Among Vetrimaaran's most notable qualities as a filmmaker is the sufficient breathing space he allows each character and plot development, aside from the amount of effort and ingenuity that goes into the writing and staging of some of the most pivotal moments that shape a character's journey. I felt all these qualities in Viduthalai Part 1, even though it came off looking like a product that needed much tinkering and restraint. Some creative choices didn't make sense, and there was the nagging feeling that it would've looked much better when seen back-to-back with Viduthalai Part 2. But the minor flaws of Part 1 notwithstanding, it still managed to make a lasting impression on account of the character named Kumaresan, played by Soori, who showcased a new dimension of the actor in him that felt like a breath of fresh air. One could identify well with the strong sense of disillusionment and the moral conflicts this character experienced.
Part 2 kicks off with the detainment of Vijay Sethupathi's Perumaal, the mysterious revolutionary figure introduced in Part 1 through a situation that demanded a sudden outburst of brutality. What's the story and truth behind this once-peaceful man who became a champion for the oppressed? What led him to orchestrate the events in Part 1? We get the answers in Part 2, which seems more interested in bombarding us with information, be it through the elaborate politically-charged, didactic dialogues of Vijay Sethupathi or the concurrent cross-cutting that splits the action between shifting this rebel to another location and the higher authorities whose choices are dictated by ulterior motives.
There's a near-cinematic quality to how these characters manipulate and update their narratives. Much like Vetrimaaran's filmmaking, they attempt to improvise as and when required. However, the occasional use of rapid editing to convey political ideas and moral conundrums doesn't always work. While this back-and-forth approach helps accelerate the pace and panders to the sensibilities of attention-deficit members in the audience, it also feels, at times, like it's moving way too fast, to the detriment of storytelling. I wished the film slowed down a little; maybe spending more time with Perumaal and his wife Mahalakshmi (played by Manju Warrier) would've helped. Manju Warrier plays her character with the requisite dignity but is rendered inactive after a certain point. The mature love story of Perumaal and Mahalakshmi is further enhanced by an interesting angle that adds more colour to the story.
Speaking of colour, this is a beautifully shot film, especially the opening portions that explain one of the events that triggered Perumaal — involving a boy named Karuppan — and what compelled the teacher in Perumaal to take up arms and join hands with a Communist leader played by Kishore. These stretches, where we see Perumaal being mentored by this leader, or Perumaal expressing concerns about whether he would ever be able to do justice to his ideology and his people, and his growing affection for Mahalakshmi, stand out the strongest. These chapters are interspersed with tragic events marked by rain, dust, blood, and grains. Vetrimaaran, with cinematographer Velraj, imbues some of these images with an astoundingly lyrical quality, especially in the atmosphere-heavy early portions involving Karuppan. And Ilaiyaraaja's exceptional score, while effective in some places that demand a sense of urgency, doesn't produce the desired effect in others due to the lacklustre writing and staging of those moments.
Following the release of Part 1, some criticism was directed at Vetrimaaran's use of extremely violent imagery to generate an empathetic response. For me, this wasn't an issue. However, I did feel that the choice of music in certain areas, like in that encounter sequence with the senior cop played by Gautham Menon, left a bad taste. While in Part 2 Vetrimaaran shows more restraint, the stylisation of the shootouts, with an over-reliance on slow motion, dilutes the impact of several casualties. Vetrimaaran's cinematic approach to the action sequences is understandable to a certain extent but things begin to get slightly repetitive later, and, I must add, even comical — or unintentionally comical.
I would've also loved to see a strong central performance in Part 2, like what Soori delivered in Part 1. Unfortunately, he is mostly relegated to the background this time around, despite being present in the scenes with Vijay Sethupathi, and despite his voiceover constantly reminding us that he is the witness and chronicler of these events. I would've loved to see Vijay Sethupathi bring something new to the table as he did in some of his earlier films, but what we get is a merely passable performance with an all-too-familiar body language. As the vaathiyar, he has some powerful lessons to teach us, but their delivery lacks the necessary bite.
Film: Viduthalai Part 2
Director: Vetrimaaran
Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Manju Warrier, Kishore, Gautham Menon, Rajiv Menon
Rating: 3/5