Vanthaan Ventraan Tamil Movie
Boxer Arjun (Jeeva) is on his way to a national tournament. He crosses paths with Architect Anjana (Taapsee Pannu), also heading for the test of her life, and knocks her miniature house down. She breaks down (a moment that seizes the pinnacle of the actress' unrefined acting skills) saying that her life is ruined. Arjun assembles it wrongly putting the parking space and kitchen on the first floor, deciding to escort her to the exhibition. Choosing a stranger over his career shows the character's utter disregard for himself. When Anjana comes to find out about the boxer's heroic act, it pricks her conscience. She atones by falling at the boxing judge's feet. The camera zooms into Jeeva's spellbound face, standing behind a glass door. Time for music number "Anjanaa Anjanaa".
Terrible. Just terrible. This is when I think that maybe they should've just ripped off a Hollywood movie. There's an overdose of parallel storytelling here and you ultimately find out that half of it was a figment of the character's imagination. Not because there's something wrong with him but because he loves his long lost brother. What absolute trash!
The already bumpy narrative slumps into a pit when Arjun's recountal of life events to the villain is interrupted by gun shots from a rival gang. The villain and his gang get out, take care of the situation and kill a man from the enemy territory. When they're back, the absconded Arjun is summoned to finish his love story. Rofl. You then realize that Arjun is telling him all of this with the hope that he'd surrender to the cops- Arjun's way of serenading Anjana. When the cops begin to close in on the villain, he arranges to meet a cop friend on a cruise at the middle of the sea (the location to emphasize on his ambushed state). But once that session is over, he's on his way to crush the police inspector with his truck, on land. Either Kannan is a half-wit or thinks that the targeted audience is.
Attempting to bend your mind by adding a twist at the end doesn't just take you for a ride; it drags your expectations down with it. It isn't a surprise, a trick or anything you give a damn' about. It is plain deception to camouflage a myriad of gaping fissures. The oratorical skills of the actors are tested by giving the characters long, complex (yet frivolous) speeches to recite to one another. The transition between them is discerned by the recipient saying 'oru nimsham', just when the orator is about to leave, and beginning with his/her own twaddle. And among all of this is director Kannan, standing behind the camera with a satisfied grin, certain that our level of astonishment is escalating every minute.
Vandhaan Vendraan also suffers from polarized characterization. The characters are given the roles of nellavan or kettavan and their minds are as indecisive as the director whose vacillating stand with the characters springs to the surface, every now and then.
Why would an actor like Jeeva who has proved his mettle with Ram, Kattradhu Thamizh and Rowthiram choose a role so far inside his comfort zone? Queuing up so many projects a year makes me question his respect for his own talent. His co-star Taapsee Pannu is already a contender for the worst actress award of the year.
Vendhaan Vendran is a totally disposable piece of work.
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