the uniform, but is appalled over the notorious gangsters – Annachi (Ashuthosh Raana) and Maari, who have been through their enmity for years.
Gurumoorthy comes into the unknown picture of knocking down the baddies, completing the mission that was assigned to Thiru and he earns praise and respect in department. But when the roughnecks at poles apart find out that Thiru isn’t what he seems to be, they smash him black and blue almost killing him.
Would Thiru able to settle scores or has to again seek the favor of his brother? Watch it over screens that are entertaining in many parts.
The writing is perfect and it’s the first and foremost reason why Vettai stands out as the best treat for the audiences. The screenplay is very much engaging from beginning till end as it leaves nowhere the audiences’ attention scattered. The characterizations are delineated perfectly and the romantic portions between the lead pairs – Madhavan, Sameera Reddy, Aarya-Amala Paul is done decorously. The humor quotients are yet another asset that keeps the film on high tempos. The mass appeal of the protagonists – Madhavan and Aarya is extraordinary that it easily wins the applause of audiences.
Lingusamy walks into the unexplored territories of Aarya as a mass hero and it works out on its best. Madhavan could have shed down some weight to look perfect and handsome. Bu his performance level is colossal as he emotes exactly to the situations as a coward person and a thrashing cop. Sameera Reddy needs a better makeover and her costumes in saris could have been better. Amala Paul makes an attempt to appear glamorously and woo down the audiences. Yes, it works out to certain extent. Ashuthosh Raana as baddie rocks in his style of performance and action sequences.
Yuvan Shankar Raja disappoints us with his songs as none of them, except ‘Pappa Pappapam’ are good. Nirav Shah’s cinematography captures the beautiful locales of Pondicherry and his ability to show the area as Tuticorin is a good job.
Final Word – Vettai is sure-footed winner for this season and will have repeat audiences in theatres for Lingusamy’s narrative style, power packed performances of actors, Brinda Sarathy’s dialogues, chemistry between the lead pairs and action sequences….
What works: Direction, Engaging Screenplay, Performances, Action sequences
What doesn’t work: Songs, costumes (heroines), second half little lengthy
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After delivering a super-duper hit with his previous film Paiyaah which starred Karthi and Tamannaah in lead roles, Lingusamy re-surfaces after a long gap with a multi-starrer. The combination of Madhaan and Aarya, said to be the film’s USP, doesn’t weave any tangible magic and as such, the film leaves the audience in a kind of a lurch.
There is nothing new or novel in the script to boast about. It’s the jaded and oft-repeated story. The one-line script is that the film is about the various struggles a courageous younger brother undergoes in order to land the cop’s job to his elder brother on compassionate appointment. Young Aarya persuades a reluctant Maddy to finally take up the offer.
Soft and suave Madhavan gets trapped between two warring factions comprising anti-social elements in the port city of Tuticorin. In order to teach them lesson, Aarya goes in disguise as Madhavan and bashes up those who beat up his elder brother Madhavan. When the opposite camp comes to know about this, they vent out their on a hapless Madhavan, who doesn’t have the courage to face them.
Aarya place a ‘cat and mouse’ game with the gang of the villains by posing as Madhavan and eliminating them in a calculated manner. The film picks up some pace here. Aarya prompts his elder brother to pull himself up and get cracking against his detractors and enemies. The methodology adapted by Aarya does create some interesting sequences for the viewers to sit back and relax.
However, it’s sad that the interesting element doesn’t extend beyond a period of time. The moment Madhava musters up enough courage and valour to take on the baddies, the sequences becomes a bit too predictable. As we have seen many of Lingusamy’s earlier films like Run and Sandakozhi, the loose ends lead up to a violent and bloody climax.
Madhavan, who acquired the image of a ‘tough’ and ‘action’ hero in Run almost a decade back, returns to star in the same director’s film after a long hiatus and looks broad. The oodles of flesh that one gets to see around Madhavan’s waist are a bit embarrassing indeed. However, he is hardly found wanting when it comes to emoting and expressing fears in the first half.
The sequence where a person is burnt alive at the Police Station and Madhavan’s reaction to the same had been picturised well. The ‘erstwhile’ chocolate boy does look convincing enough in the cop’s attire. The two heroes have a couple of heroines to romance and run around trees.
While the senior hero Madhavan is paired opposite the elder Sameera, Aarya gets the younger Amala Paul as his heroine. In typical filmy style, Madhavan gets the elder sister Sameera and Aarya the younger sister Amala. With such a pairing, Lingusamy has sure lived upto the expectation of a typical Kolywood director.
Technically, though, Nirav’s camera work and Antony’s scissor-work are really admirable. The script hits some block or the other frequently, paving the way for the viewers to feel bored and irritable.
Surprisingly enough, Yuvan Shankar Raja disappoints with not a single hummable number. Even in the chronology of song sequences, there is a mandatory introduction sequence for the heroes as well as the heroines and a duet song for the lead pairs. The only relief is the action sequences which have been choreographed rather well.
The romantic interludes between Aarya and Amala are interesting but there again the age-old technique of introducing a ‘U.S.A. groom’ plays spoilsport.
Sameera does look more matured than her age and the number of tight close-up shots only increases the possibility of viewers getting tired of her face. Amala Paul does look youthful and looks at ease in the paavadai-dhavani costume. However, she looks rather bad in modern costumes.
Overall, Vettai is a great entertainer.
very nice photos i like Amala Paul,Aarya