The magic of Rajinikanth is back once again for the esteemed audience when this much-awaited Tamil action-drama titled “Vettaiyan” hits the theatres on 10th October 2024. Directed by T.J. Gnanavel and produced under the banner of Lyca Productions, the film on one hand shows us the bravery of a strong police officer and on the other hand also highlights human emotions and the complexities of the system. Rajinikanth as S.P. Aathian is a seasoned encounter specialist who chooses to get to the bottom of the crime elements in full swing to make up for his mistake of hunting the wrong people in the name of justice. Amitabh Bachchan has won hearts with his vivacious performance as Justice Satyadev of the National Human Rights Commission, while Fahadh Faasil, Rana Daggubati, Manju Warrier, Ritika Singh and Dushara Vijayan have put their respective roles to the test. Kirani S. R. Kathir’s cinematography, Anirudh Ravichander’s pulsating Western-Indian music score and Philomin Raj’s clever editing techniques take the film to technical heights as well. Right from the beginning, the story of “Vettaiyan” takes us on a journey through justice, corruption and personal litigation, where the triumph of truth seems to be challenged time and again.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Vettaiyan (Hunter) |
| Director | T. J. Gnanavel |
| Writers | T. J. Gnanavel, B. Kiruthika |
| Producer | Subaskaran Allirajah (Lyca Productions) |
| Starring | Rajinikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Fahadh Faasil, Rana Daggubati, Manju Warrier, Ritika Singh, Dushara Vijayan |
| Music | Anirudh Ravichander |
| Cinematography | S. R. Kathir |
| Editing | Philomin Raj |
| Production Company | Lyca Productions |
| Distributor | Red Giant Movies |
| Release Date | 10 October 2024 |
| Running Time | 163 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Tamil |
| Budget | ₹300 crore |
| Box Office (Est.) | ₹240–250 crore |
Vettaiyan Story
Superintendent of Police V. Aathiyan, known as “Vettaiyan” to his colleagues, is a dedicated encounter specialist in the Kanniyakumari district. Accompanying him is “Battery” Patrick, a thief-turned-informer and tech-genius. One day, on the complaint of school teacher Saranya, Aathian and his team catch and kill Mr. Kumaresan, who was filing marijuana, in an encounter. Although the case is justified under the supervision of the Human Rights Commission, Aathian is ashamed of his action.
Some time later, Saranya is transferred to Chennai, but is brutally murdered there. Investigating officers Harish Kumar and Roopa Kiran fail to solve the case. It is alleged that a software engineer named Goona—who had a close relationship with Saranya’s student sister—is guilty due to his addiction to nutritional supplements. Aatiyan is called in; Goona is captured and killed in an encounter at sea. But an investigation by human rights judge Satyadev reveals that Goona was in Hyderabad at the time—in fact, he was innocent.
Athiyan, Patrick, Roopa and DSP track down the real killer while gathering evidence of Harish’s corruption. Technical evidence reveals that Nataraj Shanmugam, the chairman of an institute called “NAT Academy”, lured students with the promise of competitive exam coaching, colluded with the government to hide the fraud and reaped the benefits. Saranya and Goona’s sister uncovered evidence of the scam, which led to Saranya’s termination.
Aathian’s wife Thara records people’s complaints with the help of social media influencers when Nataraj’s goons unleash terror. After Patrick’s sacrifice, Aathian makes public the evidence hidden in a hard disk and holds a press meeting against Nataraj to expose the scam. The government cancels the NAT Academy agreement, but Nataraj escapes from jail and takes Roopa hostage. Aatiyan fights back and gets Nataraj arrested again.
Six months later, the court sentences Nataraj to life imprisonment. Aatiyan gives up his encounter methods and learns to trust the judicial process—ends.
Movie Review
“Vettaiyan” is not just packed with amazing performances, but also has some memorable scenes that keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Let’s take a look at some of the best moments that took the film to new heights:
- Rajinikanth’s grand entry
As expected, the introduction scene of “Thalaivar” took the theatres by storm. The perfect blend of slow-motion shots, powerful dialogues, and his unique style makes this scene nothing short of epic. This entry itself sets the tone for the film—the Rajinikanth we have seen over the years, at his best. - Fahadh Faasil’s moral dilemma
Fahadh Faasil has a scene that is extremely intense when his character is caught in a moral abyss. Fahadh’s acting is on point in this scene as the conflict he is going through is portrayed with such edge and truth that you empathize with him every moment. Her dialogues with Rajinikanth in particular are a masterclass—both of them are quiet yet deeply impactful. - Manju Warrier’s emotional confrontation
Manju Warrier creates magic on screen when she questions Rajinikanth on his difficult decision in a highly emotional scene. Her performance was raw, powerful and touching. The chemistry between the two actors made the scene even more intense, adding depth to the story and proving Manju’s ability to hold her own on screen with Rajinikanth.
Below is the full review of “Vettaiyan” based on some foreign reviews, in which Basudev Das has shared his opinion:
Reviewer: Basudev Das (6 months ago)
Directed by T.J. Gnanavel, “Vettaiyan” was one of the most anticipated films of the year. Apart from superstar Rajinikanth, there are many other stars in the film, which adds a special shine to the frame of “Vettaiyan”.
Gnanavel’s socially conscious storyline is stylistically famous, and here too he has done the same magic—except that superstar Rajinikanth has made it grander with his distinctive costumes and drums.
The film highlights many important social issues—commercialization of education in the country, satire on the ruthlessness of the police department, and the harsh realities of political corruption. “Vettaiyan” drowns us in a barrage of questions: Does justice mean an eye for an eye? Or is there room for forgiveness and reform? These questions keep reverberating in the cinema hall.
And, of course, the real strength of this film is its stars. Despite getting less screen time, Fahadh Faasil plays the role of a sidekick to the superstar well—which is nothing new for a talented actor like him. Amitabh Bachchan’s performance is on a different level; The scenes with her and Rajinikanth are a special treat. Manju Warrier has a limited role, but the passion with which she plays it is commendable. Dushara Vijayan (Saranya’s role) also won over the audience in a short span of time. Rana Daggubati firmly established himself as “Nataraj”.
But the biggest reason is Rajinikanth-his aura, screen presence, and swag gave “Vettaiyan” a distinct identity. Anirudh Ravichander’s music and Rajinikanth’s charisma together are the soul of this film. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the film-it is a rare experience to see the best performances of all these actors together. So, I give “Vettaiyan” 3 stars with all my heart.
Movie Trailer
Conclusion
“Vettaiyan” is a visual experience, with Rajinikanth’s aura, Amitabh Bachchan’s seriousness, and the presence of talents like Fahadh Faasil-Manju Warrier. T.J. Gnanavel’s sharp screenplay has a strong social message along with entertainment. Anirudh Ravichander’s music and scene editing keep the story alive. Though the narrative pace slows down at some places, the dialogues’ grip and high technical quality keep it moving forward strongly. Overall, “Vettaiyan” proves to be a perfect pick for Rajinikanth fans and a film that inspires serious thinking on social issues.
