Velaikkaran (2017)

Velaikkaran (2017)

A youngster from the slums fights to end food adulteration being commited by large food manufacturing companies. Velaikkaran (English: The Worker) is a 2017 Indian Tamil language social thriller film written and directed by Mohan Raja. Featuring an ensemble cast including Sivakarthikeyan, Fahadh Faasil and Nayanthara, the film has music composed by Anirudh Ravichander and cinematography by Ramji. Produced by R. D. Raja, the film is based on a sales executive named Arivu (Sivakarthikeyan) who fights against food adulteration committed by high-class companies. The movie was released on 22 December 2017 to positive reviews.

Director: Mohan Raja

Writers: Mohan Raja, Subha (screenplay) (co-writer)

Music : Anirudh

Stars: Siva Karthikeyan, Fahadh Faasil, Nayanthara

This movie is worth going to the theatre for Anirudh's music alone, Bjorn's singing is the highlight, and Jonita Gandhi lives up to the expectation. There are a few thought provoking ideas, extrapolating the advertising strategy a pro- capitalist technique and using it against the very system of capitalism. This is a movie that will stimulate a long drawn out contemplation of the society well into the following weeks. Nonetheless, I would reserve such ideas to a platform like TEDx, the message and the format don't gel well, the didactic script back-fires miserably. What's worse, is that even the message is flawed, if packaged goods are harmful, so are steroid- induced chickens, pesticide ridden vegetables which again is only so called natural!Director Mohan Raja has come up with another massive product after Thani Oruvan.

From this film it is more than evident that Sivakarthikeyan has evolved into a better actor. There are too many good characters, thus reducing the screen-space of each actor that seem to be disabling the audiences to connect with those characters. Fahadh Faasil has done a fantabulous job but lies low as compared to Arvind Swami in Thani Oruvan. Velaikkaran lacks the cat & mouse game between the hero and the villain and focuses fully on social messages and facts. It is indeed stunning that the facts told can be easily related with our daily lives, and it sure changes our view towards malls and supermarkets. Nayanthara's role too wasn't as expected but it didn't turn out to be an obstacle for the movement of the story. Anirudh's bgms has been the backbone in elevating the impact of the scenes, and the songs to are fixed wherever it is necessary and not to drag time. In a typical Sivakarthikeyan movie, we expect comedy, fun, dance, romance etc., but for those who expected these things are sure to get disappointed and to enjoy the film, they must realise that it is a Mohan Raja film. The facts and cause steals the show, and has managed to involve the audiences. It has also left a huge impact on the audience and sure to become aware of the food adulteration that has been prevailing in our nation for decades.

I rate the movie a 3.5/5 #Velaikkaran #Tamilmovie #moviereview #Blogging #vigalcollective