Cast: Suri, Vijay Sethupathi, Bhavani Sree, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Rajeev Menon
Director: Vetrimaran
Music: Ilaiyaraaja
Cinematography: R. Velraj
Editing: Ramar
Producer: Elred Kumar
Director Vetrimaran is well-known in the Tamil film industry for giving more importance to the story than the heroes. His movies like Visaranai, Vada Chennai, and Asuran have garnered many national awards and have showcased his talent. The film “Asuran” created a sensation in Tamil and later became a hit in Telugu as “Narappa.” Now, Vetrimaran’s latest film “Vidudhala Part 1” has been released in Telugu. With Vetrimaran’s name attached, the expectations for the film have grown significantly. So, will “Vidudhala” enthrall the Telugu audience? Has Vetrimaran delivered another hit? Let’s find out.
Plot:
Kumareshan (Suri) joins as a police constable and becomes a driver in the police squad, which is tasked with capturing the people’s leader Perumal (Vijay Sethupathi). Kumareshan believes that the police’s duty is to protect the public from harm. Meanwhile a bear attacks a woman in a forest and to save her, Kumareshan defies his superiors and uses the police jeep. Later, Kumareshan befriends the injured woman’s granddaughter (Bhavani Sree), and their friendship gradually turns into love. The story revolves around Kumareshan’s struggles as he juggles between love and his mission to capture Perumal.
Performances:
Director Vetrimaran’s success in selecting actors suitable for their roles must be acknowledged. Suri and Bhavani Sree’s performances captivate the audience in this film. Suri as Kumaresan was convincing and Bhavani as an innocent girl nailed the role. Chetan is convincing as the ruthless police officer, while Vijay Sethupathi, although only appearing for a short time as Perumal, leaves a mark with his performance. Gautam Menon, Rajeev Menon, and others have performed to their limits.
Technically:
In Part 1 of the film’s release, director Vetrimaran introduced a new world. The portrayal of the forest and the police setup is quite natural in his unique style. However, the film falls short in terms of conflict and drama. Some situations feel dragged out. The efforts of the police to catch the gang, the common people getting caught in the crossfire, is something we’ve seen in many Telugu films. The repetition of these scenarios in this film makes it somewhat boring. The romantic scenes between Kumareshan and Paap also feel routine. On the other hand, the cinematography is good, and the production values are high.
Plus Points:
Performances
Cinematography
Climactic sequences
Minus Points:
Lack of conflict in the story
Dragged out situations
