Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu (2022) User Reviews

Rooted!!

[sriramthestranger · 8/10 · 25 September 2022]

Venthu Thanindhadhu Kaadu - Simbu has given his best performance in this movie. One can see only Muthu and not the star actor in any frame. The writing and cinematography are top notch with long one shot scenes at many places that does not distract the viewing experience.

The protagonist becomes a gangster by circumstances. And, it was convincing. The comparison with the Sreedhar character was new and refreshing in this gangster milieu. You know exactly what Muthu has lost and gained due to his choices. One man's choices and the universe decides your fate. This is one of the best Gautam Menon movies after ages.

Khan Review - Good

[zkzuber · 8/10 · 13 October 2022]

I watched this movie with subtitles since unfortunately it was not dubbed in hindi on prime but I completed it like I complete other South movies with subtitles if it has the content to hold your interest otherwise if not I switch off after twenty minutes or so because this is the time limit you usually need to understand if the movie is worth watching. This is first time I am watching the lead actor and actress and no doubt they did good job. The heroine does not have much screen space in first half but she is likeable with her good looks and sweet dimple. The direction is good, the set is well made, well shot and a complete entertainer.

Enjoyed...

[sivapremasekaran · 7/10 · 22 January 2023]

This movie is very long in which first half is long but good screenplay! STR role in this movie is awesome...Str is a villager in tamilnadu and how he became a gangster in Mumbai is the moviee...str acting is Vera level(good)!1st half is slow but not boring...Second half is worth watching! Get enough sleep before watching this movie..Being a neutral fan I love this movie so much!songs are good and fight stunts are satisfactory... screenplay is not bad and a good plot which keep me engaged in this movie...I suggest you to watch the movie with no expectations! All characters are good in acting and twists are present in second half for sure...worth watching 👌👍

A solid attempt in the gangster genre

[johnavanthomas · 8/10 · 15 September 2022]

This movie definitely isn't for everyone in my opinion. It's long, the pace is very slow, there are no hero centric moments, the love story isn't great, BUT if you love raw, authentic cinema this one is for you. VTK reminded me of films like Nayakan, Pudhupettai, The God Father, and Scarface. These were all stories that took their time to build it's characters, you see and feel every moment of their rise, and VTK does the same thing. GVM uses his 173 minutes of screen-time wisely by slowly building, layer by layer, this character Muthuveeran (played by Simbu) and you see his life, his journey, and then his eventual rise in the underworld. The first half of the film was my absolute favourite. The setup of characters and the environment and life they're in was so convincing, and it slowly built up in intensity to explode in what I'm now considering one of my favourite interval blocks ever. I can go on and on about the interval block but I just gotta say I absolutely LOVED the cinematography during that sequence. Moving on to the second half of the movie, this is where I felt it kinda let go of it's steam. We see this rise in pacing and intensity in the first half, with a stellar interval block, and then the movie decides to drop down again in both pacing and intensity, and decides to build that again. Which I'm seeing that some people liked, but I would have loved if they just kept building up from that point onwards. We're also presented with the main love track, which if GVM went his usual route, I feel like would have felt more necessary to the story. Not that it wasn't necessary, it played a key role in the climax, but I wasn't pulled in to their love story the way I was pulled in with AYM or Yennai Arindhaal. At points it also felt like it started to struggle to be a GVM film versus a Jeyamohan film. And then finally we reach the end of the movie, which to me was the biggest let down. The climax was great, but it was ruined with the rushed setup of a part II, ultimately resulting in a film that felt unfinished. But I do think once part ii comes out, and we get to look at this story as a whole, it'll feel a lot better. Just unfortunate that we can't see this as a standalone film. But I'm very excited to see Part II, and by the looks of it - it will happen. Finally, I just want to talk about Simbu. He KILLED it. There is not even the smallest trace of Simbu the star in this movie. He was a totally different person, he underplayed to his range, which was needed for this specific character. He's convincing as Muthuveeran, and you see him put in the smallest of details into playing this character which is believable from start to finish. He's definitly keeping his promise of only choosing scripts his fans would be proud of and as a fan, I am very proud of what he brought to the screen. Super stoked to see what he has in store for us in Pathu Thala, Corona Kumar, and eventually VTK part 2.

In conclusion, Although the screenplay, especially with all the ups and downs in the second half of the film along with the rushed ending, could have been much better, this movie is one to appreciate. I didn't touch on it because we already know it's perfect but AR Rahman's music and background score was phenomenal, cinematography was so so so good, Simbu's performance was top class, and GVM is moving on to this new style of filmmaking. This may be a very bold statement but there are films made for movie lovers, and then for people who appreciate the art of cinema. This one is 100% for the latter, and should at least be watched once by all.

