Vedaa

Vedaa is the story of Abhimanyu Kanwar, played by John Abraham, who was removed from the army in a dishonorable manner by the ruthless act of his wife's murder, and the retribution he is chasing for her. Vedaa, a Dalit law student acted by Sharvari Wagh, is on the way and has to tackle violent persecution merely because she comes from a low caste. Abhimanyu is the one who, filled by his earlier days, becomes Vedaa's tutor and they together fight the injustices that she is facing. This is a movie that is a combination of life.-like fight, drama, and social criticism and it is actually a very provocative movie.

Vedaa Explained

The part where the story of events is unfolded, wherein (which) Abhimanyu is dishonorably dismissed from the army, is the beginning of the movie. An unsolved wife's murder at the hands of the oppressors who are convinced that their power is derived from the social status that they have is making Abhimanyu more and more eager to punish them. The young man then goes to a village where he crosses paths with Vedaa, who is a student of law and a Dalit. Vedaa throughout the process of vanishing, and hiding is continually taunted and prejudiced even before she starts.

When Vedaa realizes that she and Abhimanyu both experience the same difficulties, she becomes the mentor of Vedaa. Abhimanyu teaches her self-defense for five to seven years and with her being the representative of the system, she confronts the repressive forces in his village. The movie's theme tackles casteism and caste-based honor crimes with the focus on the importance of individual resistance. For the first half to keep the audience engrossed in the movie, it should be strong and fast-paced. While the first half focuses on creativity, the second half, and especially the action parts, is very much formulaic and predictable.

Vedaa Reviews

The opinions of the two sides, the critics and the public, about Vedaa have always been different. Sharvari Wagh's work has been appreciated by people. Her acting showing all types of emotions and the part of the film's protagonist have been her abilities. However, John Abraham is fit for his role as he is quite emotionless; his lack of emotions seems to be welcomed.

Criticism, however, is not directed toward the movie as a whole, the problem is mainly in the first half, which is the strong balance of the film with the plot being the main focus. Nevertheless, the film takes a nasty turn in the second half when the so-called action scenes are stereotypical and reduced to a mere air and, at the same time, looks like they never happened, and are criticized as impracticable.

Yet one review described Vedaa, led by Sharvari's dominating portrayal, as a confusing concoction. Her expression and dialogues were impressive, and only her contribution to this comic strip was exceptional. But in a parody of his own character (the absolutely emotion-free person), John Abraham is acceptable. No wonder, this is the main idea of his characterization.

In some instances, some critics have recommended this movie based on the notable features in the first half, including a balanced story. Unfortunately, the only outcome of the movie is downgrading once there are typical, overused sequences of one-man-arm combat.

For more prospective film reviews, check out our take on Jigra - Jigra

Can I See It on Netflix?

Concerning Netflix, Vedaa is not included in the catalog. But by subscribing to Tata Play Binge, the film can be watched easily as it has been made available there. There is a chance for you to watch Vedaa in case you feel like it.

Is It Worth Watching?

Vedaa has several notable flaws and some positive points. Sharvari Wagh has an outstanding performance, and the story is well-knit all the way to the end and is off to a good start. However, the actions scenes, especially in the second part, are considered by many as cliched and far-fetched. The picture in spite of these imperfections still provides a message to the society and some good actors’ performances making the film at least a watch-worthy of the two.

Although it is obvious that the second part of the movie is the reason for the criticism, it is still a conversation full of thoughts. Vedaa is recommended to those who want a blend of action and societal critique.

• Director

  : Nikkhil Advani

• Casting

  : John Abraham, Sharvari, Abhishek Banerjee

• Production

  : John Abraham, Monisha Advani