Vaathi

Vaathi is not an extraordinary film due to its larger than life moments at times, however it tries to hold the pulse of the audience with good set up and pay offs. Overall, Vaathi is a film that's mounted on no-nonsense writing though it could have been even better.

While Vaathi has a noble mission, Venky Atluri's story and narration are a big let-down. Dhanush is the only saving grace of this Venky Atluri film.

Vaathi is a triumphant tale of an underdog who fights against a system that is heavily stacked against him, though it is burdened by clichés, a Super 30 hangover, and forced humour that has a very bitter aftertaste. Despite its heart and intent, sensationalism eventually pushes realism behind, leading to some uncharacteristic narratives and unintended comedy.

The movie fails pretty much everywhere because of shoddy writing, despite having a solid plot and a cast of talented actors. In spite of all that, the film can be dubbed as nothing but "old wine in a broken bottle".

It's a shame that Dhanush's entry into the Telugu movie industry has to be marked by a film of such mediocrity and confused politics. Why he'd pick a script so comprehensively bad, is baffling.