A very good attempt.

[dovearvin · 8/10 · 21 September 2022]

To be honest my expectations were pretty low before watching the movie Cause the press were continuously forcing Gautam to admit this isn't his sort of movie different from all his previous flicks Which I consider is utmost disrespect to Gautam Menon whom i consider one of the very few great directors in tamil cinema or Indian cinema too First half was very good and slowly takes you to the to the journey of Muthu and convince us with how the circumstances makes Muthu to take gun in his own hands and becomes a gangster The only thing I disliked were the climax potions where the movie fast forwards to 5 years and shows simbu kind of like a modern gangster Personally didnt like those portions, except that 10 mins movie was pure gold. Simbus acting was very good and he kind of pulled off Muthu gracefully And it is Gautam menons movie.

Experience

[vibhus-17780 · 7/10 · 15 September 2022]

An asusual gangster drama which works out well due to great writing , mind blowing music , phenomenal performance and unique kinda treatment in making . GVM as a director gave a great visuals to the Jayamohan's writing , he completely worked out of his comfort zone , happy to see him in a new avatar . Jayamohan's writing was great , Muthu's characterisation was well designed and movie completely focused character arc of Protagonist . First half , story took it's own time to build and interval block was totally insane . Second half , movie explores underground gangster rivals and Romantic life of Muthu it wasn't great as first half but good . STR once again gave a marvelous performance . AR Rahman gave a mind blowing album , his music treatment for gangster drama was unique and great . Cinematography was phenomenal , some of the long single take Shot was great . Drawbacks , 3rd act was bit odd , too many single take shots and finally last 5 mins was totally meh . Overall a well made gangster drama movie to watch , give a try I hope you like it .

( Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu ommale Vediya podu )

GVMs comeback

[JakDexxter · 10/10 · 18 September 2022]

I am Telugu speaking person, kind of a GVM fan, I have watched it with open captions, and I went to the movie with an open mind.

I am sold completely after watching the first half. I knew most of the reviews said that the 2nd half is underwhelming. But I liked second half too. "Unna Nenachadhum" song is the only place where I felt bored. Actually second half started slow but the writing and taking of the last 40 minutes writing and taking are brilliant. So many GVM touches throughout the movie but this is not one of those GVM's love/ romantic movies. So many single shot sequences that came out brilliant. This is STR's one-man show. I am completely sold by his acting. ARR is brilliant too although the same track keeps on playing throughout the first half.

Average gangster film with old formula

[gowthamdesigner · 6/10 · 17 September 2022]

A Gautam Menon film without police uniform, bracelet , coffee shop. But the hero who works in that hotel has nothing to do with the dirty village.the richness is there throughout the film. The rich look actor, actress is there throughout the film.weak antagonists, unnecessary love scenes, songs, bad ending. It ended up being a average gangsters story.. In the story of a gangster, the thought should arise whether he is alive or not.but in this story, that thought is nowhere. You should focus on the character. The importance given to the small things in Simbu's character that was not giving to all the characters. Especially maligapoo songs & visuals is so good. Not bonding sister & mother's scenes. Fight scenes, Simbu and Rahman are the reason for don't come out of the theater.

Awesome - VTK

[sulthansyed · 10/10 · 17 September 2022]

Vendhu thanindha Kaadu (Tamil)

A Slow burn drama with engaging screenplay though nothing fresh interms of story but presentation is pretty decent,

Director GVM has come out with script that is either a GVM film or Simbu film which is really a good move and jeyamohan writing is neat ,

simbu he lived as character muthu throughout on screen and he is show stealer,

ARR score pumping and soulful throughout 🔥

casting is neat ,

Jaffer is surprise element ,

Siddhi it nothing much to complain

Technically Cinematography is brilliant

Editing Could have been better especially Second half

overall it's watchable darma though moves slow engaging and Second part on progress.

Definately worth a watch

[kichuraman · 7/10 · 17 September 2022]

This new version GVM works out well with the Magic of STR and ARR First and foremost ARR is the main piller behind this gangster drama his background score elevating the scenes to another level second piller is the STR acting wow his manarisam in every stage of the character his impeccable other than ARR and STR writing stands out each and every character has a scope and it catches screen space perfectly after all these positives there are some negatives too some romantic portions felt like not needed(including a song) If you don't mind these small lags film will entertain you for sure go enjoy this ride in theatres.

