Vikram Vedha

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

There is a theological belief that says Jesus was not of flesh. Gnosticism tries to substantiate that belief and says; since Jesus was not of flesh, he didn't die in the cross. It was indeed Simon of the cyrene who got crucified for Jesus. I am not an advocate of any of these beliefs but what is enthralling is all these stories gives you questions which shakes you. If you are questioned "If Gandhi's father was Gandhi? Or Is Godse's son a Godse?", then you are in the never ending tale of Good vs Bad or God vs Devil. This goes on from Generation to generation. From childhood, we might have heard a lot of stories on moral values and principles. One of the intriguing things in listening all those stories is; how to attain the wisdom to decide between good vs bad. Some of the stories end with a verdict so you need not really bother about the process of deciding the evil. The ambulimama stories of Vikramadhithan-Vedaal never end with a verdict. They always question you. So, the process of judging\comprehending\concluding is left to you. Vikram-vedha gives you the same experience in big screen; of questioning yourself with few tales and lot of questions. Most importantly, you enjoy it a lot like all the granny stories. The canvas is big and you could see lot of colors. The story tellers or the grannies are enamoring and very wise to make you think. Vikram-vedha has the x-factor in it because the art of story-telling is at its finesse. Surprisingly, it is both deductive and detective. If it is an investigative story where you are searching something , it is not the object that gets found or the result you achieve it is all about the ride. It is the hermeneutics that gives you the satisfaction. There are stories that cancel themselves. A good example would be Yuvan's "Naankavuthu Kanavu" (Fourth dream) in Tamil. One common thing about such stories is that they switch back and forth between time. They create a world in your mind and bring you back to your senses. They question you how that world was. Then they will tell you another tale and then ask questions. Sometimes it will be tales within tales. The idea is just to engross you and present you the alternate realism. Then they will connect the dots within all these tales slowly revealing the canvass. The devil will be in the details. Exactly, what Vikram-Vedha does to you.

Madhavan plays the role of Vikram. The straight as an arrow, who considers himself having the wisdom of seeing right and wrong. Its zero or one for him and so he is in peace. Enters, Vijay Sethupathi, Vedha@Vedaal, who questions Vikram's wisdom. Vikram slowly realizes that its not always black or white and truth gets hidden somewhere in between. Vijay Sethupathi scores easily. Madhavan is good but somehow reminds me of a grown-up Anbarasu of Anbe Sivam times. He is spontaneous, charming, good and straight. In many aspects, we as audience are in the world of Vikram. We associate ourselves to his character. Vedha gets him into a ride. Vedha knows the truth. He asks you tough questions. Slowly, you acknowledge that Vedha has a superior intellect. You stick out to him. You listen to him. He mocks you, burdens you sitting at your back. He bedevils you with ease and poise. Vijay Sethupathy scores easily because of his usual cool, calm way of living the character. Vijay Sethupathy easily strikes a chord because he had arrived and mastered the art of matching the traits of a character with dialogue delivery, looks and walk. Simple copybook approach. In the world of tamil cinema, where the likes of Kamalahasan doing a lot at the age of 60+ to live a character, Vijay Sethpuathy does it with real ease. May be the ease is what stands apart!

Metaphors and images from folklore and mythologies are spread over the film including the title. There is this character called Simon, who just lives as gnostics' belief. He has a son named Alex. He was made to carry the cross. He is confused, he can't bear it and he can't refuse it. He just falls back to the lord. A bullet abandoned by Vikram's father, gets the much need chain sprocket from Vedha just like the clues. Vedha has a brother whom Vedha protects a lot and thus loses him. He is the crux of the story and nicknamed as pulli. A money minded kid Chandra grows up exactly as she was earlier. Vikram's wife is another tool in the tale. She plays an advocate. Advocate and cop inside same house creates lot of dilemmas in the personal and professional front.

Dialogues are crisp and sharp. There are notoriously comical dialogues in Orampo. Pushkar and Gayathri the director couple are really good at dialogues. My urge to watch the film is mainly due to the dialogues of Orampo. A cop with pride says that his to be brother-in-law is an engineer. Vikram responds "What is the pride being an engineer?". His wife confronts him that "in lawyer's world cops are wrong!". Vedha says we have to cease the opportunity. For him, a cop gets a name by being a cop, but he has to do something to be a hero. He says its nauseating to have blood stains and so buys pistols. His policy is not to worry about losing an egg but to make an omelet out of it. The punch soundtrack is too good. Music at times is very loud. Screenplay stands apart and the neatly woven details gives you the embroidered image in the climax. Vikram-vedha a must watch!

What will happen when two star actors, who tend to give priority to stories more than their respective roles, join together in a movie...? Vikram Vedha happens...!

A usual cop-criminal story, which is presented with a unique screenplay inspired by Vikramadithan-Vedhalam stories of folklore, where Vedhalam (Vijay Sethupathi) asks a tough riddle to Vikramadithan (Madhavan) to evade encounter. The movie starts with a huge difference between the characters, with Vikram - as an honest cop; and Vedha - as a ruthless gangster. The differences fades away as the movie progresses and goes through a complete karmic cycle, from evil vengeance to redemption, with the support of riddled flashback stories narrated by Vedha. The idea remotely resembles Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction in a rather simpler manner. But this movie is a masterpiece of unique kind.

When you find enough ingredients in the plot, setup and pace of the movie, the unexpected thrilling element that changes the entire course of the movie, at regular interval, will take you by surprise. The pace keeps you hooked and does not give you time to anticipate a twist. That's what have made this movie enjoyable to watch.

No one can fit into the role of Vikram Vedha better than Madhavan and Vijay Sethupathi. Especially the comical arrogance of Vijay Sethupathi have created wonders on screen. Even a small character in the movie have owned the role to perfection providing a flawless performances from all sides.

Yaanji song and BGM does the work it was expected to do.

The movie is a rich mixture of class and entertaining elements with astonishing story and narration. In all, this movie is a treat to watch and worth sparing some extra bucks post GST.

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.