Vettaiyan

It's fair to say that all the "mass heroes" have been type-cast for a while,you just can't make a film that all sections of the audience love. Make it for the fans, others dislike it; no fanservice in the film and the fans hate it; somewhere in between, they're gonna say "it's neither here nor there." If, like several Tamil cinema fans, you also wondered if the "Jai Bhim director" would do justice to a Rajini film, he..... did....kinda-sorta. I've given up on the 'mass movies' genre. The last one - GOAT was fanservice overload, Rajini's last - Jailer - I didn't enjoy. It was...mid. So, I had very low expectations with Vettaiyan to begin with, but I was pleasantly surprised. The first half of the film - racy af. I did NOT expect it to be that fast. Makkall would say "Viru-virupu ah" As much as I dislike Ani-bro oda songs, the sound design in the first half (hell, in almost the entire film) was phenomenal, it kept the intensity UP! The second half - was reminiscent of the several 10x movies we've watched over the years. Nothing new, expect you see what the director was trying to do, so if you cut him some slack, you'll find the 2nd half decent as well. The message, I get what they're trying to address. Couldn't have expected this in a Jailor or a GOAT. But, was it an awesome 2nd half? No. Rajini was....the best that the director could make him in a 'message based' film while trying to maintain his mass hero persona. Bro did what he could, and credit where its due. AB Sr. was....not needed but there's a point when someone has to point fingers at Rajini's character, so, having someone as big as him makes sense. Rajini & Fafa have some scenes together, and their chemistry was great. I'd love to watch a Meiyazhagan type film between these two. Was Fafa necessary? Prolly not; but bro did a good job with whatever was given to him. It's amazing that you forget that an actor like Fahad is on screen, that's how massive Rajini's screen presence was. Oooof. That's....about it. Others do what they can in their very limited screentime. My issues with this film - There's a fight scene in which one gunda is coming at Rajini, while other 10 are waiting, like a statue, for the first guy to get beaten up. Second guy starts right after; then third and so on. Why? Just so that you can use the body cam!? 😐 - The climax fight scene. Can't explain for obvious reasons. - What happens after the the entire plot is done....I mean, didn't that just negate the entire damn film.....? Why did they not.....Nobody asked any questions.....? Spoilers, so, I can't explain. Maybe I missed something, so we can discuss one you're done watching. - Someone please ask 'Ani bro' to STOP singing. Also, if the director is trying to make us stay invested in the role and buy into that world, nodi-ku nooru vaati "Superstar daaaa" nu BGM pota I can only see the actor Rajini and not the guy he's playing. Whatever happened to the old-school "Baashaa......*takujujhum*" 😂 type themes? Or even the vikRUMMM....or LeoooooOOOooooo! Make it for the character and not the actor and hype the role up! Somma Thalapathy da....Superstar da nu potutu savu adikaranunga. Keta Ani bro da...Seri OK. Overall - Awesome first half. Depending on who you are, bearable to decent 2nd half. Mass-movie fans would tell you it's neither a Rajini film, nor a Jai Bhim type film. (What more do you want from Rajini and his directors? 😐 Can't make all the movies for just the fans) Casual movie goers are likely to find the good middle ground as long they can get past the ending/not notice it. I liked it more than Jailer and GOAT...I think. There's a review i read somewhere that draws parallels between "Encounters" and "Hero-worship" and asks, if the larger than life hero, in his role, could take a step back and think, "Am I overdoing it? I think I made a mistake..."why can't the fans emulate the hero, calm down for one moment, and think the same about worshipping these 'heroes'? Food for thought.