Soori in a still from ‘Viduthalai Part 1’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A glance at director Vetri Maran’s filmography shows us a common trope in all the films directed by him; They are stories of ordinary men trying to make a living for themselves, only to be unwittingly drawn into a world of chaos that they must escape unscathed. While this may seem like an over-simplification, it does not negate the fact that they all acted seriously and professionally; Looks like the winning streak continues Viduthalai Part 1, It is also evident how his socio-political commentary has become more emphatic with his latest outing, which also happens to be his most politically charged narrative yet.
The cops in Vetri Maaran’s films are usually filled with tough guys conditioned to obey orders or treacherous power-holders who may misuse them for malicious purposes. while his to forget — a movie that is pointless not to think about while watching or discussing it Viduthalai – Introducing us to a conscientious individual in the form of Samuthirakani’s Muthuvel, here we get a full spectrum of policemen; so much so that it would be appropriate to title this film 50 shades of khaki.
Viduthalai Part 1 (Tamil)
Director: Vetri Maran
mould: Suri, Vijay Sethupathi, Bhavani Shrey, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Rajeev Menon, Chetan
runtime: 150 minutes
Story: A new constable goes through a series of unfortunate events that leads him on the hunt for the leader of a separatist group
In place of Muthuvel, Kumaresan (Soori) gets a new joiner at a police camp set up in a village surrounded by dense forests near the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border. Kumaresan, as our POV character, learns about the ways of the constables as well as the Makkal Padai movement led by Perumal alias Vaathiyar (Vijay Sethupathi). On the pretext of providing employment to thousands of oppressed people, a mining company – aided by the government in the name of development of the state – plans to bring down the ecosystem around the hamlet. On one side are the revolutionaries who claim they can speak all languages including violence; On the other hand, we have system-led police labeling separatist groups as terrorist organizations. Caught in the crossfire are the villagers who depend on the wealth of the forest for their livelihood and hence support Perumal who wants to save them and the land from the clutches of corporate companies.
Despite talking about government affairs, the politics behind them, and the social issues associated with them, Viduthalai Doesn’t really fall into right and wrong. Instead it focuses on the conflict between the soldiers and the group, as well as the trials and tribulations of Kumaresan, who has to tough trade his innocence and morality for recognition in his job and becomes a Tamizharsi (Bhavani Shrey) loves me. , While the former results in custodial torture and retaliation from the revolutionaries (which has been happening for years now) Kumaresan’s actions meet slap after slap of reality. Like a video game character thrown into a new world, he must seek the unexplored and gain knowledge by understanding the locale’s history and its tryst with those in power.
basically, Viduthalai Part 1 Is Kumaresan coming to terms with the harsh realities of the world, the powers inherent in those, how they can be misused at will and how those on the receiving end retaliate. When he falls on the wrong side of the system, despite knowing that an apology can get him back on track, he chooses to endure the punishment because what is right and what is decreed are not always the same. This leads to another confrontation with a senior who, sensing Kumaresan’s displeasure, asks if he will kill him, to which the once polite constable replies in the affirmative.
The film sports an impressive list of talent behind and in front of the camera. Soori, in the role of a lifetime, brims with energy and innocence as Kumaresan. As a good shooter who is forced to do the basics, Kumaresan finally reaches for a rifle at the climax with his trembling hand, symbolic of a man being taken for a ride and Finally ready to take the helm. The actor makes use of the intense scenarios his character goes through, as well as the flashy scenes of romance.
Vetri Maaran’s latest film boasts an impressive list of talent behind and in front of the camera
Bhavani Sarre, whom we saw earlier Pava Kadhaigal In which Vetri also directed a short film, which is as neat as a strong-minded Tamizharsi. Gautham Menon as Chetan and Sunil Menon as Raghavendra plays the superior police officer and does an excellent job in one of the best roles of his career. Vijay Sethupathi, in an extended cameo, excels as a man with a mission.
Vetri’s frequent collaborator, cinematographer Velraj, photographs the exceptionally inhospitable terrain, difficult even to traverse, let alone shoot a film. A single-shot sequence involving a train accident is perhaps one of the best seen in Tamil cinema. , However, Ilaiyaraaja’s two songs, despite being melodious, provide little respite as they take away from the intensity that the film builds up to.
Despite starting as a single project and now spanning two parts (a sequel is due to be released soon), Viduthalai Part 1 Feels rushed with its narrative. There is so much packed into it that we can hardly stay and feel the atrocities being committed on the villagers. Scenes include nails being pulled, a woman and her father-in-law being tortured naked, and an entire group of women being forced to strip naked. But other than a shameless display of power, those scenes don’t really have that much impact. to forget Gave us within a very limited runtime.
Viduthalai Part 1 ends on a turning point and the ending makes it clear that exponentially more events will happen in the sequel; Vetri leaves us on the edge of our seats.
Viduthalai Part 1 is currently running in theaters