Movie Review: Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu- Part 1: The Kindling

Overview

Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu-Part 1: The Kindling is a Tamil-language drama which translates to The Scorched Forest Part I: The Kindling. It follows the journey of a teenager Muthu (played by Simbu) living in a small village in Tamil Nadu who searches for a better life migrating to Mumbai to becoming a part of the underworld in Mumbai. 

In the film, we get an alternative to Muthu in the form of Sreedharan (played by Neeraj Madhav), a Malayali who arrives in Bombay at the same time as Muthu and joins Kutty's gang. Despite being a part of this world, Gautham shows how someone who chooses to escape can achieve their dreams. Interestingly, Muthu is given a similar opportunity, which he is shown to take in the beginning.

Cast and Crew

Actors: Silambarasan TR, Neeraj Madhav, Raadhika Sarathkumar, Siddique, Siddhi Idnani, Delhi Ganesh and Appukutty

Director: Gautham Vasudev Menon

Story 

Despite the fact that he is a small-town guy in a big, bad city, Muthuveeran (a wonderful Silambarasan TR), the protagonist in Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu, is someone who knows how to deal with life if it doesn't deal him a good hand. As soon as we see him barely escaping a wildfire, we understand this. As his life is thorny, literally, when he has to choose between survival and providing a better life for his mother Latchuhmi and sister Gomathi (Angelina), he will do whatever it takes - including getting mixed up with the underworld - to ensure the welfare of his mother. When he witnesses the death of a relative, he gets to know of the danger this life presents even before he steps into it. He gets to work in a parotta shop in Bombay whose regular customer was gangster Karjee. Afterwards, how he is caught between the rivalry between Karjee and Kutty Krishnan Nair (Siddique) forms the crux of the story.

Uniqueness

It's something we've all seen, but Jeyamohan introduces a totally different character to what we've known. The film's director created the character Sreedharan, played by Neeraj Madhav, who lands in the maximum city on the same day as Muthu but manages to escape the blood and even survive. They have literally opposite fates and are literally opposites to one another.

Muthu's first encounter with the parotta shop is framed like a prison, signaling his upcoming adventures. Despite Muthu's descent (or ascent, depending on how you look at it) in this world being somewhat familiar, Gautham keeps us engaged by gradually revealing the workings of the gang during these scenes. Muthu, whose mother sent him hoping to prevent him from committing murder - which we know is his destiny - will use the gun when it comes into his hand in the earlier scenes, but the way the filmmaker gets there feels fresh. As Jeyamohan tells it, Muthu's fate is decided by a gun. He wants power and, as an astrologer once predicted, chooses a gun over money. The astrologer predicted one day Muthu would be a murderer and that is exactly what happens.

Throughout the story, Menon and the writer present Muthu and the like, who are in various stages of the underworld. These characters are stuffed into a cramped room above a shady eatery in a claustrophobic setting. Even with top-class luxury added to it, the world remains the same. In the beginning, the boy falls on thorns and ends up tackling them, but with a great deal of blood on his hands. We also get to see Delhi Ganesh, who is playing Iyer from Kamal Hassan’s iconic movie, Nayakan. This shows up a little homage to that gangster drama.

Negatives

In spite of the fact that Muthu falls in love with Paavi, the script fails to grasp the love story. The makers use this angle in the most unconnected manner to the point where it seems completely insignificant. While Jeyamohan blends gangster drama and coming of age so seamlessly that it appears effortless, there is always a moment of love when there is a massive update in the two.

Sequel

The epilogue — a precursor to a possible sequel — lessens the impact of the more effective low-key ending. A sequence like this feels like pandering to the fans, rather than something organic, which even mentions one of Tamil cinema's most iconic gangster dramas, Nayakan.

Cast Performance

STR: Throughout the movie, Silambarasan understands Muthu in great depth. He is aware of the rage and where it comes from, and he understands the reason behind his wild behavior. He plays Muthu with such cluelessness that we are clueless about the next scene. It helps. Through his appearance, we learn that Sinbarasan has gone through a 180 degree transformation.

Neeraj Madhav: Although he only has a limited amount of screentime, Neeraj Madhav manages to elicit so much curiosity around Sreedharan. The contrast between him and Muthu makes him feel humiliated. Madhav brings out the vulnerability of his character so well that his part of the story has the greatest emotional depth.

Others: The rest of the team is on top form, and Radhikaa Sarathkumar's magic is beyond description.

Music

Rahman is at his best here. He creates themes for every character and uses them in unexpected situations to make the biggest impact. Rahman composed two songs about lovers communicating in poetry in his album, which have totally different vibes yet both work so well. The choreography of the songs adds to the flavour. It's going to stay for a long time.

Technical Department

The art department, along with Nuni's skills, create a world that is alive and one can imagine oneself in it without much effort in Bombay Velvet. Siddhartha Nuni captures this world from Anurag Kashyap's point of view. When Muthu is followed by a handheld camera during every combat and important sequence, it captures the chaos and jiffy so well that you feel as if you are there during the battle.

Conclusion

In addition to not being your typical gangster movie, Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu belongs to a very interesting procedural drama, which is both a blessing and a curse. As for Gautham Menon, he isn't interested in narrating the story of a gangster; he appears content with capturing Muthu's life as it unfolds.

Ratings: 4/5 (1 Star cut for Love Track which was not impressive)