Review: Vaa Vaathiyaar: Disappointing and Fails to Deliver

 

Movie: Vaa Vaathiyaar
Rating: 2/5

Cast: Karthi, Kriti Shetty, Sathyaraj, Raj Kiran, Nizhalgal Ravi, Shilpa Manjunath, Anand Raj, Karunakaran, GM Anand and others

Director: Nalan Kumarasamy 

Produced By: Studio Green Films Pvt ltd

Streaming On: Prime Video

Story:

Ramu (Karthi) is raised by his grandfather (Raj Kiran), a devoted admirer of legendary Tamil star MGR. Coincidentally, Ramu is born on the very day MGR passes away, leading his grandfather to believe that the boy is none other than MGR reborn, destined to uphold his ideals. He nurtures Ramu with MGR’s films and instills in him the values of honesty and righteousness.

As time passes, however, Ramu strays from those principles. To keep his grandfather happy, he pretends to be virtuous but secretly grows into a corrupt police officer. When an unexpected incident exposes his true nature, Ramu faces a life-changing challenge. What happens next and how he deals with it form the crux of the story.

Performances:

Karthi delivers yet another strong performance, convincingly capturing MGR-like mannerisms and presence, along with delivering fun as Ramu in some scenes. Kriti Shetty makes a promising entry but is soon reduced to a couple of songs and brief scenes, making her Tamil debut underwhelming. Sathyaraj has a limited scope as a crooked businessman, while Raj Kiran shines as the MGR-obsessed grandfather, bringing depth and emotion to the role. Supporting actors like Nizhalgal Ravi, Shilpa Manjunath, Anand Raj, Karunakaran, and GM Anand are adequate in their parts.

What Works:

The film’s heavy use of MGR references adds nostalgic charm and drives the narrative, at least initially. The first half has a few engaging moments, especially the heartfelt scenes between Ramu and his grandfather, and Karthi’s portrayal of Ramu’s quirky side is entertaining and well-executed.

What Doesn’t Work:

Unfortunately, the intriguing idea of MGR’s soul influencing the protagonist is let down by weak writing. The absence of a strong antagonist makes the conflict feel hollow, and the villains’ motives are poorly explained, leaving the fight against corruption vague and unconvincing. Scenes involving Vaathiyaar and the villains lack energy, while the police investigation and chase sequences defy basic logic. The romance track feels forced and adds little to the story, weakening the songs as well. With underdeveloped villains, the climax fails to deliver a powerful payoff.

Vaa Vaathiyaar Review and Verdict:

Nalan Kumarasamy's Vaa Vaathiyaar has a strong premise and benefits from convincing performances of Karthi and Raj Kiran. But weak characterization of villains, uneven narration, lack of clarity, and illogical proceedings keep it away from its full potential.