Vendhu Thanindhathu Kaadu is essentially the first part of a two part film, which focuses on the journey of the protagonist from a small village in Tamil Nadu to the dreaded gangster of Mumbai. The story may not be novel but it is the world building and the characterization where the drama really scores(and scores really well). The screenplay standing at a whopping 170 minutes is daunting and I was really skeptical about it before stepping into the film. But the story is so well presented and I did not get distracted even for a minute.

The drama opens with the introduction of the protagonist from a humble background who is essentially jobless despite being educated and having a degree. You instantly are sucked into the drama following a spectacular opening sequence which features a fire on a haystack filled with thorns. Soon you are introduced to the family of the protagonist including an influential uncle which turns the story on its head.

The narrative style is surprisingly layered and so you will not find any instant answers to certain events in the film. The drama unfolds through the gaze of the protagonist to begin with and slowly but surely you as a viewer are invested in his journey. Once the setting changes to Mumbai, things start to get interesting. Through the protagonist, you get a glimpse of the city which is not what the protagonist had imagined it to be. You can feel the tension in the drama despite no real action taking place. The conflict between two sects of the society was definitely a great setup for a gangster drama. A subplot involving a budding romance acts as a circuit breaker although it does work individually and most definitely is a vital cog in the screenplay.

As the layers begin to peel, you start to feel a sense of empathy towards the protagonist and his friend, who are caught in this web of violence and deceit with no way out. The proceedings are engaging and engrossing with a constant focus being on the buildup. All hell breaks loose in a brilliant one take sequence at the half way mark that sets up things beautifully for the second hour.

There are a few twists and turns along the way in a gangster film that does brilliantly in its world building and characterization. These were the two main ingredients to be focused on and the writers get these spot on. There is bloodshed and a lot of violence which will also keep you invested. The events leading up to the final act are excellent as you slowly see the journey of an innocent man transform into a killing machine. This switch was done well too. A small little liberty has been taken of the romantic subplot which did seem far fetched.

The final act might seem slightly underwhelming but you have to keep in mind that a sequel is on the cards so things needed to be setup for the same. But I wonder if they could have ended it on a cliffhanger? Guess we will never know! But overall, the screenplay is brilliantly engaging right throughout without a single dull moment.