Velayudham Movie Review

Velayudham is somewhere in between Villu and Vettaikaran and where it lands in that narrow spectrum is based on your personal taste and loyalty towards Vijay.

Story, Screenplay and Direction

• Overall, Velayudham doesn't offer anything different from what you may have seen in past Vijay movies. There is a sense of deja vu with a number of scenes looking cliched and outdated. The basic concept will remind you of Anniyan, sister sentiment scenes will bring back flashes of Thirupachi and Ghilli. Interestingly, you may even wonder whether this script was originally tailor-made for Captain Vijaykanth with the theme of Pakistan terrorists colluding with Indian home ministers to cause destruction of epic proportions.
• Velayudham is unique in a few key aspects. The screenplay is jumbled as it would keep you guessing when the movie will really end (warning:there is a solid 30 minutes after the supposedly climax train fight sequence). The type of scenes one would expect in the first half appear in the last few reels. Probably, Director Raja and his writing team did that intentionally to lighten up the proceedings. There is a sense of lack of focus from start to finish.

Cast

• Vijay's typical dance movements in songs are good as usual. Vijay manages to keep you at your seat with his solid presence and good performance. 
• Saranya Mohan scores throughout the movie with appropriate counter-reactions along with Vijay. The brother sister chemistry worked out well. 
• Genelia is adequate enacting the role of a journalist prompting Vijay to take on the villains. Hansika does the job of a cute innocent village belle.
• There are 30 comedians in the movie. Except Santhanam, rest of the comedians will not even bring a smile on your face. Santhanam lightens up every scene and keeps the clock moving whenever he appears on the screen. 
• There are a couple of dozen villains popping up every few minutes. Vijay dealing with large number of villains is like watching whac-a-mole. Every single one of the villains looked amateurish despite their desperate attempts to be cruel. Almost all fight sequences lack motivation and purpose. You wish you had a remote control.

Technical Department

• DoP Priyan appears to be following the director's instructions with repetitive wide angled shots coupled with swift camera movements that he is known for (e.g.,Singam, Samy, etc.). Editing is choppy with abrupt cuts inbetween these migraine inducing fast camera movements.
• Songs are good and picturized along expected lines. Vijay Antony's songs are already chartbusters. However, Re-recording is incessant and loud sometimes depending on how deep you get into the movie.

Glad to see Velayudham will mark the end of an era for Vijay as he transforms from a mass action hero to Director's actor in his forthcoming movies.