VETTAIYAN MOVIE REVIEW
Cast: Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Fahadh Faasil, Rana Daggubati, Manju Warrier
Director: TJ Gnanavel
In Vettaiyan, director TJ Gnanavel, known for his sharp social commentary in Jai Bhim, tackles the morally charged issue of encounter killings, placing two towering figures of Indian cinema—Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan—at its core. However, the film kinda struggles to juggle its moral exploration and Rajinikanth’s superstardom.
At the heart of Vettaiyan is SP Athiyan (Rajinikanth), a trigger-happy cop whose extrajudicial methods are brought into question by Judge Satyadev (Amitabh Bachchan), a staunch advocate for human rights. Their ideological clash forms the narrative’s backbone: Athiyan’s belief that “justice delayed is justice denied” contrasts with Satyadev’s warning that “justice hurried is justice buried.” While this conflict is conceptually strong, the film’s execution doesn’t always match its intent.
The first half of Vettaiyan delivers what Rajinikanth fans have come to expect: high-octane action, swagger, and stylish moments. These sequences, aided by Anirudh’s energetic score, keep the momentum going. However, it’s in the second half that the movie starts to falter. The initial tension gives way to predictability, and the moral dilemmas, which should be the film’s driving force, feel underexplored. Athiyan’s internal conflict is mentioned but never fully realized, leaving his character arc incomplete. For a film that aims to critique encounter killings, it glosses over the emotional weight such actions carry.
Gnanavel’s film tries to talk about India’s education system, but that part feels disconnected and not well-explored. The handling of key characters—like Manju Warrier, or Rana Daggubati’s late and underwhelming appearance as a corporate villain—adds to the film’s unevenness.
That said, Vettaiyan isn’t without its strengths. Rajinikanth brings undeniable charisma to the screen, and even in a flawed script, his presence elevates the material. Amitabh Bachchan, too, delivers a commanding performance, though the expected explosive chemistry between the two legends never quite materializes. Fahadh Faasil’s quirky sidekick, “Battery” Patrick, injects moments of humor.
Vettaiyan offers entertainment, but it doesn’t fully commit to its moral questions. It’s a movie that can’t decide if it wants to be a serious critique of police excesses or a Rajinikanth film. The result is a mixed bag, one that leaves you thinking about what could have been.