Vidaamuyarchi Review: Ajith Kumar and Magizh Thirumeni's film is a well-crafted action thriller that is both grounded in simplicity and true to genre

3/5

Vidaamuyarchi plot: After 12 years into their marriage, Arjun and Kayal are heading toward divorce with evident bitterness between them. As a final trip together, Arjun offers Kayal to drop her off at her parents' place in Tbilisi. But after a car breakdown on the way and an incidental meeting with a local Tamil couple, Kayal offers to take a ride to a nearby cafe while Arjun stays back to repair the car. But what happens when Kayal goes missing?

Vidaamuyarchi review

There is a sense of simplicity in which Vidaamuyarchi has been shot and presented. But there is an underlying complication with which the characters from the world of Vidaamuyarchi. Be it the landscapes of Azerbaijan, the roads of which are curvy and clear at the same time, the antagonists, or even the simple opening shot of Ajith Kumar. The undercurrents are troubling emotions, and Magizh Thirumeni makes sure the film has ample moments to make it both racy and dramatic. 

Vidaamuyarchi is loosely based on a Hollywood flick, and now that being established, a lot relies on the making. The deliverable is simple, to keep the film engrossing and full of the adrenaline rush that an action thriller warrants. Magizh Thirumeni’s film manages to do that. Once the portions in the beginning that get done with establishing the troubled marriage of the lead pair, the film quickly manages to make the most of its racy aspect. And Ajith enjoys it very much and when you see him enjoying it, you too for the film truly makes efforts for every scene very much like its title. 

For a star film, that mostly is known for heroes to be worshipped as demigods, Vidaamuyarchi beautifully knows how to value the story over the image. And more so, gives ample space for the antagonists to be elevated, which only benefits the story largely. The biggest chunk goes to Regina Cassandra’s Deepika who gets enough and more to perform, thanks to the layeredness her character comes with on paper. There is a quick and much-needed recap of Deepika and her husband Rakshit’s (Arjun) origin story and their modus operandi. It works for them, as much as it does for the story. 

Ajith also makes an impactful presence when he gracefully abides by the story and gets his hands dirty in doing the stunts with much dedication. Even in the initial portions between him and Trisha, their chemistry goes a miss, the film is quick to return to its genre, which is both convincing and engaging. But having said that, if you are hoping for the film to be a fan service, then you will be in full disappointment. On the other hand, Vidaamuyarchi truly makes the most out of a hapless man lost in the desert. 

For a film, that runs for about two and half hours, the technical prowess, screenplay, and background score are those factors that keep Vidaamuyarchi engrossing, despite you knowing all will end well. And what really serves the film as a well-cooked platter is how it is both cohesive and subtle in many ways. At times when multi-character storylines are mainly inducted to elevate the hero, Vidaamuyarchi is a delightful approach. It is important to note that every character's graph is noteworthy and the due credit goes to writing. Aarav and Nikhil Nair play their portions well, but Arjun and Regina Cassandra walk away with the biggest elevations one could get out of a star film. 

Vidaamuyarchi verdict

True to its genre of action thriller, and road drama, Vidaamuyarchi is a well pay off film. With gripping action sequences, a well-structured screenplay, and an understanding of story sense, Vidaamuyarchi is not your typical star-driven film. However, it has the much-needed adrenaline rush and warrants a big-screen experience. It is a much-needed way Tamil cinema can look to see how a film with a larger-than-life artiste can still have grounded staging and immersive experience.

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