A compelling story bogged down by prosaic choices- Cinema express

Bear in mind the ethereal Monica Bellucci strolling down the streets of a nondescript and sleepy Sicilian city within the World Battle 2 drama, Malena? The lazy city bustled with vitality each time Malena, carrying floral print attire and a good looking hat, walked amongst them. Each single man wished to be along with her, and virtually each single considered one of them knew she was manner exterior their leagues. The closest they acquired to her was by spreading rumours about Malena. It was like their final revenge towards the lady who didn’t even know of their existence. In some ways, when Velonie (Sanjana) walks down the streets of Kanyakumari, Vadhandhi: The Fable of Velonie is lower from the identical material as Malena. At one level within the collection, a shattered Velonie cries out loud to her strict mom asking if being born stunning was her fault. In another setting, such a dialogue would possibly scream haughtiness, however right here, it comes from a spot of poignant honesty. That is the core emotion that the collection carries via its eight episodes. However Vadhandhi strikes so away from this emotion {that a} sense of bloatedness creeps in and a decent narrative, which is the spine of any gritty crime thriller, begins fraying across the edges. 

Forged: SJ Suryah, Laila, Sanjana, Nassar

Director: Andrew Louis

Score: 2.5 / 5

Vadhandhi begins off with a cinema taking pictures the place a lacking heroine is mistaken to be the lifeless physique discovered on the taking pictures location. However quickly, we get to know that it’s certainly the titular Velonie who’s discovered lifeless on a windmill farm. This mistaken id proves to be the gasoline for a whirlwind media s*itstorm and a trial by society that takes over the lives and even reminiscences of Velonie and her mom Ruby (an excellent Laila). Contemplating the collection is titled Vadhandhi (Rumours), the movie does begin off with a bunch of individuals saying issues about Velonie and what might need prompted her ugly killing. Though it’s clear as daylight that almost all of those rumours are simply rumours, the continual drilling in of the identical data from individuals actually near her makes us lay a shadow of doubt on Velonie. Creator Andrew Louis is profitable in constructing a world that leaves us with doubt if Velonie is certainly what’s being mentioned about her. In a really good transfer, even when Velonie is the central character of the collection, she by no means tells us something instantly, and all that we see on display is rumour. It’s her pals telling us in regards to the form of good friend she was. It’s her mom telling us in regards to the form of daughter she was. It’s author Sebastian (a persistently efficient Nassar), one of many visitors within the mansion run by her mom, who paints a relatively healthful but sketchy image of the gaps in Velonie’s story. There’s a fiance right here, a lover there, and some forbidden romantic liaisons some place else. And similar to the viewers figures out issues, we’ve police officer Vivek (a relatively restrained SJ Suryah) determining the identical together with us. 

Factors to the makers to deal with the viewers with respect, and provides us a slowburn that enables the investigation to breathe, and doesn’t cramp all of it up. The case of Velonie isn’t solved in a day, however over weeks, months, and even years. Her story manifests into varied varieties, and takes a toll on Vivek’s psychological make-up. His relationship together with his spouse (Smruthi Venkat) is strained on account of a relatively distinctive purpose. His equation together with his superiors hits a roadblock due to his doggedness in in search of the reality even after the case is closed. Vivek goes via these emotional upheavals as a result of he’s compelled to rummage via all these undesirable flab to resolve the case. Sadly, the identical could be mentioned about Vadhandhi too. We too need to navigate via a whole lot of distractions to remain on the course of what’s taking place. Whereas the slowburn-style of the narrative isn’t an issue in any respect, and is the truth is, a welcome detour from the standard crime thrillers we see on OTT, Vadhandhi runs into issues with the unnecessarily assumed have to fill in eight episodes. 

There are threads within the collection that don’t have to be there in any respect. Take, for example, the recurring trope of getting 5 IT staff in Chennai consuming the information of Velonie via mainstream and social media. Now we have one of many guys discussing Velonie in a really crass method, and after some extent, he’s admonished by the ladies within the group for being… crass. Whereas it’s comprehensible what the makers had been going for with this detour, it’s force-fitting a message, and it’s not simply misplaced in a collection that believes within the intelligence of its viewers, it’s downright juvenile. The identical holds good for the narrative on sure highly effective media homes manipulating the information and publishing sensationalist falsehoods to pump up the gross sales and TRP. Whereas there is no such thing as a doubt that trial by media is a foul factor, Vadhandhi’s illustration of the identical is pointless, distracting, and a colossal waste of runtime.    

Vadhandhi, which is bolstered by Simon Okay King’s music, makes most use of its picturesque areas, and is likely one of the better-looking collection on OTT.  Nevertheless, the novelty, particularly with the casting and the setting, doesn’t at all times shine brilliant. Whereas the Anglo-Indian dialect is delivered with a whole lot of conviction, the protagonists aren’t at all times convincing with their Kanyakumari dialect, which is delectable with the smattering of Malayalam. The labour in delivering these strains are clear, and it solely makes the characters really feel inorganic. Additionally, Vadhandhi delves into sure grim and gray areas, and whereas there are not any reservations in regards to the themes explored, it’s disappointing that it isn’t explored sufficient. There’s an fascinating apart a few band of brothers wielding affect within the space due to their occupation as hunters. This thread has an interesting premise, however it feels underserved within the bigger scheme of issues. Alternatively, sure representations undoubtedly felt problematic, particularly a disturbing dream sequence that later turns into one thing extra ‘household pleasant’ and the visible aesthetics, and sure allusions that borders on the Lolita-isation of Velonie. Additionally, there’s a  

For a collection that’s satisfied of its strengths to ship a gradual burn, an virtually rushed remaining act looks like a copout. It’s however on condition that the final episode of a criminal offense investigation collection is used as an data dump, however simply that in Vadhandhi, we’ve flashbacks piling in a single after the opposite, and one too many twists, and naturally, a few messages too are thrown in for good measure. Vadhandhi takes its time however does resolve the Fable of Velonie, and unmasks a whole lot of characters’ true feelings. It lays naked the truth that nobody is above saying or spreading or utilizing a hearsay to their very own benefit with out pondering of its affect on the article of mentioned hearsay, even when they don’t seem to be alive. Suryah’s Vivek constantly factors out the depravity of people that bask in mentioned actions, however by the point, the eighth episode is finished, and the credit begin rolling, we too are as drained as him, and simply need to curl up in a secure house. Discovering out these uncomfortable truths, which maintain a mirror to our personal biases and prejudices is an fascinating idea. However we’re left with extra questions in regards to the collection than occurring a deep introspective look. After all, Vadhandhi, at instances, makes us see ourselves as a number of characters within the collection. We could possibly be those passing random judgments on strangers. We could possibly be those shedding sleep over harbouring a darkish secret to maintain the peace of the household. We could possibly be those fuelling a hearsay for private positive factors. We could possibly be the topic of rumours floating round. We could possibly be the social justice warriors who’ve a special view exterior of the general public eye.

Vadhandhi goals to be a whole lot of issues and does find yourself being a few of them, however what it doesn’t find yourself being is extra compelling and an even bigger reflection of its misgivings. To paraphrase Vivek’s commentary in regards to the energy of truths and lies — Indha maadhri kadhaila nalla vishayam odum, nalla illaadhadhu parakkum.