Vettaiyan: The good and bad of Rajinikanth's investigative drama 

Vettaiyan, starring superstar Rajinikanth, has hit the screens. The film is expected to set the box office on fire. Here are some positive and negative aspects about the film before you book your tickets.

In Short

• Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan return to the screen together after 30 years
• Anirudh’s BGM acts as a pillar even when everything else slows down
• The lack of ‘Rajini-ism’ in the film might not go down well among fans

Superstar Rajinikanth has returned to the silver screens with his highly anticipated film, Vettaiyan. The investigative action entertainer is directed by TJ Gnanavel of Jai Bhim fame and boasts an ensemble cast with Amitabh Bachchan, Fahadh Faasil, Rana Daggubati, Manju Warrier, Rithika Singh, among others. Before you go and watch the film, here's a break-down of all the good and negative aspects of Vettaiyan:

Vettaiyan: The Good

1. Compelling Storyline: TJ Gnanavel’s story has an enticing plot with a good blend of hard-hitting emotions, shedding light on several important questions that pop-up in the society of powerful people. Most of the characters blend very organically into the narrative, making it more engaging. It is because of the story that this film seems something more than just a big Rajinikanth entertainer.
2. Rajinikanth-Amitabh Bachchan together on the big screen: It is always a treat to see when two legends of Indian cinema come together on-screen. In Vettaiyan, we get to see Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan sharing screen space, as two individuals with conflicting opinions and approaches towards social justice. The Rajini-Big B combo was last seen together in the 1991 super-hit Hindi film Hum.
3. The Fahadh Faasil magic: Riding high on the success of the Malayalam blockbuster Aavesham, Fahadh brings a lot to the table as the right-hand man to Rajinikanth in Vettaiyan. He plays a pivotal role in the progression of the storyline, and engages the audience with his charming energy and light-hearted comedy on-screen.
4. Anirudh’s BGM, the main pillar of Vettaiyan: Anirudh has become one of the most sought after music composers in the country, delivering back-to-back hits across the film industry. Even though he has been subjected to a lot of criticism and trolling on social media for the level of similarities between his projects, the sheer amount of value his BGM adds to the big screen experience is undeniable.

Vettaiyan: The Negatives

1. Screenplay and execution not upto the mark: Screenplay writer B Kiruthika seems to have missed a mark in finding the right balance between making the most of Rajinikanth’s screen presence and keeping the story as the central figure of the proceedings. It felt like the makers were in splits about displaying Rajinikanth’s mass persona and keeping the story going, and ended up with hindrances on both ends.
2. Outdated cinematography and framing: The camera work and framing in the film were quite basic in its approach. It does not seem to do any heavy-lifting in terms of adding to the visual experience of the viewers. Even during crucial scenes or elevation scenes, where Anirudh’s BGM is working wonders, the cinematography and framing act like a road bump rather than a smooth ride.
3. Hit-and-Miss with ‘Rajini-ism’ on screen: It would be commendable had the team of Vettaiyan taken the approach of completely abandoning the ‘Thalaivar Rajinikanth’ image and focused more on the veteran actor’s dynamic performance. An underwhelming attempt at showing ‘Rajini-ism’ was executed poorly and highlighted director TJ Gnanavel’s lack of mastery in this particular department of cinematic story-telling.