BOTTOM LINE
More Drama Less Connection
RATING
2.25/5
CENSOR
‘A’ Certified, 2h 52m
What Is the Film About?
Vidudala Part 2 continues from where the first part ended. The master, aka Perumal (Vijay Sethupathi), is caught, and he must be taken to the station. On the way, he recollects his past and explains his position and ideology. How it changes the lives of the police personnel in charge is the movie’s basic dramatic premise.
Performances
Vijay Sethupathi is effective, and that is all he needs to be here. He is simply a vehicle to channel the ideology which he does with ease and conviction. That he manages to create empathy not only for the character but also for the movement is a fine testament to his act.
Unlike the first part, Soori is not the main protagonist. He appears passively throughout and comes into play only towards the end. The internal angst he manages to present works out well.
Manju Warrior has a much smaller part, but she shines whenever given the chance. All her scenes with Vijay Sethupathi are done well and manage to convey even emotions that are more personal rather than aligned with the movement.
Analysis
National Award winner Vetri Maaran directs Vidudala Part 2. As the title suggests, it’s the second and concluding chapter of Vidudala.
The character of Perumal is already established as a mythical figure in the first part itself. In the second part, we see further exploration of his past, right from his initial days as a master.
The movie follows predictable beats if one has seen enough films with similar backdrops. The good thing here is the casting and writing which lends both weight and grip to the proceedings with their intensity and dialogue delivery.
Since the narrative treads a predictable path, there is an air of drag from the start. Still, the back-and-forth screenplay with intriguing present manages to hold the attention..
The interval is okay. It reaches a point which is expected from the start anyway. The lack of surprise keeps the expectations lower for the second half.
However, there are a few twists in the second half that are placed effectively. With no flashback and more gripping arguments, the second half continues to maintain the tempo.
A few sequences, like the one where Perumal poses a question of one versus five, the thought behind carrying forward the legacy, etc, are good. The latter is essentially the movie’s main theme.
The climax exploring the transformation angle is neatly done. Some of the other actions look a bit contrived and forced into the narrative to get across a point, though.
Overall, Vidudalai Part 2 is another honestly made drama from Vetri Maran. But, unlike his previous attempts, despite ample dramatic the emotional connection is missing. It feels more like a political class explaining an ideology. If one doesn’t mind the theme, try it; otherwise, stay away.
Performances by Others Actors
We see multiple actors doing small parts in the movie. Among them, Kishore and Rajeev Menon easily stand out. The former is the teacher who takes Perumal under his wings, and the latter is the sophisticated yet cunning minister, make a mark easily. The rest of the cast is good, too, but they have substantially less impact. Anurag Kashyap is wasted.
Music and Other Departments?
Ilaiyaaraja provides the songs and background score for the movie. The songs don’t register much in that they only act as a speed breaker in the movie. The background score is good.
The cinematography is neat. The terrain lends itself to some dreamy visuals, but the lensman sticks to the theme and story and delivers realistic images. The editing could be tighter. The movie feels very lengthy. The writing is excellent, although it gets a lot heavy at times.
Highlights?
Dialogues
Ending
Core Theme
Drawbacks?
Length
Flat Narrative
Half baked characters
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, in Parts
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, But to those who like hard-hitting dramas
Vidudala Part 2 Movie Review by M9
