Vengeance Movie Review: A gripping portrait of political greed sabotaged by technical flaws

Vengeance Movie Review:

Political dramas, more often than not, have similar beats. Interestingly, Vengeance starts with a difference with veteran actor Sachu narrating the story of Veni (Abarnathi), a district collector. Unlike the usual elevation of the right things to do, and the importance of order, we gain a deeper understanding of how greed, the hunger for publicity, and a desperate need for power can drive a person’s life. It's a compelling psychological take on what happens when a person is addicted to fame.

Director: Rahul Ashok

Cast: Abarnathi, Ilavarasu, Kaali Venkat, John Vijay

Vengeance beautifully uses the representation of a Luna moth to portray Veni’s past. As Sachu narrates, “Avalaala romba naal iruttulaye iruka mudiyadhu; ava veliya vandha, velichatha thedi dhaan varuva. Adhu neruppa irundhalum seri, ava sethu pova nu therinjalum seri, ava andha velichathukku dhaan povaa.” This absolutely captures Veni’s psychological obsession with fame. Much like the moth that cannot stay in the dark and will fly into fire even if it means death, Veni will choose the “light’’ irrespective of the danger it might pose.

Vengeance is essentially a revenge story, and it is important that we root for the character that is seeking the said revenge. However, with a cold-blooded sociopath at the centre of things, the emotional connection goes missing. 

When it comes to performances, Abarnathi’s portrayal of Veni felt like a mixture of two classic roles. She does have the powerful, authoritative presence of Nayanthara in Aramm (2017), and merges it with the cold, ruthless ambition of Trisha in Kodi (2016). Veni is undoubtedly a bold character, but unfortunately, the film doesn't do justice to the intriguing protagonist. It has a weak storyline further impacted by a barrage of twists that are predictable to a fault.  

The supporting cast is packed with competent performers like Ilavarasu and Kaali Venkat, but they don't really get enough to salvage the film. While Kaali Venkat delivers a few sparks of much-needed humor that actually worked, most of the other scenes get bogged down by generic moments clubbed together.

As for the soundtrack, even though the music is by Karthik Raja and Arun Raj, the songs and the background score are easily forgettable. It feels like a missed chance to raise the psychological mood of the film.

On the technical front, the film really struggles. The dubbing is out of sync, and that is a major distraction in a film that relies on a lot of dialogues. Take, for instance, the post-interval scene where Veni has an intense clash with a politician. What was supposed to be a high-tension moment gets ruined by the dubbing, and it felt less like a film and more like watching a lip-sync reel on Instagram. The voice that was chosen for Veni’s character didn't match her screen presence at all. Likewise, the editing is choppy with abrupt cuts in between scenes, which breaks the flow of the storyline. Ultimately, despite a strong woman-centric performance, the technical glitches and lack of logic make this a difficult watch.