Vai Raja Vai Movie Review
Director: Aishwarya R Dhanush,
Cast: Gautham Karthik,Priya Anand,Taapsee,Director:
Aishwarya R Dhanush
At a crisp two hours, Aishwarya R Dhanush Vai Raja Vai is a perfect recipe of a full-on entertainer without even a dash of obscenity or violence. It gives the audience a joy ride, as the film is smartly packaged as an exciting and stylish entertainer. Films based on gambling and betting is a popular genre in Hollywood, but it's a rarity in Kollywood.
Karthik (Gautham) is a normal middle class youngster who leads a perfect life with a caring girlfriend Priya (Priya Anand) and lovable family until he meets Panda (Vivek) a small time gambler. Karthik has the power to predict and it is this 'intuition' that makes him an extraordinary person.
Together, Karthik and Panda win a big betting amount from Ranthe (Daniel Balaji) who loses one crore and he takes revenge by blackmailing them to roulette in Goa to play for high stakes. Now who wins the cat and mouse game?
Performance wise Gautham Karthik has to work on his dialogue delivery and his lip sync in songs is pathetic. Priya Anand looks beautiful and is apt for the role. Wished Taapsee had more to do in the film though she impresses in a small yet significant role. Gayathri Raghuram, Vasanth, M.S. Bhaskar and Manobala are there in small roles with SJ Suryah doing a cameo song number.
However Vai Raja Vai belongs to Vivek who makes the first half enjoyable with his smart one-liners and comedy with Satish adding more fun. Dhanush who makes a last minute entry in the climax as Kokki Kumar (Pudhupettai) draws whistles. Yuvan's songs especially the melodious Pachchai Vanna.. is soothing.
On the downside, the film runs out of steam in the second half and the rushed climax looks unconvincing. The minor hiccups notwithstanding, Vai Raja Vai is a satisfying watch.
