Vendhu thanindhathu kaadu (VTK) is a benchmark film for Gautam Vasudev Menon (GVM) and STR. The film showcases director’s smooth transition from his comfort zone of romance to the world of violence and STR from the usual not too serious type of characters to a role that is heavy and needs a sort of focus and sort of preparation. ARR , after a long time gives you the music that you always say he does – give you slow poison. More you listen it grows on you. As I did not hear the songs before seeing the film, it took me by a surprise. Now < I am cannot work without this songs playing on my headphones. In the film Marukuma comes in bits but aptly placed. I think Mallipoo song was wasted in the film.
A gangster flick always has this plot of a guy turning Don by eliminating the existing one and how he does it is the only difference. The same plot here and what Jeyamohan ( story writer) had about Mumbai underworld is what is complete out of synch. Never has Mumbai had a Malayali underworld and Tamil gangsters at loggerheads as all belong to Madrasi gang. Also, a bodyguard cannot become a Don and it is the heads of the various groups that operate under the Don that crown the next King.
Apart from this flaws , I think GVM’s handling of first half of the underworld is very realistic and devoid of an artificial. Except for the junior actors moving around as passerby and sets, the mental state of such ‘migrants’ and their dilemma is well said. In the second half, GVM is on his familiar territory – LOVE. The girl Siddhi Idnani is just the girl next door and right for a salesgirl with a dimple. Her dubbing voice sounds more mature than her. She is a perfect foil and would go a long way as an actress.
Coming back to the plot, VTK could have worked bigger, if GVM had an antagonist that is powerful. Here the hero is caught between two gang wars and happenings around him and not pitted against a single force.
GVM screenplay does not lose track of the main plot and smoothly takes us from guns to flowers and back. STR never at moment shows any drop of guard and is the stiff upper lipped boy of few words. His eyes at times speaks more than the dialogues. Cinematography is just about apt and nothing more than needed. STR and GVM have disproved that they can do only a VTV variant and capable to do more genres.