VTK Is Blockbuster Film

[sanjivanu · 9/10 · 15 September 2022]

Someone has spreading negativity from this movie. This is second Blockbuster movie after Maanadu. This combo never failed to amaze us.

Firstly - No voice over from gvm

STR as usual, top notch acting for the given direction

You may feel bit slow here and there, but wont be bored

ARR's music was very smooth this time, i suspect gvm's requirement behind this.

Siddhi Paavai- Looking great, needed role.

Dialogues are awesome especially during the love scenes

A Feel good movie

lead for 2nd Part is there

VTK - Crafted well

A must watch movie!! First have was execellent with GVM direction and the music just elevated every scenes. ARR composing on different level. A slow paced second half and eagerly waiting for the rise of Muthu!! Simbu's career best movie.

Unique Simbu and ARR make it watchable

[m-ramanan · 7/10 · 16 September 2022]

RATED 7/10 Language: Tamil Media Partner: Amazon Prime Source: Nil

Different attempt from GVM and ARR. And the best ever performance from Simbu...his acting and body language perfectly fits to this role. The interval fight scene shows the full potential of simbu and ARR together, goosebumps guaranteed. The first half has engaged flow.

Because the story is age old one, the second half struggled bit. Other than main characters, others are shown in very high level. This also not helped for the second of twists. Even though the second half is jarred, it has quite good surprises here and there.

Instead of leading to second part, GVM should have closed this one like "Kaaka Kaaka". This second part lead also brings back the old Simbu and it looks totally disjointed The engaging first half and Simbu make this as watchable.

Nothing new, same old old old story.

[hiflyplane · 3/10 · 15 October 2022]

Two hours and fifty minutes.. Nothing new absolutely zero freshness. It appears the last ten minutes was a shoot and stich of the lead actor's real life image. The director is found fumbling all the way not knowing what to do, from the second act onwards. Poor screen play and criminal waste of time. Heroine might as well not be there. Gautam looks like he is scratching his head ok what can I do next or what should I do next. No sync between the title, the first act and what the viewer sees in the last act. Appears the movie was shor over 3 years and redone In. Between in patches. One can easily gather that from the protagonist physical build.

Hat-trick for trio!

[krithikaaravind · 10/10 · 15 September 2022]

VendhuThanindhathuKaadu what an outstanding movie it was! A diff movie from GVM. ARR songs & BGM were next level! Apart from all that SilambarasanTR_ nailed it, such unique acting from him. What an outstanding performer he is! Can't wait for part 2! BLOCKBUSTER!! Thalaivan has given his career best performance as 'MUTHU'! He's back to rule & there's no step back after this. Eagerly waiting for part 2! A definite hat-trick for STR-GVM-ARR trio!! Thanking GauthamMenon SilambarasanTR ARRahman for this outstanding movie! Definitely worth all your money to watch it in theatre. After movies like KGF2, Vikram, Don another blockbuster is VTK for this year. Throughly enjoyed this nearly 3hrs masterpiece! And this is how you should take a movie if it's gonna be 3hrs long.

VTK 90/100

[harrismohamed · 10/10 · 25 November 2022]

STR acting was brilliant and background score outstanding GVM direction top Class good attempt nice screen play the movie conveys emotions correctly. Waiting for VTK -2. Heroine debut movie but his acting was natural VTK brings next level to silambarasan TR the only negative is one song in between the screen play there are many characters in this movie each character has equal potiencial and stunt work stunning there are lot of single shot scenes. AR-Rahman sir gives super background songs and BGMs STR looks too yong in his 1 st frame in this Movie radhika performance nice villan character also good Must watch movie 💯

GVM sheds his typical aspects and surprises us somewhat! [+64%]

[arungeorge13 · 6/10 · 13 October 2022]

I'll be quick here. GVM's VTK: Part 1 is aesthetically different from anything he has attemped so far. And I have to say this is the breeziest first hour in all of his films. The flow of scenes is just absorbing as hell, especially with ARR working his magic with some beautiful compositions and STR's credulous act. Special shoutout to those long takes. The second half was mostly hit and miss for me, delving into typical gangster film territory, minus the portions with Jaffer Sadiq's Rawther.

Is GVM the last filmmaker who still adds random lyrical lip-syncing to songs? Anyway, Siddhi Idnani's portions felt like they were from another movie altogether. Though she gets predictably used as bait, the trope is nicely subverted owing to the scene's complexity. The extended tease (for Part 2) also only serves as mass-movie watchbait and the excitement levels are kinda low. That brilliant first half, though. I'll rewatch the film just for that!

