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31 ENTERTAINMENT November 29, 2024 www.desitalkchicago.com – that’s all you need to know Vettaiyan Is Refreshing But Falters On ‘Rajini Terrain’ I n 2008, with Ghajini, a new index of success was discovered in India—the 100 Crore film. This was a film that netted (on ticket mon- eys) upwards of Rs 100 crore. The ‘Nett’ was irrespective of the cost at which distributors bought the film, and calculated after the Enter- tainment Tax was deducted. This was shared among exhibitors (theatre-owners), distributors (who sold a film) and producers (who made/ financed) the movie, depending on independent deals. In the current mindless surfeit of the South’s extravaganzas of violence, Vettaiyan, which means ‘Hunter’, comes as a breath of fresh air. Interestingly plotted, it depicts how a top cop, Superintendent of Police Athiyan (Rajinikanth), who also trains cops, prefers to kill criminals (and also very corrupt colleagues!) in encounters and thus has an op- ponent in Dr. Sathyadev Bramhadutt Pande, National Human Rights Commission of India (Amitabh Bach- chan). Dr. Sathyadev considers such acts abhorrent. When a teacher, Saranya (Dushara Vijayan) com- plains about drugs being sold near a school premises, Athiyan immediately shoots the man up top, Kumaresan (Sabumon Abdusamad) along with a cop who Kumare- san informs was hand-in-glove with him. This further invites Sathyadev’s ire. However, soon, Saranya is brutally raped and mur- dered, and when Athiyan comes to know that she had tried to contact him when she was being chased by the killer, he is hell-bent on punishing him, and the evidence points at Guna (Asal Kolaar), a young man pro- jected as a sex-addict. He is caught, pleads innocence despite some evidence against him and escapes. Athiyan guns him down. And then doubts are planted in his mind about whether he was innocent after all. Guna’s mother and sister are sheltered by Dr. Sathyadev, and then Guna’s innocence is confirmed through irrefutable evidence. Athiyan realizes that he has killed an innocent person, seeks Guna’s families’ pardon and vows now to get the real culprits and proclaim Guna’s innocence. The film of course rests on Rajinikanth’s persona and charisma, complete with his mannerisms and his trademark sardonic smile. But those wanting him to indulge in continuous mindless action and loud acting are in for a disappointment. In this respect, the film is similar to Sunny Deol’s Ghayal Once Again or Amitabh Bachchan’s Main Azaad Hoon that simply had them as too sober for their images and lost at the box-office! Also, one expects fireworks when Bachchan and Rajini are cast together in a big movie, espe- cially as they are on opposite wavelengths here unlike in Andhaa Kaanoon, Geraftaar and Hum. But that does not happen here! Amitabh himself is a stern but staid man and even his dialogues are pitched at low-key. From the support, Rana Daggubati as Natraj, the villain, goes the full hog, resorting quite a lot to hamming. ManjuWarrier as Mrs. Athiyan is pleasant, and Dushara Vijayan as Saranya is well-cast and effective. Ritika Singh, who last did the Hindi film, Saala Khadoos, as the protagonist alongside R. Madhavan, has nothing much to do here. As Natraj’s loyalist, Abhirami too is alright. But I was impressed by Asal Kolaar as Guna and even more by Fa- hadh Faasil as Athiyan’s protégé, Battery. His comedy is not only up-market but also relevant to the plot, unlike the forced humor of most South movies. The action and other technical aspects are well-done, the songs forgettable at least in Hindi and the back- ground music (both by Anirudh Ravichander) average. The film is likable and may do well on OTT, but as of now, it is unlikely to pull in Rajini fans in hordes into the movie halls. Rating: ***1/2 By RajivVijayakar PHOTO:TrailerVideo Grab Rajinikanth is an ace encounter specialist cop in Vettaiyan. Indo-American Arts Council Celebrates International Emmy Nomination Of “The Night Manager” O n the evening of November 23, the Sundaram Tagore Gallery in NewYork transformed into a hub of cultural celebration as luminaries from entertainment, art, and media gathered to honor The Night Manager. This Indian adaptation of the globally acclaimed series has made history with its International Emmy® nomination. The evening, hosted by Indo American Arts Council (iaac.us ) featured a cello and violin duet; a discussion with The Night Manager director Sandeep Modi and producer Deepak Dhar; a speech by Rakesh Kaul which highlighted the series’ cultural impact and its ability to connect with diverse audiences; and cuisine that included a curated selection of gourmet dishes and drinks crafted by Baar Baar. “This evening celebrates the power of storytelling to transcend borders, uniting creators, audiences, and cultures. We are honored to share in the success of The Night Manager with such an inspiring community,” Ex- ecutive Director of IAAC Suman Gollamudi, is quoted saying in the press release. The International Emmy Awards take place on November 25, 2024, showcasing excellence in global television. The IAAC is also scheduled to host its 25th anniver- sary of the NewYork Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) from June 20–22, 2025. By a StaffWriter PHOTOS:Lou Aguilar,courtesy IAAC From left, Anil Nanduru, Suman Gollamudi, Sandeep Modi, Shreni Modi. From left, Sushma Kaul, Deepak Dhar, Rakesh Kaul, Neha Dhar. The Night Manager team and IAAC Board and team at the event.