Vaathi Movie Review
Actor Dhanush’s Vaathi is directed by Venkat Atluri and produced by Sithara Entertainments in collaboration with Fortune Four Cinemas. Kerala industry’s Samyuktha Menon plays the female lead role in this movie, which has Samuthirakani as the antagonist. Ken Karunas, Sai Kumar, Tanikella Bharani, and many others are a part of this star cast.
Set in the backdrops of the 90s, Balamurugan (Dhanush), who works as the junior-level teaching staff at a private school institution owned by a tycoon (Samuthirakani) is assigned to train the students from a Government school in a local village. Although it looks like a philanthropic gesture to the outside world, Samuthirakani has evil plans, which get thwarted by Dhanush, who ensures that all his students scale good marks in their academics. Sooner, he faces the wrath of Samuthirakani, and how he manages to tackle the odds forms the crux of this story.
The basic theme of this film is ‘Education’, and it easily lets us emotionally connect with the premise in many places. Actor Dhanush has delivered a commendable performance. It is evident that he has completely dedicated himself to the role designed by director Venky. Being a mass hero, and underplaying throughout the film as a soft-natured teacher needs special mention. Samyuktha is a talented actress from the Malayalam industry, and she has done what is required from her role. However, her portions look far away from the film’s premise and setting. Delete 90% of her scenes, and it makes no difference. The comedy sequences in the first half don’t work out well. Samuthirakani gives complete life to his characterization as an evil-minded businessman. Aadukalam Narain as Dhanush’s father has a limited appearance but is good. So is Hareesh 
Peradi, who doesn’t have more screen time, but still manages to impress us with his screen presence. The cameo appearances by Bharathiraja and Telugu actor Sumanth are okay. The director could have made some modifications by having some famous Tamil actors play the role of Sumanth, which would have connected well with the audience.
GV Prakash Kumar has given his best into BGM. Even during some dull scenes, he has attempted to elevate their impact with his score. ‘Vaa Vaathi’ is the only best takeaway. The cinematography is okay.
The major setting of this film gives the impression of watching a Telugu movie dubbed in Tamil. Even the sequences look too ordinary, and director Venky could have strived to add some impactful scenes that heighten the prominence of Dhanush’s character. Vaathi looks more predictable and clichéd in places…. If the director had worked with a team of Tamil writers, to give the native feel, Vaathi would have been a laudable piece of work.
On the whole, the film has a good message, but if presented with an engrossing screenplay, it would have made a huge impact on the audience.
