Veetla Vishesham Tamil Movie
Where To Watch:
Balaji, as an actor enjoys a unique position in Tamil cinema. He started his journey as a radio jockey, and then played supporting roles (mainly as a comedian) in films, he is also an activist who stands by the people for various causes, and then finally, he launched himself as a hero with "LKG" in 2019. So, his arc from a goofy comedian to an acceptable lead traversed a nominal arc until "Veetla Visesham".
I was a little disappointed with the titling style for RJ Balaji in this movie. A title animation played out when Balaji's name appeared on the screen. The one we used to have for stars like Rajini, Kamal, Vijay, and more recently for Sivakarthikeyan. With this, he has made his intentions loud and clear. That set the tone for his character in this humble remake of "Badhaai Ho"!
The story is about a couple in their late fifties expecting a newborn baby. They have 2 grown-up sons - one is working as a school teacher and another is going to complete his schooling. On top of it, they live in a nosy neighborhood with a loud-mouthed mother-in-law. So, the movie is all about the societal taboo of late pregnancy and the false morals that are shoved on people after a certain age.
"Badhaai Ho" was a successful Bollywood movie that even had a sequel recently. The subject is very much relatable to the whole of India. The plot perfectly fits in with the target audience that Balaji has always aimed for. As I mentioned before, the screenplay has been heavily tinkered with to suit Balaji's aspiring "hero" image.
In a recent interview, Balaji mentioned how he got rid of his spectacles in this one and how long it took to "season" the audiences. There is nothing wrong with his aspirations, but I am compelled to think that he has forgotten his USP. He was always perceived as the boy next door (with or without glasses).
There is a radical difference in the way he brings out his lines, and overall his body language looked a little artificial. I missed the spontaneous "Pacha sattai" Balaji whom we've all known through the years. Keeping my fingers crossed for his next one and hope we won't see another action hero.
Sathyaraj and Oorvasi as the embarrassed parents were perfect for the role. Sathyaraj's role as a timid man who is helpless and stuck between an adamant wife and annoyed family members was very well crafted. Urvashi was truly on a rampage with her modulation and expression. Late actress KPAC Lalitha, who is a veteran, proved her class in her ultimate appearance. Aparna, as Balaji's girlfriend, was unusually calm but played a fine supporting role. Pavithra Lokesh as Aparna's arrogant mother was a good choice for the role.
Music by Girisshh Gopalakrishnan was not noteworthy, but it added to the comic flavor of the movie. Cinematography and editing were also par for the course and nothing stood out. The movie's USP is the underlying emotion and family bonding. That has been worked out well and a fine job at artiste selection has ensured that it played out well on screen.
We are left to yearn for more memorable moments as the story is predictable and it could have been watched by many as it is a remake. The script could have incorporated much better lines and plot points. The Malayalee flavor was enjoyable, but again, character talking in Tamil even in Kerala was something of a hit and miss. The movie can be enjoyed in parts.