Nalan Kumarasamy’s first two feature films are now regarded as some of the finest comedic works of the Tamil industry in the last fifteen years. Having won the first season of the television short film competition ‘Naalaya Iyakunar,’ Kumarasamy’s debut feature, 2013’s ‘Soodhu Kavvum,’ was a black crime comedy that was a breath of fresh air for the industry. He collaborated with lead star Vijay Sethupathi again for 2016’s ‘Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum,’ which was again a subtly boundary pushing yet comforting comedy. A decade later, Kumarasamy returns with his latest action comedy ‘Vaa Vaathiyaar’ starring Karthi.
The film follows Rameshwaran (Karthi), a police officer who was born at the same time that actor turned former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu MG Ramachandran passed away. Rameshwaran’s grandfather (Rajkiran) is a devout fan of the actor and believes his grandson to be a reincarnation of his idol. However, Rameshwaran has other plans, indulging in the odd bribe and illicit activity, and keeping his true identity hidden from his quixotic grandfather. The rest of the film explores this clash between the idealist and the pragmatist and evolves into a quirky internal battle for the protagonist. The film is at its best from the pre-interval action sequence to just before the climax, where the audience is taken on a Zorro-esque vigilante adventure, full of creative filmmaking. However, the first act and climax are heavily let down by its underwritten script and bumpy pacing. There are noticeable jump cuts in shots – perhaps due to censorship issues – that do not aid the film’s jittery flow.
The characters in the film are mostly one-dimensional. Karthi’s charisma and range do well in the second act, however his paper-thin characterisation does not give him much to work with at the start. Krithi Shetty plays U, the spiritually inclined love interest, who serves almost no purpose in the development of the plot other than an indication that events may take a turn for the fantastic. Sathyaraj plays the primary antagonist Periyasamy, the typical multi-millionaire bad guy. Rajkiran and Anandraj play MGR fans but are not given sufficient material to work with.
The film shines most in its technical aspects. Kumarasamy has stepped up in his craft, with a much more pronounced filmmaking style in ‘Vaa Vaathiyaar.’ The action sequences are brilliant, leaning heavily into the comic book style the film opts for. He makes great use of cinematographer George C Williams, with inventive use of blocking and lighting. There are numerous long shots through corridors which are wonderfully lit. The set design is strong too, especially in the remixed song ‘Raajaavin Parvai,’ which illustrates Kumarasamy’s ability to make great use of a bigger budget. A serious weak spot in the film is its use of the score and soundtrack by Santhosh Narayanan. Although the tracks ‘Uyir Pathikaama’ and ‘Aalapikkey Ummak’ are catchy, the film is front-loaded with most of its soundtrack in the first forty-five minutes, which is an overwhelming experience.
Overall, ‘Vaa Vaathiyaar’ is a mixed bag. A generous reading of the film sees it as a meta satire of the state of commercial Tamil cinema, where every other hero is trying to be the next MGR. However, the film seems too earnest in its storytelling to commit to this interpretation. Instead, this film feels like an homage to the ouroboros the industry seems stuck in. Although the film should be praised for its quirky concept, Kumarasamy never quite sees the project through to its full potential. If you enjoyed ‘Vaa Vaathiyaar’ I would recommend Madonne Ashwin’s 2023 film ‘Maaveeran’ or Balaji Tharaneetharan’s extremely underrated meta dramedy, 2018’s ‘Seethakaathi.’ For an introduction to MGR’s filmography, I would suggest 1965’s ‘Enga Veetu Pillai,’ 1969’s ‘Adimai Penn’ and 1975’s ‘Nalai Namadhe.’
Krishna's rating: 2.5 stars
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Official trailer for film below.