"Vikram Vedha" (2017) - Movie Review

"Vikram Vedha" (2017) is a Tamil language crime thriller directed by Pushkar-Gayathri and stars R. Madhavan and Vijay Sethupathi in the lead roles. The film revolves around the story of Vikram (Madhavan), a police officer who is on a mission to catch Vedha (Sethupathi), a notorious gangster. However, as Vikram delves deeper into Vedha's past, he begins to question his own beliefs and morals.

Vikram Vedha was released on 21 July 2017 to critical acclaim with critics praising its cast's performances (particularly Madhavan and Sethupathi), writing, narrative style and major technical aspects. Made on a budget of ₹110 million (about US$1,661,631 in 2017), the film performed well at the box office, grossing ₹600 million (about US$9,063,444 in 2017) worldwide despite experiencing difficulties due to the changes resulting from the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax. Vikram Vedha won four Filmfare, Vijay and Norway Tamil Film Festival awards each. Additionally, it received three Ananda Vikatan Cinema Awards, two Techofes Awards and an Edison Award. In 2022, the film was remade in Hindi under the same title by the same directors.

— Pushkar and Gayathri on why they chose Madhavan and Sethupathi for the lead characters

We were sure that Vedha would be perfect for Vijay Sethupathi. The way we had imagined Vedha, the way Vijay talks, the way he even draws analogy or shares anecdotes is very similar to Vedha. We, in fact, noticed this only after we had narrated the script [to Sethupathi]. Vikram was more suited for Madhavan because he had to play Vikram who is kind of straight forward. Maddy was perfect to play something like that. Vedha, on the other hand, does everything in a roundabout manner.

The film's screenplay is intelligently written, with an intricate plot that keeps the audience engaged from start to finish. The dialogues are sharp, witty, and perfectly delivered by the lead actors. The film's storytelling is unique in that it is presented in a non-linear fashion, which adds to the intrigue and suspense of the film.

The performances of both R. Madhavan and Vijay Sethupathi are outstanding. Madhavan delivers a nuanced performance as Vikram, a tough and no-nonsense cop who is forced to confront his own beliefs and values. Sethupathi is equally impressive as Vedha, a charismatic and enigmatic gangster who is both ruthless and sympathetic. Their on-screen chemistry is electrifying, and their scenes together are the highlight of the film.

The supporting cast, including Shraddha Srinath and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, are also excellent in their roles, and add depth and complexity to the story.

The film's technical aspects, including the cinematography and music, are also noteworthy. The visuals are stunning, with the gritty streets of Chennai captured in all their glory. The music, composed by Sam C. S., perfectly complements the mood and tone of the film.

Overall, "Vikram Vedha" is a brilliant film that showcases the best of Tamil cinema. Its well-written screenplay, outstanding performances, and technical brilliance make it a must-watch for anyone who loves a good crime thriller. It is a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll, and one that you will want to revisit time and time again.

Vikram Vedha is a 2022 Indian Hindi-language neo-noir action thriller film written and directed by Pushkar–Gayathri and jointly produced by YNOT Studios, Friday Filmworks, Reliance Entertainment, T-Series Films, Jio Studios and Theme Studios. A remake of the duo's 2017 Tamil film of the same name, it is inspired by the Indian folktale Baital Pachisi and stars Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan as the titular anti-heroes. while Radhika Apte, Rohit Saraf and Yogita Bihani play supporting roles. In the film, a police officer sets out to track down and kill a dreaded gangster.

Production began in October 2021 and was wrapped up in June 2022. The film was theatrically released worldwide on 30 September 2022 and received positive reviews from critics and audience, with praise directed towards the direction, cinematography, screenplay, background score and the performances (particularly Roshan and Khan), but underperformed commercially.