Vikram Vedha Review: Hrithik and Saif shine in this beautifully crafted film

Plot:

Crafted out of the Tamil hit of the same name, 'Vikram Vedha' is a neo-noir action thriller which is rooted in Betaal Pachhisi, a popular Indian folktale. Vikram, an officer in the Uttar Pradesh Police Special Task Force, is on a mission to find and eliminate gangster Vedha. However, when Vedha surrenders, he starts narrating stories to Vikram which alter his understanding of good and evil.

Acting:

Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan's performances in Vikram Vedha are effortless and convincing. Hrithik embodies Vedha's character so well that it's hard to imagine anyone else in the role. Saif's portrayal of an honest cop who is forced to rethink his beliefs is commendable. Radhika Apte, as Vikram's wife Priya, could have had a meatier role.

Cinematography:

PS Vinod's camera work brilliantly captures Lucknow's rural-urban amalgamation, making it a character in the film. The setting offers a degree of freshness and local flavours that add to the film's charm.

Direction:

Pushkar and Gayathri, the writer-directors of the film, make it a point to leave the story's flow to the two central characters after establishing them sufficiently. Vikram and Vedha's parts have been written with a kind of finer detailing that works at so many levels.

Dialogue:

The pillar of this tour de force is the dialogue writers, Manoj Muntashir and BA Fida. Their writing is super-sharp, with lines written specifically for the masses. The beauty of the film is how much the writing is in sync with what's happening on the big screen.

Verdict:

Vikram Vedha is a beautifully crafted film that shines because of its writing and performances. Hrithik and Saif deliver rock-solid performances, and the film hits the mark with ease. While the film is unapologetically massy and a lot of fun, it is also overindulgent and lengthy. The attempt to stylise and do the slow-mo action scenes seems reluctant to let go of material on the edit table. The supporting cast needed some better scenes, and at the cost of focusing all the attention on the central characters, the writer-directors fail to give equal footage to voices who could have offered a different point of view. The film works as both a thriller and a massy action flick and is bound to get you your money's worth.

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