Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu Movie Review: Simbu’s terrific acting saves GVM’s gangster origin film

Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu marks the third outing of Silambarasan AKA Simbu and Gautham Vasudev Menon after the successful Vinnaithaandi Varuvaya and the middling Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada. With Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu, the duo has yet again proved that they can create magic whenever they join forces.

Muthuveeran AKA Muthu is a migrant worker from Tirunelveli, who goes to Mumbai to make ends meet. A B.Sc graduate, Muthu is struggling in his village in barren land. His mother takes his brother’s help and sends him to Mumbai to work at a parotta stall. Things take a drastic U-turn when Muthu works at the stall. They are not just migrant labourers but are also forced to kill people for their gangster bosses in Mumbai. One such incident pushes Muthu to take the gun in his hand. He then dives deep into the underworld. So much so that there’s no turning back. How he then gradually becomes one of the dreaded gangsters in Mumbai forms the story.

Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu’s story is written by popular literary writer B Jeyamohan. While watching the film, there’s a constant thought that runs in your mind whether VTK is a Gautham Menon film or a Jeyamohan film. VTK takes its sweet time to get into the story and Gautham slowly grasps our attention by establishing the world of Muthu. The story peaks in the interval where Muthu retaliates and makes everyone jump from their seats. And kudos to Simbu, who performed it with such finesse.

Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu is a gangster origin story like Kamal Haasan’s Nayagan, Dhanush’s Pudhupettai and several films of the same ilk. B Jeyamohan and Gautham Menon had a solid story in hand. With a gangster story at its core, there is so much scope for action, emotion and betrayal. And the duo explored every single aspect in the film with a terrific performer like Simbu.

While the first half of VTK establishes the story, the second half was a letdown. The writing, in many places, falls flat, often putting everyone to sleep. Big reveals happen here, but they are inorganic. Take, for example, how he finds out that there’s a black sheep in his gang. That’s a stretch that could have elevated the film to a different level. But, it comes across as a matter of fact. Similarly, the climax, which is basically a lead-up to the sequel, feels so rushed.

Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu belongs to Simbu all the way. His transformation scene and the restraint in his performance made the film engaging. Siddhi Idnani made a confident debut and looks perfect for the role of a Mumbai girl. The romantic portions between Simbu and Siddhi slowed down the pace considerably.

Here’s the trailer of Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu:

Another subplot that made Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu stand out is the one featuring Muthu and Sridharan (Neeraj Madhav). The two meet at Chatrapathi Shivaji railway station while they land in Mumbai. They start their career in two different gangs. Throughout the film, Muthu and Sridharan cross paths, but their different decisions dictate their lives. In the climax, the two meet again and it’s a profound moment. It shows Muthu what his life could have been if he had run away from Mumbai.

AR Rahman’s haunting music and brilliant background score elevate Vendhu Thanindhadhu Kaadu’s mood drastically. Cinematographer Siddhartha Nuni’s work captured Mumbai’s underworld in a new colour.

Vendhu Thanindhadhu Kaadu could have been Simbu’s Pudhupettai, but it falls short by a few miles. The second half could have been more nuanced.

2.5 out of 5 stars for Vendhu Thanindhadhu Kaadu.

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