‘Vedaa’ Review: John Abraham, Sharvari Shine In Imperfect Yet Compelling Action Drama

Director: Nikkhil Advani

Cast: John Abraham, Sharvari, Abhishek Banerjee, Ashish Vidyarthi

Rating: 3/5

John Abraham has been an integral part of the Hindi film industry for nearly 21 years. He, however, is considered to be more of an action hero rather than an actor par excellence. His latest release ‘Vedaa’, which opened in theatres on August 15, does little to change that perception. That said, it is a step in the right direction for action genre and packs a punch despite its flaws.

What’s Vedaa About?

‘Vedaa’ features Sharvari in the titular role and centres on the events that transpire when she teams up with Abhimanyu ( John) to fight the system and strive for justice. The basic storyline is quite relatable as it deals with the fight against oppression, which is a universal theme. The film’s socio-political undertones further add depth to the intense plot.

Effective Screenplay Helps Vedaa Hit The Right Notes

‘Vedaa’ reaches its potential because of the meticulous writing. The makers take their time to establish the film’s world and the characters. The sequences set in Kashmir establish Abhimanyu as a daredevil who lives on his own terms. Similarly, the scenes focusing on Vedaa’s family life give us a closer look at her aspirations. They also explore the societal hierarchy at play in the film’s world.

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In a hard-hitting scene, Sharvari is humiliated for trying to learn boxing. In another one, her loved ones are killed in the cruelest way possible.

The intense first half is followed by a stretched yet gripping second one. In a shocking scene, Vedaa is betrayed by a close relative. This sequence has been executed well and leaves the audience spellbound with its organic intensity.

On the flip side, the subplot involving Raashi ( Tamannaah) just doesn’t work. Moreover, it feels too predictable. It should either have been explored properly or dropped.

Similarly, the climax feels a bit over the top even though it’s heart is in the right place.

Sharvari, John Deliver Impressive Performances

Coming to the performances, Sharvari is the heart and soul of ‘Vedaa’. She channels the character’s vulnerability with ease and also carries off the action scenes with ease. John impresses with his restrained performance. The actor, much like Prabhas in Salaar, conveys a lot through his silence. Abhishek Banerjee, who plays the manipulative Pradhan ji, hits the right notes with his work. His body language and accent here are completely different from what he brought to the table in ‘Stree’. Ashish Vidyarthi fails to make an impact as his work here is reminiscent of what he did in ‘Kill’.

The Bottomline

As far as the technical aspects are concerned, the action scenes are the film’s USP. They are realistic and believable.
The music is top-notch, with ‘Mummy Ji’ being the pick of the lot. The editing could have been better as the film drags towards the climax.

To sum up, ‘Vedaa’ is an imperfect yet compelling actioner with a strong social message.

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