Too good for a gangster movie.

[shanggavee · 10/10 · 23 September 2022]

The move was three hours long but it was completely good. It feels so good to watch good movies lately, it's rare. Simbu's acting was a 11/10, story play, music was a 11/10, screenplay. It was definitely a great movie where everything fell into place. I loved the story line from the beginning till the end. Looks like there would be a part 2 and can't wait. Totally a worthy three hours I would say. A total new way of a narrating a gangster movie. Next, the short love portion in the move has great with GVM's details. Truly enjoyed that I want the truth well. To more movies with various genre by GVM, can't wait.

Total Writing Spoiled by 2nd Half Screenply. Just watchable for STR, ARR, Jeyamohan writing and Nunis Cinematography

[BalaLovesCinemas · 6/10 · 17 September 2022]

Loved the First Half and Disappointed by the Second Half..

I can give 6 for 10

STR is acted very well. He lived in the Character. After thotti jeya, i loved his acting in this film. This is the Str we wanted for decades.. he made us to believe the character within 10 min. I cant see the Str in First Half and first 10 min of 2nd Half ( Untill he turned as a guard for don). He acted that much. And The Writing was perfect. That much of writing if it wasnt there, the movie willnt be good..and the GOAT ARRs Scores are just elevates the scenes to the core..The Screenplay of First half was really good by the writing.. The Cinemotography was Just Awesome.

Here Comes Second half., The Writing was wasted by the dumb lack screenplays and 2 time jumbs. STR acting and Jeyamohan Writing was Spoiled by the Screenplays and unwanted lip sinking song.. i was so happy that GVM is directing the movie without his own style.. But he disappointed in the seconfd half.. he was done like that he has to finish the movie some how and give the lead for Second part..

Anyway.. The MOvie is Good by STR, ARR, Jeyamohan and First Half Screen play by GVM..

My Rating :

First Half - 8.5/10 Second Half - 4/10.

Quite a good action movie

[pragadeshayyaswamy · 8/10 · 29 September 2022]

It still shows that how people struggle to get a job and earn some money, but the main story is different and you should watch it in theatres as his acting and the music of AR Rahman makes it to the top notch level.

Other than that, Simbu had made a great impact on this film by his actions and the acting level of difference throughout the film.

It also makes that Gautam Vasudev Menon had also thought pretty different story with the film and it was also quite good as well.

Overall it's quite a good movie to watch once in theatres and the climax of the film could be done better, as it reflects back the same style of other similar films.

Remake of Vijay's Nenjinilae

[saru2020 · 7/10 · 29 September 2022]

It'd be hard to say that the movie was boring due to its sluggishness or GVM's usual style of romantic sequences but the fact that GVM has come out of his comfort zone of making soft tales is appreciable.

The overall film looks like an obvious remake of Vijay's Nenjinilae which came more than 20 years ago and with a style/ mixture of Angaadi Theru + Pudupettai/Godfather with more screenplay touches of Vetrimaaran & Lokesh especially when the film tries to bring in the multiverse concept by introducing Naayagan's characters as the plot revolves in the same Mumbai region, I think that's where Tamil cinema is travelling towards which got ignited by Lokesh's LCU.

The most interesting part is that the film doesn't look like the usual GVM movie and does have elements in the plot that keeps you engaged despite its slowness/sluggishness.

And Simbu has done a decent part in this film after a very long time, that's appreciable too

and Rahman's music does play a big role in it but I feel still it could've been bettered up.

Overall, this is definitely a one-time watch but I hate the concept of making 2nd part just for the sake of it.

VTK blockbuster

[abrarahamedpce · 10/10 · 16 September 2022]

A common man he is going to Mumbai for his family issues and earning money, once he went there that surrounding atmospheres on his work location, how his life will be change. STR acting is Maas and that song marukama nenjam totally only one song for hole movie😀, and STR really is holding the hole movie and all heroin not that big role, may be we expecting on part 2 she will be appear several scene and Radhika Madam always rocks what GVM given to her that she did and that sisters role also ok may be we can except on part 2 for her performance, They people are saying movie his very slow, but based on the story this is they right way to execute the screen play. Finally worth to watch.....

