Review: Veduvan
Don’t let the first episode fool you into thinking that this might be another run-of-the-mill series. The series might start off slowly but it only keeps picking up pace as it goes along.
Name: Veduvan (Web Series on Zee5)
Written & Directed – Pavan
Cast: Kanna Ravi, Sanjeev Venkat, Sravnitha Srikanth, Aishwarya Raghupathi, Vinusha Devi, Lavanya, Rekha Nair, Parvathy, and Jeeva Ravi.
Producer – Sreenidhi Sagar
Production – Rise East Entertainment
Music Director – Vibin Baskar
DOP – Srinivaasan Devaraj
DOP Team – Shiva
Editor – S.Surajkavee
Rating: 3.5 stars
Director Pavan comes up with a gripping thriller that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The series not only provides solid entertainment, it also raises some very credible questions by the time it ends. Along the way, it shines the light on facts that society often fails to take note of.
Synopsis
The series begins with Sooraj (Kanna Ravi), a star who is frustrated as all his films have been flopping one after the other at the box office. More than the failure of his films, Sooraj is unable to digest the harsh criticism he faces online from reviewers and social media trolls. Just when he is looking for a break, a director approaches him with a fresh script. The story is a biopic and it is that of an undercover cop, who is also an encounter specialist. Thrilled by the undercover cop’s dashing exploits, the actor readily agrees to do the film. But as he begins to play the role of the cop, he begins to realise that what has been presented as fact in the life of the undercover cop may in fact be fiction and that the truth may be something else. As he begins to search for the truth in the undercover cop’s life, he realises that stating the truth could put him in danger…
Analysis:
Veduvan is a gripping Tamil original series that works big time, primarily because of the manner in which it is narrated.
Don’t let the first episode fool you into thinking that this might be another run-of-the-mill series. The series might start off slowly but it only keeps picking up pace as it goes along.
The manner in which the director builds the character of the encounter specialist Arun is impressive. By the time, the cop takes out the first criminal, you find yourself rubbing your hands in glee and by the time, he is given his next assignment, the excitement just multiplies.
Like any good web series, the excitement level only keeps increasing from episode to episode and that is the way it stays right until the time the series ends.
Several of the points that the series makes are significant and deep. For instance, there is a dialogue that a senior police officer delivers. When he is asked which political party was responsible for a criminal act, he says, “There are only two categories. People and politicians.” That is a very powerful statement that makes the point that all politicians are the same, irrespective of their political affiliations.
The question that the series raises, ