INDIA: The face-off is here. It’s Saif Vs Hrithik, Vikram Vs Vedha, and mostly it’s Good Vs Evil, or is it? The notion tossed the black and white layers into perfectly formed grey shades which puzzles our minds about what’s wrong and what’s right. So does this Pushkar-Gayathri retake on the Tamil film of the same name succeed to recreate the magic or fall into another terrible Bollywood remake category? Let’s find out.
Pushkar-Gayathri directorial Vikram Vedha stars Saif Ali Khan on the good side and Hrithik Roshan on the evil side, which acts as the whole centre stage of the film. Radhika Apte, Rohit Saraf, Yogita Bihani, and Sharib Hashmi breathe life into the fictional world created by the talented director duo. YNOT Studios, Friday Filmworks, Reliance Entertainment, and T-Series Films bankrolled the notion, which provides us with high set pieces and technical values, adding to our theatre experience.
Vikram Vedha propels with great performances and a suitable story recreation
Vikram Vedha has finally arrived for the much-awaited face-off which was guaranteed from the trailer. The promo clip itself sets our idea of Hrithik Roshan being the beating heart of the film. The action thriller not only runs but accelerates on the basis of Hrithik. The actor as Vedha literally eats out the spotlight of the majority of the characters. The style, the dance, the action, and that aura flesh out a totally different Vedha.
Despite Hrithik Roshan’s presence on the opposing side, Saif Ali Khan’s Vikram maintains a strong perception of good vs. evil, and he pulls off his performance brilliantly. Additionally, Saif also carries his own touches, such as the perfect on-screen dialogue delivery and gun-slinging style. The face-off between Vikram and Vedha also runs in an intricately layered pattern making it daunting to identify which side we are on. Both actors’ personalities fit together seamlessly, which propels robustly on the storyline.
Pushkar-Gayathri has mostly made this film a scene-to-scene remake of the original, which more successfully preserves its charm. The director duo manages to double our theatrical experience with picture-perfect characters and a neo-noir concept. Sam C. S. is back to recreate the original’s electrifying theme with the song “Bande,” and this time Manoj Muntashir’s poetic touch elevates our experience that gives goosebumps.
P. S. Vinod’s cinematography allows the movie to technically not only hold our interest but also draw us into the world of Vikram Vedha. Every camera angle provides an engaging experience. Another noteworthy feature is that the characters’ brutality is expressed through the slight blood and gore that serves as a catalyst.
What could have been better?
The original Vikram Vedha’s realism captured our experience in a more grounded way that felt compelling. The remake completely departs from the original’s elements and propels us into an extremely massed version, which to some extent suits us but at times feels over the top. For instance, the overuse of slow-motion sequences in literally every single fight between Hrithik and Saif acts as if someone is pricking our eyes.
Some scenes, such as Vedha mindlessly firing the machine gun, seem superfluous adding nothing to plot or the character arc. Although the Mocobot camera in the song “Alcholia” is quite satisfactory, it could have been used in the fight scenes to give us an entirely unique experience.
Verdict:
Pushkar-Gayathri’s Vikram Vedha brings the best out of Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan with a higher action-thrill combo, but at times loses its grip due to an excessively massy touch.
Transcontinental Times rating: 3.3/5
Also Read: Vikram Vedha: Hrithik and Saif’s Action-Thriller Highlights the Grey Shades in Trailer