In one line story: A don from his bottom of life.

inspired by a few old movies shines in parts but marred in others

[stylegamer · 6/10 · 2 November 2022]

The film is a biopgraphy of an immigrant who falls to the underworld . Gautham Menon shows captures the grime , dirt and dim settings of immigrants holed up somewhere in the world in constraint spaces . The dirty walls , shophouses. , the unkept latrines, slavery conditions , sights , smells and sounds of dirty streets and sweat. Throughout the first half , all the imagery and sounds , feels like an allegory about the nature of violence that is about to come as we see with many GVM films who introduced us this concept with his crime thriller films. GVM has excelled in the first half in setting the tone but somehow loses the plot along the way. The film would have done better if GVM had continued a crime plot on the same grim settings which introduces our main prioaganist Simbu , as he steps into the world of exploitation and slavery.

Simbu has given a decent performance in this film in the first half. However the film falls short and marred as the plot progresses along , other than the perfomance of simbu, the action sequences are uninspiring and fails to induce thrills in the viewer. Like we had seen in past GVM movies like Khakka Khakka. GVM has been known to pioneer and set the example of the action sequences that we today back in the early 2000s with Khakka Khakka and even in his recent films like Ennai Arindhal. But here , his originality has somewhat waned. In this film the action sequences are not nuanced enough like his earlier films. The problematic aspect of the film are the romance sequences , other than a single scene with a good dialogue by Simbu, much of the romance seems to be a reworked version of GVm's earlier films like "vinnai thandi varuvaya". The lead actress seems to be mainly emotion-less throughout the film and the probably the least stellar heroine of any GVM film.

At times film feels like a new age mashup of some 1980s movies like "Sathya" "Amaran" and even GVM's earlier movies like Ennai "Nokki Paayum Thotta", especially in the second half . Although the screenplay is generally good, the 2nd half of the the film feels like we had seen it all before from GVM. The film feels like the the first half is disjointed with the second. The first half which was intriguing that was constructed in the beginning right from the protaganist in a village who arrives at his uncles house and later finds him comitting suicide. The film would have been better if it had taken off from this point and moved on to a conspiracy or plot , keeping to the GVM tradition of introducing us the "crime plot", but instead takes us to biographic events of the protaganist. The climax is uninspiring and mainly similar to GVm's earlier Acham Enbadhu Madamaimayada.

Overall the film is watachbale but not something to rave about as a classic like Kamalhassan's Sathya or Karthik's Amaran.

Unwanted love track 😥

[vijayanandkasb · 1/10 · 28 October 2022]

The movie has a plot which can be explored in a better way, however director wanted to incorporate love story into the plot which made this movie boring, Muthu's character was not well established, director failed to take time to establish the plot, problem is we could not connect to the lead character, the movie was made on usual don template, at times we can feel this movie is attempt to remake Puthupettai, it looked like Director has kept all the deleted scenes of puthupettai in this movie. At times back ground music didn't sink with the flow of the screenplay. Over all it was not a sincere effort from the crew to deliver better product. Waste of time.

A GREAT STORY

[thefeatureswag · 10/10 · 13 October 2022]

This movie is really underrated, the story was lagging before the interval, after the interval it was just like a minute. THIS IS A GREAT DIRECTION AND STORY FROM GAUTHAM VASUDEV MENON, GREATEST ENDING, the last 10 minutes after the climax is enough to make 2 prequel or even a sequel it had a great depth in the last 10 minutes. The interval block of the movie was great, the action sequence was great . Gautham took the movie perfect with no more romance scenes . The screenplay was also great with some lag in first half. A GREAT KUDOS TO THE WRITER JEYAMOHAN, it was exceptional, phenomenal and extraordinary. THE PERFECT TIMING OF BGMs and SONGS WERE GREAT, GREAT SONGS BY THE LEGEND ARR.

The movie we must need to watch.

[manojps-03030 · 10/10 · 16 September 2022]

Totally exploring different side of GVM.

Lot of strong points here to mention STR acting just awesome..what a natural!

ARR another pillar of this movie .. totally he win in this .

GVM great comeback for him.

Movie plot is simple one. But the way they makes is tough one. Lot of lengthy single shots , lot of expressions. Especially interval block just fire. That's all we can say.

Negatives .

Second half looks lag but it's needy for this film Some dark tones and love portions felt little dramatic.

Some songs made the script little weak Maybe editors might have done little work here that makes movie to move little fast

Other than that i don't think anything wrong in this movie

Such a great, beautiful and no masala and mass action sequences here in this film

Just a good mood film with natural acting and direction.

Once again simbu proved who he is.

Jayamohan sir again proved who he is !!

Otherwise from my perspective it's totally the best film i have seen this year after vikram.