Director Vetrimaaran is one of the most critically acclaimed filmmakers working in the Tamil industry today. Since his debut in 2007 with ‘Polladhavan,’ Vetrimaaran has created socially and culturally significant works, pushing the boundaries of Tamil cinema. His latest feature is the conclusive part of yesteryear’s ‘Viduthalai,’ reuniting with stars Soori and Vijay Sethupathi.
The film picks up immediately after where the last film left off. ‘Vaathiyar’ Perumal (Sethupathi) has been captured and the officials in charge of the operation struggle to control the narrative surrounding the arrest. In the midst of this, Constable Kumaresan (Soori) continues to have conflicting thoughts and emotions regarding his allegiances. The first two acts of the film are flashback-heavy, diving into the backstory of the mythical figure of ‘Vaathiyar.’ The issues with the film start here. A lengthy runtime of over 2 hours and 50 minutes did not feel adequate to contain everything this film wanted to say. Everything feels cut short - past the point of efficiency - damaging the flow of the film. The content is great, however one cannot help but wish Vetrimaaran had taken more time to tell his story. There seemed to be more than enough material to warrant a trilogy, with a middle chapter solely dedicated to the history of ‘Vaathiyar.’ A new character is introduced: Manju Warrier’s Mahalakshmi plays Perumal’s love interest turned wife. This interesting new addition does not reach its full potential due to the sloppy storytelling.
Technically, the film has many glaring issues. Vetrimaaran’s famous audio sync problems are ubiquitous here. The overall carelessness of the film’s craft is evident during one scene in particular, where a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shot is included in a romantic scene between the lead pair, throwing the entire intimate interaction askew. Velraj’s cinematography is a highlight especially in the Soori portions of the film, once again capturing crisp and cool frames of the mountainous landscape. The action sequences felt too unrealistic in an otherwise grounded film.
The score is better than the first part's, with Ilaiyaraaja opting for a more subtle soundscape overall. The soundtrack however, pales in comparison. ‘Poruthadhu Pothum’ is a rousing theme voiced by Yogi B, turning a leitmotif into a full-fledged call to arms. However, ‘Dhinam Dhinamum’ does not reach the musical heights achieved by 'Unnoda Nadandha’ or ‘Kaatumalli.’
Overall, ‘Viduthalai: Part II’ is a lacklustre conclusion. Perhaps Vetrimaaran should’ve opted for either a trilogy or the miniseries format to better tell this tale. A predominant theme of the film is how narratives are controlled and twisted, and one wishes Vetrimaaran had better control of his own story. A passionately political story and a fantastic finale save 'Viduthalai: Part II' from being a failure, however. The final fifteen minutes of the film is a wondrous return to form, which deserved a much better preceding two and a half hours. If you enjoyed this film, I would highly recommend watching more of Vetrimaaran's brilliant filmography.
Krishna's rating: 3 stars
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Official trailer for film below.
