Ganesh_reviews_in_detail : Viduthalai Part 1
2023, Tamil. Spoiler free!!
Viduthalai : Freedom
Multiple time national award winner Vetrimaaran’s finesse is on display for the audience right from the word GO. Once the context is set, he delves into a crucial part of the story, which necessarily need not be the starting point (we can understand this further only when part 2 comes) but does give a banger of a start for this first installment in the way it is shot - that is - a single shot sequence thats almost 12-15 minutes. And yes, the single shot aspect’s requirement is justified for the scene and not a trick to show off his film making.
The starting single shot also establishes that extremely disturbing visuals are required for the impact he wants to create in that scene. He (fortunately) extends the same justified treatment for these visuals, which are dime a dozen throughout the movie in the form of blood flowing or splattering, and blurred nudity to the point it numbs the viewer. Thus, I feel the initial few mins in a way foreshadows the kind of movie we are going to sit through, and makes it clear that this is not the movie for light hearted and definitely not the movie you watch for entertainment.
Let’s talk about Soori in real life for a moment. He worked hard and got a ripped body, VERY few actors have that in Kollywood. Maintaining it requires a ton of dedication and discipline. His film choices post Viduthalai are - A movie with director Ram and one with Koozhangal fame PS Vinothraj. His interviews show he is an unsophisticated innocent man with a strong conscience, filled with determination required for someone starting something new from scratch and the immense hunger to do complete justice to his job.
I repeat, hunger is not for the victory or a destination but for the process itself. Cut to the film - THAT IS KUMARESAN - the character played by Soori. I couldn’t help but see parallels and that further cemented my belief that Kumaresan being his debut character role is a lifetime role for him. Vetrimaaran spots him, picks him and sculpts him to perfection and that announces the arrival of a complete director’s actor, I believe. Whether Soori alone can carry a film is something time will tell.
Vetrimaaran’s casting choices have always been talked about, and the Soori decision is one more feather to his cap. Rest of his casting decisions fit in just well ( with VJS being the crown jewel) for the plethora of characters in this world. However, one qualm is why cast a not-so-dusky Bhavani Sre and brownface her, instead of going for someone with the actual skin tone required? That’s something only Vetri can answer.
Coming back to the array of characters, Part 1 pretty much seems like establishing the fluff around these characters - with Soori and Bhavani Sre treated centrally; Chetan and GVM on the sidelines - and building the world around Vijay Sethupathi’s Perumaal Vaathiyaar (Vaathiyaar = Teacher) all the while. He has barely 10-15 minutes of screen time and despite the movie anchoring around him, it reveals close to nothing about why he is the man he is, except for 1-2 scenes which of course do not provide enough meat. I am reminded of Badri in Kamal Haasan’s Kuruthipunal (1995, Tamil) here which left me with a sense of incompleteness because of one unanswered question - What is the ideology of Nasser and Co? Why they fight so hard?
Despite reserving the Vaathiyaar’s classes for part 2, the movie engages completely showing the fight and scratching the surface alone. The genius in the screenplay is thus demonstrated through 2 pillars. One, establishing the situation at hand, stakes on the table for each party and the characters, their traits and nuances. Two, making us root for the leads and their romance by writing a romance so integrated with the core of the movie. Ilayaraja’s songs and Velraj’s camera make this romance even more lovely. Yet another place where the camera and music work stand out is the climax chase sequence.
The movie has a few issues like lip sync being VERY incoherent (Vetri, please stop making changes during dubbing), the film losing a little pace here and there. The latter is forgivable since it keeps the audience emotionally invested for most of the time. The former is actually off-putting in many places. Hope he changes this and makes his almost perfect product a perfect one.
Last but not the least, VJS. This was supposed to be a stand alone movie with the Vaathiyaar role to be done by veteran director Bharatiraja. Owing to age reasons, he is requested to step out and he obliges. Enter Makkal Selvan Vijay Sethupathi and the project becomes a 2 part movie with one part specifically dedicated to The Mentor (An ode to how the name card of VJS was displayed in the movie - Yes, “Makkal Selvan” was dropped and it came as a pleasant surprise to the VJS fan in me).
Since the part 1 feels like Kuruthipunal of sorts as mentioned above, part 2 naturally leaves us with this pressing question, especially after the distrubing scenes we are put through. This followed by few glimpses of part 2 in the scene just before post credits amps up the curiosity for what is to come. Part 2 is a must-watch for those who watched part 1. Vetrimaaran, bring it on!!
4.3/5
On a lighter note - when you realize you have to wait for part 2 of a Vetrimaaran movie
(Vetri isn’t caught in a place by his fans coz of part 2 buzz. Its the other way round - fans have been caught in a suspense, which can only be revealed by Vetri. You guys are done for until then!!)
Theri review bro, as always. Keep up the good work. It keeps getting better.
Nice review da. The level of insight gives me the impression of an auteur. Really interested in watching this now :)