Directed by:Vetrimaaran
Produced by:Elred Kumar
Starring: Soori, Vijay Sethupathi, Bhavani Sre, Gautham Vasudev Menon
Cinematography: R. Velraj
Music by: Ilaiyaraaja
Production companies: RS Infotainment, Grass Root Film Company
Release date:31 March 2023
Language:Tamil
Viduthalai, marketed as Viduthalai Part 1, is an upcoming Tamil-language period crime thriller film written and directed by Vetrimaaran. Produced by Elred Kumar under the banners of RS Infotainment. The film stars Soori and Vijay Sethupathi . This film was presented by RS Infotainment. The film is adapted from short story Thunaivan written by Jeyamohan.
Based on Jeyamohan’s novel Thunaivan, Viduthalai unfolds as two divided movies. Viduthalai: Part 1 is an uncompromising, hard-hitting, and spine-chilling account of abuse of power. Police brutality isn’t new to Tamil cinema and has been both used to elevate hero cops and, lately, to establish the darkness in authority figures. What makes them turn to vicious violence? The answer suggested by films like Visaranai has been ‘system’. Viduthalai goes a step further and speaks of the inhuman practises of the police and the system.
What is scary is the randomness with which village people get into situations that threaten their very existence, and it sends a chill down our spine. how the government used cops to figure out the riot. The villagers, who caught them out of the blue, become victims in a game played by individuals who have been exploiting the system for their personal gains in an all-too-sudden manner.
The first half could easily have become the sort of tragedy that we see in Bala’s films.We have underprivileged policemen, or “soori, who have to endure torture at the hands of a higher official and some police torture towards the villagers. Characters get beaten to within an inch of their lives. But there is also restraint in the filmmaking and a context to the actions. We see how those in power can threaten those below them.
Some directors have fascination towards violence and might even design or alter the plot accordingly but in this case violence is part of the film, it wasnβt force fitted. It was necessary for the brutality to make you feel the pain that the director wants to convey.
The screenplay, which is as quick as a bee, is another major highlight of Viduthalai. Though it is a moving film, it is also hard hitting and has tight writing, which is why Viduthalai is unique. Without any commercial gimmicks, the film manages to be a mainstream product that, with some suspenseful moments, keeps the audience at bay from the start. The transitions are so smooth that the film flows like water from a rock.
Viduthalai is a performance oriented film; the acting quality is top notch. Youβll find some magnificent performances from Soori, Bhavani sri, and Vijay Sethupathi . Not just the leads, every single person, even the ones who pass for a fraction of a second make an impact. Be it the scenes where village ladies mercilessly gets beaten up; you will always feel itβs really happening right there in front of you. Sooriβs characterization deserves a special mention. Such realistically portrayed cop you hardly see in films.
Art department and the cinematographer are two pillars of the film. Their works go hand in hand with the film. The set works or the camera movements, the makers have approached a different set of treatment for both halves.
Some may call Viduthalai raw and disturbing, while most of the others may say it is a brutal piece of art that is so real and suspenseful. But if youβre a fan of political films or films that depict pain, you’ll be eagerly awaiting Part 2. Do not miss it!
Bottomline
Brutal, raw, realistic, and disturbing!!
4/5
