CAST: John Abraham, Sharvari Wagh, Abhishek Banerjee, Tamannaah Bhatia
DIRECTOR: Nikkhil Advani
“Vedaa” is the kind of movie that sets out to be a gritty, hard-hitting drama about social justice but ends up feeling like it got lost somewhere between an action-packed blockbuster and a serious commentary on societal issues. Directed by Nikkhil Advani, this film features a star-studded cast with John Abraham, Sharvari Wagh, and Abhishek Banerjee, each bringing their own flair to the table. However, whether they manage to create a coherent meal or just a chaotic feast is up for debate.
Sharvari Wagh delivers a standout performance as Vedaa Bairwa, a young woman fighting against systemic caste discrimination. Wagh’s portrayal is as intense as it is heartfelt, capturing the emotional and physical struggles of her character with raw authenticity. From the moment she appears on screen, sprinting alongside a speeding train, Wagh’s Vedaa draws you into her world—a world filled with dreams of boxing championships and higher education, tragically overshadowed by the harsh realities of caste violence.
John Abraham’s role as Major Abhimanyu, Vedaa’s protector and mentor, brings the typical Abraham action-hero gravitas to the film. His character, while stoic and deeply scarred by personal tragedy, sometimes feels like it wandered in from a different movie—perhaps a “John Wick” sequel set in rural India. Abraham’s Abhimanyu is relentless in his pursuit of justice, mowing down villains with the efficiency of a one-man army, leaving a trail of destruction that is thrilling to watch but also somewhat disconnected from the film’s more serious themes.
And then there’s Abhishek Banerjee, who takes the role of the villainous minister to new heights—or depths, depending on how you look at it. Banerjee’s portrayal is deliciously over-the-top, turning the film’s antagonist into a character that’s as entertaining as he is terrifying. He doesn’t just play a bad guy; he owns the screen with a performance that’s so exaggerated it almost feels like he’s in on the joke. His character, who rules over 150 villages with an iron fist, becomes the perfect foil to Wagh’s determined Vedaa and Abraham’s unstoppable Abhimanyu, adding a layer of dark, almost theatrical menace to the film.
The action scenes are another highlight, especially when Vedaa takes on her oppressors with a blend of ferocity and skill that’s both exhilarating and cathartic. The choreography is slick, and the stakes feel real, even if the violence sometimes borders on the cartoonish. The climactic showdown, in particular, is a tour de force of action filmmaking, with Abraham and Banerjee going head-to-head in a battle that’s as emotionally charged as it is physically brutal.
However, despite its strengths, “Vedaa” struggles with tonal consistency. The film tries to juggle intense social commentary with high-octane action, but the two elements often clash rather than complement each other. The narrative, inspired by real-life events such as the Manoj-Babli honor killings and the atrocities faced by Dalits, is undoubtedly powerful, but the film’s over-the-top action sequences and somewhat contrived plot twists can undermine the gravity of its message.
In the end, “Vedaa” is a film that’s as uneven as it is ambitious. It offers moments of brilliance, particularly in the performances of its leads, but it also leaves you wondering what it could have been with a tighter script and a more focused approach. If you’re in the mood for a film that mixes social justice with explosive action, and don’t mind a few narrative bumps along the way, “Vedaa” might just be worth the watch. And if nothing else, Abhishek Banerjee’s villainous turn will keep you thoroughly entertained—whether you’re laughing with him or at him is another matter altogether.
