Vedaa (2024) Review!!

Synopsis – The journey of a young woman, who faces and resists a repressive system against portrayal of an antagonist.

My Take – While it has been 77 years since India as a country saw independence from foreign rule, the caste system unfortunately continues to have a strong hold on the society. Based on supposed laws which are meant to keep the lower caste by birth citizens in their designated lane, especially when it comes to profession.

For their latest, director Nikhil Advani (Kal Ho Naa Ho, D-Day) and writer Aseem Arrora (Raid, Malang) pick from the kind of depressing news that is all too frequent like honor killings, to tell a fictional tale of a young Dalit woman in a Rajasthan village who is forced to find the courage to stand up against oppression and violence. Structured to highlight the caste issue in the country, the film indeed has its heart in the right place.

However, their attempt to give a real social issue a larger-than-life treatment also leaves an uneven impact. Mainly as it also interested in showcasing John Abraham‘s unique talent for action, and his selection of unblinking scowls. The film initially holds its ground with a compelling narrative but unfortunately loses momentum in the second half, bogged down by an overindulgence in mainstream elements that dilutes its overall impact.

Sure, the fast paced narrative manages to mask the reliance on familiar tropes to some extent, keeping the audience engaged. Yet, despite its promising start and powerful themes, the film ends up falling short of its full potential, delivering an action drama that is engaging but not as extraordinary as it could have been.

Set in Barmer, a village in the state of Rajasthan, the story mainly follows Vedaa Berwa (Sharvari Wagh), a young college-going girl belonging to a Dalit family. Who like the other men and women in the town, puts up with the harassment and humiliation because of their caste.

Particularly, from Suyog (Kshitij Chauhan), the nasty younger brother of Jitendar Pratap Singh (Abhishek Banerjee), the local landowner and self-styled decider of fates, who has mostly done a good job of hiding his innate bigotry and hatred for those who should know their place. They stop when they see someone alone and vulnerable, and exercise their power through acts of violence.

Yet, Vedaa is determined to punch above her social weight by joining a boxing club in her college, even though the so-called custodians of social order find her fit only to mop the floor for aspirants who belong to the upper stairs in the caste hierarchy.

That is until she finds support from Abhimanyu Kanwar (John Abraham), a Special Forces soldier who moved in with his father-in-law after being court-martialed for disobeying orders and for avenging the death of his wife (Tamannaah Bhatia).

Now hired as an assistant boxing coach at the local college, he sees potential in Vedaa and begins training her on his own. However, when her brother is caught romancing an upper caste girl, all hell breaks loose.

What follows are a bunch of stylish fight scenes shot on picturesque locations with John Abraham moving at a feral grace making the violence palatable. Indeed, director Advani and action director Amin Khatib have a neat view. Watching the camera dive and somersault with the performers is no doubt fun.

Based on true events, the film tries to depict the atrocities in the cow-belt area of India. Shedding light on how people from lower castes must drink water from separate vessels, can be killed for marrying into an upper caste, and seek permission for every little thing from self-appointed leaders.

We also get the customary humiliations like how Vedaa and her family are made to stand with shoes on the head. One of the highlights of the film, which takes the trouble to show how deep the segregation has been ingrained in the way she keeps taking it all in, till one day she can’t.

However, none of these moments are impactful or leave you shuddering, which emerges as a significant flaw in the screenplay. Mainly as director Advani and the script he is using seems unsure of how big a slice of social reality would fit in a John Abraham actioner.

While the film starts strong, its heavy-handed approach in the latter half prevents it from maintaining the gripping intensity it initially promises. With the whole set up dissolving into absurdity particularly with a prolonged carnage sequence shot within court premises.

Performance wise, John Abraham is his usual self. Playing a one-man army, taking on terrorists, local goons, and rowdy boys throughout. The film plays to his strengths and scores high on stunts and he is every bit the action-star we know him as.

Sharvari Wagh delivers a standout performance, showcasing a remarkable range that surprises and captivates. In the title role, she is raw and unhinged, holding her own very well in emotionally charged scenes.

Abhishek Banerjee showcases his versatility by stepping into the shoes of an intimidating villain. His portrayal is chilling, with a stature and demeanor that effectively rival John Abraham’s imposing presence. In supporting roles, Ashish Vidhyarthi and Rajendra Chawla shine. Tamannah Bhatia is likable in a small role. On the whole, ‘Vedaa‘ is a grim yet flawed action flick that struggles between its strong themes and uneven approach.