The world of OTT has spoiled the audience for choice and has resulted in a very low threshold for bullshit. Hence, travelling to a cinema hall, requires, multiple thoughts. Vettaiyan, was worth that travel. Although I watch movies rarely, when I do, I see a gradual shift in Tamil cinema. In Raayan, in the ponnu-paakura scene, the women were sitting on the chair, as against the floor. Very low bar, yes. Also Raayan, handled rape and rape survival differently with aigiri nandini thundering in the background.
In Vettaiyan, the damsel-in-distress trope has been abandoned. The women have their say, and find ways to come out of their misery, not waiting for the hero to arrive and swoop in. Girls with hijab as background dancers was interesting to note. Gnanavel, after Jai Bhim, has again managed to make human rights mainstream, which is no mean feat in a Rajini movie.
But some old habits die hard. It did feel like the fights were included begrudgingly. Helpless goons waiting for their turn to be bashed, has really become cringe, in 2024. But many seem to love it. One disturbing scene is repeated multiple times, for no real reason, which is a big downer, because this is a movie which everybody should see, including children.
At the age of 73, Rajini is still mesmerising on the screen. And I am not even a fan. Anirudh's BGM is Anirudh's BGM!! Everything else has been written and said about it. Fafa walks a slender line balancing comedy and intellect tactfully. AB does not seem to be mouthing his dialogues in Tamil, so was less convincing to me. But seeing two stalwarts together on screen may evoke nostalgia for some.
I have long been intrigued by encounters. The movie does traverse the opposite ends of the debate. Breaking the worship of extrajudicial killings, created by this same industry, could not be done hastily. And it takes time, which an impatient watcher may not be willing to concede. In a patriarchal, misogynistic Tamil cinematic universe, creators like Pa. Ranjith, Maari Selvaraj and Gnanavel are taking one step at a time, in making human rights, evocative, appealing and entertaining. To that end, they deserve all credits.
