What’s it about?
Concerned about the implications of Perumal’s (Vijay Sethupathi) arrest, a leader advocating for the people’s cause via his insurgent group, the police endeavor to transport him through a jungle to a more secure location until higher authorities issue further directives.
Will the police operation conclude with his arraignment in court? Will his group ambush and facilitate his escape?
Analysis
The sequel to “Viduthala Part 1” explores the intricacies of politics, the conflict between law enforcement and left-wing radicalism, and the ethical quandaries faced by both the naxals and the police. Director Vetrimaaran’s narratives consistently amplify the voices of the marginalized and chronicle the untold experiences of the lower class.
At the film’s outset, Vijay Sethupathi’s character states, “I was never a ghost. I am the people. You, the ruling elite, declined to acknowledge my presence.” At the film’s conclusion, a constable asserts that the powerful invariably document history, but the oppressed must uphold the tradition of oral storytelling to transmit their narratives throughout generations, lest they be overshadowed by the histories of the ruling class. These two significant lines represent the primary ideas of the second part of “Vidudala.”
Vijay Sethupathi’s character narrates his transformation from a teacher to an insurgent leader, detailing his marriage to the daughter of a factory owner and his subsequent estrangement from his mentor, which led to the formation of his own faction. This process reveals numerous subplots. The subplots reveal the moral difficulties faced by the characters. However, in attempting to convey many aspects of the conflict between police and naxalism, the director loses control of the film. This very lengthy story features a predictable narrative, rendering it monotonous after a point.
Occasionally, it also turns into a YouTube lecture about leftist politics and police repression. The second half becomes quite a dull affair.
However, in one place, the film provides new insights about the rebel leaders. It illustrates why the leaders of the rebellion group engage in romantic relationships and subsequently marry. A dialogue occurs between Vijay Sethupathi and Kishore, when Kishore articulates the rationale for the significance of rebellion leaders engaging in marital relationships.
Vijay Sethupathi enhances the narrative through his performance. He delivers a captivating performance in several pivotal situations. His romantic story with Manju Warrier and their interactions are captivating. She showcases a novel aspect of her performance in this film. Among the other actors, Kishore receives the most significant role and does it with complete proficiency. Soori only appears in a few scenes.
Ilaiyaraaja imparts his distinctive influence through his composition. The cinematography is commendable. The editing is devoid of sharpness. The Telugu dubbing dialogue writing is of subpar quality. The Telugu names are of machine quality; this shows how poorly the film was dubbed. There was not even a basic effort in dubbing quality.
Bottom line: Except for a few scenes, “Vidudala 2” also becomes a political class and turns quite preachy. It becomes uninteresting after the intermission.
Rating: 2.25/5
Movie: Vidudala 2
Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Manju Warrior, Soori, Kishore, Gautham Menon, Rajiv Menon and others
Music: Ilaiyaraaja
DOP: R Velraj
Editor: R Frames
Directed by: Vetri Maaran
Release Date: December 20, 2024
