
ApunKaChoice.Com	IndiaExpress.Com CricketZone.Com
Set as Homepage \| Add to favorites

RSS

HOME | MOVIES | Vettayadu Vilayadu | Vettayadu Vilayadu review

Vettayadu Vilayadu
story in pictures
Picture Gallery

'Vettayadu Vilayadu' Watch it for Kamal Haasan

By P. Sreekumaran
Film critic, ApunKaChoice.Com

After hitting a host of hurdles, Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan’s Vettayadu Vilayadu has at last seen the light of the day. And if the initial response is a guide, Kamal has a winner on his hands.

That must come as a big relief for Kamal, whose last film Mumbai Xpress had bombed at the box office. The setback also saw Kamal slipping from his Number 2 position in Kollywood.

Mumbai

Xpress ‘derailed’ partly because Chandramukhi featuring Kamal’s rival and Number one hero in Tamil cinema, Rajnikant , was released along with it. Unfortunately for Kamal, his film could not withstand ‘Chandramukhi’ that turned out to be the biggest grosser of Tamil cinema, breaking all collection records.

In Vettayadu Vilayadu, director Gautham Menon is on sure ground. The director, who fashioned hits like ‘Minnale’ and ‘Kaaka Kaaka’, has again chosen a police investigation story, his forte.

Vettayadu Vilayadu is a crisply-edited film that bears the stamp of Gautam’s directorial dexterity. Stylistic, innovative, technically top-class, VV is all this and more. And as always, Kamal is in his elements as the investigative top cop, adding a new dimension to his histrionic skills.

No minus points, you might ask. There are drawbacks, of course. The surfeit of violence, especially against women puts you off. Besides, the pace slackens a bit in the second half. And the denouement is, to say the least, a bit contrived.

DCP Raghavan (Kamal Haasan) is in Madurai to probe the brutal murder of Rani, daughter of the city Police Commissioner Arogyaraj (Prakash Raj), his mentor. Arogyaraj and his wife, traumatized by the tragedy that befell their beloved daughter, shift to New York, only to be killed.

The shocked Tamil Nadu police commandeers the services of DCP Raghavan to unearth the mystery behind the twin murders. Raghavan goes about his job with the help of New York Police and the FBI.

While in New York, Aradhana (Jyothika) comes into Raghavan’s life. The police officer saves Aradhana, who tries to end her life, fed up with a failed marriage. Bengali beauty, Kamalini Mukherjee plays Raghavan’s wife, who is bumped off by goondas.

A major highlight of Vettayadu Vilayadu is the outstanding camera work by Ravi Varman. Ravi has framed some brilliant aerial shots of New York by night.

Music director Harris Jayaraj has also come up trumps with a number of catchy tunes. You won’t forget “Manjal Veyil…” and “Partha Muthal Naal”. The song that introduces Kamal “Karka Karka” is peppy and its picturisation, excellent.

Prakash Raj does a competent job as usual. But the surprise in the package is Balaji as the serial killer. Jyothika is passable. But Kamalini takes the eye, for sure. You will see a lot more of this Bengali beauty, who steals over you, though her role is brief.

Watch it for Kamal Haasan’s brilliant delineation of the mind and methods of a top police officer.

[Vettayadu Vilayadu microsite] [Vettayadu Vilayadu preview] [Vettayadu Vilayadu picture gallery] [Vettayadu Vilayadu cast & crew]

Copyright 2008 ApunKaChoice.com. All rights reserved.