Rajinikanth’s 'Vettaiyan' Faces Challenges of Stardom in Attempting Social Commentary

 

Rajinikanth’s 'Vettaiyan' Struggles with Stardom and Social Commentary

In the latest film from director TJ Gnanavel, Vettaiyan, superstar Rajinikanth takes on a challenging role that tackles serious social issues. Gnanavel aims to balance realism with the larger-than-life style of the superstar, exploring crucial questions surrounding encounter killings, such as: When do the poor pay for the sins of the rich? How can the flaws in the education system be critiqued? While Gnanavel successfully navigated sensitive topics in his previous films, Jai Bhim and Vettaiyan, this project presents a different challenge.

Stardom inevitably creates a backdrop of expectations, which can stifle a director's creative vision. In Vettaiyan, Gnanavel attempts to provide a realistic social commentary that revolves around the superstar but ends up creating a mismatch in tone.

The film follows Superintendent of Police Athiyan (Rajinikanth), who supports extrajudicial killings, and retired judge Sathyadev (Amitabh Bachchan), who opposes such encounters. Their paths cross as Athiyan seeks to track down the killer of a school teacher at a government institution.

While Gnanavel's script holds potential, it is ultimately undermined by Rajinikanth's iconic persona. Had another actor played the role of Athiyan, Vettaiyan could have delivered a more impactful message. Instead, the film exists in a state of limbo, caught between the director's vision and the superstar's action-packed appeal.

Rating: 2.5/5