Powerful performances, Terrific screenplay, Haunting music, Tight editing, Production values, a Raw gangster filmPowerful performances, Terrific screenplay, Haunting music, Tight editing, Production values, a Raw gangster filmToo much Bloodshed and Violence, Not everyone's cup of tea
National award-winning director, the talented Vetrimaran is back after his critically acclaimed flick VIsaranai, joining hands with his Aadukalam hero Dhanush after 7 years with Vada Chennai, the first part of a trilogy gangster saga, and the movie has released today amidst humongous expectations. Here's team AP Herald's first on net Vada Chennai review.
Vada Chennai revolves around Anbu (Dhanush) a carrom player who leads a happy life with his national player dreams and his love Padma (Aishwarya Rajesh). However, his life changes after Rajan (Ameer) enters his life and his death causes a sea change in his Life as he becomes a gangster. Now he has to complete Chandra's (Andrea) Revenge mission for the death of her husband Rajan and Dhanush has to fight the evil Samuthirakani, Daniel Balaji, Pawan and whether he emerged victoriously is what vada Chennai is all about.
Dhanush is effortlessly excellent, as Anbu, with multiple shades as the characters grow across different phases, like the teen in love, with his naughty acts, as the youngster who is forced into the dark route losing his innocence and in the process also his fear, and finally entering the gangster route. His body language and dialogue delivery are an asset. Aishwarya Rajesh as Padma is just amazing, as the swearing, foul-mouthed, madly in love girl, and conveys emotions beautifully, Andrea as Chandra excels as the demure and daring girl, while Ameer as Rajan is adequate in a character that turns the story and is the fulcrum. Samuthirakani, Daniel Balaji, Pawan, and Kishore play solid roles as pillars of Vada Chennai, and with their grit and aggression are so lifelike and bring Vada Chennai a whole new level of rawness.
Santhosh Narayanan's background score is pulsating and haunting and sets the tone for the ultimate bloodbath, and also soothes in the romantic episodes. Velraj's cinematography is top notch as he captures the essence of the livelihood and rustic milieu of the people of North Madras, bringing alive the lifestyle and the raw, angry, and bloody nature of the area perfectly. Editing by GB Venkatesh and Ramar is taut and keeps the audience glued. After a number of critically acclaimed flicks, the last being Visaranai, and after collaborating twice with Dhanush in Pollathavan and Aadukalam, director Vetrimaran is back with Dhanush for Vada Chennai, and the first of the trilogy of gangster movies has released today, and yes, it has totally lived up to the massive expectations.
The first half moves on a decent pace, establishing the pivotal characters, and with subtle and realistic love episodes, and on the face, violent and raw action episodes. Vetrimaran has weaved a very clever and engaging screenplay on how Anbu's life changes once and for all, with the involvement of Rajan, and how it impacts Padma, Chandra, and how the other characters played by Samuthirakani, Kishore and Pawan lock horns or bond with Anbu, only to take him as well as the audience into a game of money, power, betrayal, anger, death, brutality, and more violence. Vetrimaran has made no compromises in his screenplay, as the movie is laced with swear words, raw violence, and loads of action and sensational lines, and makes Vada Chennai an unadulterated adult flick that will stand the test of time as one of the finest gangsters flicks ever. All said, Vada Chennai excels as a fine gangster drama, setting up the tone for the second and third parts perfectly.
