Vikram Vedha

As a westerner I have grown extremely unsatisfied with the plot and charachter development in western cinema. I have been watching Indian movies and Vikram Vedha strikes a cord that misses in western cinema. It asks questions vital to our urge to rationalize the world arounf us. What is ethical and what is not? The screenwriter leaves the question to each of us in the ending standoff scene, so that it is up to us to decide on what is right and wrong. The cast is wonderful giving their best. There are no unrealistic action scenes and the cinematography is on a high level. The only thing that would make the movie better is some better music, the choice of songs was pretty poor.

Vikram Vedha (2017): Adapting an ancient story into film with the present world characters is not new to Indian cinema. Mani Ratnam's Thalapathy, Raavanan and Anurag Kashyap's Dev D are loosely based on Mahabharatham, Ramayana and Devdas respectively.Following the formula of these films, Pushkar Gayathri duo has made Vikram Vedha loosely based on the Vikramadityan-Bethala tale. In the original story, Bethala teaches a moral story to King Vikramadityan in each episode whenever he gets caught. Similarly gangster Vedha (Vijay Sethupathi) cleverly unmasks the real wrongdoers to the upright cop Vikram (Madhavan).

Plot: A team lead by Vikram (R Madhavan), a ruthless, no-nonsense encounter cop, is on the hunt to capture/kill a dreaded gangster Vedha (Vijay Sethupathi). In this battle of good versus evil, as audiences we are left to pick a side but everything you see is not what you believe. There's always another side to everything in life and Vikram Vedha, in the most entertaining fashion, makes its viewers understand this philosophy.

My Review: You know the story. We have all grown up with these characters. But how you present the same story is the question. We've had filmmakers who have tried several forms of storytelling. But re-telling a story with the same effect is perhaps the reason why Vikram Vedha stands out. Pushkar-Gayatri's version of Vikram Vedha is one such smartly-written thriller, which has a texture, well-developed character arcs and filmmaking gimmickry.

Vikram Vedha is not just an ordinary adaptation but a perfect portrayal of morality conflicts.The film keeps pushing us to judge its characters, judge someone by their actions, judge someone by their upbringing and in the process proves how wrong we could be in our assumptions. The confrontation scenes between Madhavan and Vijay are easily the film's best moments as they end in fireworks.

It's highly difficult not to love Vedha's character, thanks to his wisdom and never-say-die attitude.Vedha is one of the most fascinating characters written in Tamil cinema. He's smart, intelligent and extremely funny. While Vikram is naive and sort of represents the general public that easily judges one's character without knowing the entire story.Madhavan and Vijay have competed with each other in delivering intense and convincing performances but it is Vijay Sethupathi who deserves a award for sure.

Cinematography by P.S.Vinod gave the movie a neo-noir look and BGM by Sam C.S. is terrific.

So,Vikram Vedha is one of the best movies of 2017 with mind blowing performances and direction.A Must Watch.

My rating 9/10

Pushkar Gayatri the husband wife duo directors hits the right chord to present an engaging, entertaining, gripping thriller. This is a Neo Noir movie which happens rarely in Tamil.

Story is simple straight forward police and gangster cat and mouse or I could say hide seek game.

The wow factor is the screenplay which is well crafted and characterisations are well etched. The perfect pace stands out first kept the audience thrilled and guessing till the end. Dialogues are sharp as knife and powerful as the gun shots in the movie. The BGM was rock solid which had added the feel to the play.

Coming to the performances Madhavan as Vikram the protagonist a perfect police maintains his grip and emotes intensive emotions particularly when he feels he was used. Vijay Sethupathy on the other hand essays antagonist Vedha a most wanted leader of local gang pulling it off effortlessly seriously effortlessly like so much of assaultness the way he carries himself stands out unique particularly. Loved the in between short stories he threw. Both Madhavan and VJS with their exposed grey carried on their roles picture perfect. They present raw psychological thriller duo. All the other support characters were picked perfect. Varalakshmi's plays an extended cameo but stands out as well the new face lady who plays the lawyer and wife of Vikram.

Subtle messages on guilt - revenge - emotions of gangster or the police were the special catch.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this Neo-Noir flick.

Verdict : Don't miss it. Hats off to the team Vikram Vedha. Easy 8.5 on 10

Vikram Vedha is a neo-noir crime thriller that transcends the typical cop-versus-gangster narrative. It's a gripping tale of morality, destiny, and the blurred lines between good and evil.

The film revolves around Vikram, a police officer, and Vedha, a cunning gangster. Their paths collide when Vedha voluntarily surrenders to the police, only to challenge Vikram's beliefs through a series of folktales. This unconventional approach to storytelling sets the stage for a thought-provoking exploration of justice, fate, and the complexities of human nature.

Madhavan and Vijay Sethupathi deliver powerhouse performances as Vikram and Vedha, respectively. Their on-screen chemistry is palpable, adding depth to their complex characters. The screenplay is intelligent, weaving together action, suspense, and philosophical dialogues seamlessly.

The film's exploration of morality is its standout feature. Vedha's folktales force Vikram to question his own beliefs and the nature of his actions. The narrative delves into themes of destiny, free will, and the consequences of choices, making it a film that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll.

The film's cinematography is visually striking, capturing the gritty underworld while maintaining a stylish aesthetic. The background score complements the narrative effectively, enhancing the emotional impact of the scenes.

A pivotal moment is when Vedha reveals his involvement in the killing of a corrupt police officer. He justifies his actions by claiming it was necessary to protect innocent lives. This forces Vikram to confront the complexities of his own profession and the blurred lines between law and morality.

The climax of the film is a tense standoff between Vikram and Vedha, where the lines between hero and villain become increasingly blurred. The ending is deliberately ambiguous, leaving the audience to decide who is the true protagonist.

Vedha's final words, "Kaun kisko sikha raha hai?" (Who is teaching whom?), echo throughout the film, challenging the audience to question their own perspectives on morality and justice.

Vikram Vedha is a thought-provoking exploration of human nature, and its ending invites multiple interpretations. Film is a cinematic masterpiece that transcends the genre of crime thrillers. It's a film that challenges, provokes, and entertains, making it a must-watch for anyone who appreciates intelligent storytelling and complex characters. It's a film that stays with you long after the credits roll, prompting discussions about the complexities of good and evil.

First , I got to know about the movie from IMDB , which showed some posters for highest rated current Indian movies. Since, I got too late to the party I did not get to see the movie in theaters and after looking long and hard found the movie with eng subtitle which was great. (because I can only understand hindi and eng).

About the movie, amazing acting by Madhvan as always but the 'Betaal' (Vedha) of the move is awesome. His acting is so natural, he is the highlight of the movie. Though movie never tries to give any actor/character more time or importance but the guy just shins like a diamond. I must admit, I did not know anything about the actor before this movie and after writing this I will have to look him up..Also, his character's aging process in flashbacks are awesome as well (i don't know who to praise for that).

I got hooked from the first shot of the movie about Vikram & Betaal story , which i loved as a child by the way, and after 15 min in the movie you get the reason for the name.

I have seen few South Indian movies before which shows the real standing of this industry compare to Hindi cinema. If Hindi cinema is to copy trends from there, I believe it should be movies like this not the ninja fighting sequence where people hit villains like hulk and they fly for 10 meters.

Finally, this movie is a must watch for people who appreciate good cinema but beware "Hero do not fly in this movie and are not as powerful as Bahubali".