Vettaiyan (2024): Thalaivar's Ride with Heart, but Overloaded with Messages

A Festival at 6 AM: My First First Day, First Show Experience

It was 6:00 AM when I stepped up to Carnival Cinema, and it was like a festival in full swing. This was my first-ever first day, first show experience, and though I had barely slept for three hours the night before, the energy of Thalaivar's fans instantly shook off my fatigue. The buzz was undeniable and the anticipation of seeing Rajini on the big screen was electric. It felt like Thaipusam, surrounded by urumi and garlands, but instead of being clad in yellow or orange, we were wrapped in excitement.

Film Review: A Blend of Superstardom and Social Messaging

Vettaiyan is a good film that expertly uses Thalaivar’s superstardom to voice several important social messages, as envisioned by the director. However, the first half felt a bit sluggish, focusing heavily on character introductions. This slow pace was a small gripe of mine, as I felt the story could have kicked off faster, allowing more screen time to establish the villain.

A hero is only as strong as his villain, and while Rajini’s ultimate victory was never in question, the tension of how much the villain can strip away from him could have been more pronounced. Rajini’s character arc, however, was well-executed—you could root for him as the protagonist, fully understanding the journey he embarked on. Knowing the director’s previous ventures, it’s clear why Rajini’s character made certain choices, and it all led to a gripping interval scene, reminding me of Kaala and its rich character development.

Villain: Missed Potential for a Strong Antagonist

However, unlike Kaala, Vettaiyan lacked a formidable villain. The antagonist only appeared after the interval, which made it difficult to build him up as a real threat. A stronger, more menacing villain would have elevated the stakes, creating a more memorable conflict with Rajini’s character.

Acting: Rajini Dominates, But Others Hold Their Own

When it comes to the acting, everyone did their jobs well. While it was never in question that the big man himself would dominate the screen time, the supporting cast did justice to their roles. However, one disappointment was the underutilization of Manju Warrier. As a strong actress, she had the potential to add more depth to the story, but her role was limited to a single massy scene. After that, her presence wilted away into something forgettable. Anyone could have played her part, and it felt like a missed opportunity to leverage her talent.

Social Messages: Important, but Overloaded

While I appreciated the director using the film as a platform to advocate for causes—like raising awareness on encounter killings, the plight of the underprivileged always facing police brutality, and the privatisation of education—the number of messages diluted the overall impact. The film’s opening scenes, a gruesome murder, promised an investigative narrative. Had the movie just stuck to this theme, it could have carried its own powerful message. But by weaving in so many social causes, the film lost its tightness, struggling to balance the entertainment with the gravitas of these important issues.

Fan Service: Mass Moments and Fight Scenes

As expected from a Rajini film, there were plenty of massy entrance scenes and high-octane fight sequences, designed to please his fans. While this fan service was appreciated by the audience (myself included), I felt that there were too many fight scenes, some of which could have been trimmed in favor of better storytelling.

Final Thoughts: A Good, But Imperfect Rajini Film

In the end, Vettaiyan is a film that tries to do a lot, and while it succeeds in delivering a solid Rajini experience, it could have been even more impactful with a tighter focus on its narrative and villain. The social messages, though important, felt overwhelming at times, detracting from the film’s overall cohesion. That being said, Rajini’s star power carries the film, and for fans of Thalaivar, this is definitely worth the watch.