Vetri Selvan

With Vetrichelvan, Rudhran wants to create awareness on the plight of the poor souls in mental health institutions, who have to spend their entire lives with the stigma of insanity attached to them. If only noble intentions can by themselves result in a good film! Even if we set aside the question of whether movies should really have a message, the sincerity in wanting to spread a message doesn't reflect in the inelegant filmmaking. The fault lies in the formulaic storytelling. The director chooses the tried and tested trope of a lighter first half with a mystery around the protagonist and a serious latter half where secrets are revealed and a point is made. But the problem here is that the initial set-up is very much non-existent. The film begins with Vetri, Professor and Ganesan going to Ooty and sort-of settling there. We never get a sense of mystery around these characters even though we see them discussing their past in a guarded manner a couple of times. Instead, what we get is a mundane comedy track (featuring Ganja Karuppu) and a lifeless romantic track. The heroine, Sujatha, a criminal lawyer, gets friendly with Vetri and falls in love with him for now compelling reason. Nothing much happens during this long time (at least an hour) and it finally takes a disaster to get the plot in motion. Soon, the cops chase the friends and arrest them (Ganesan loses his life during…

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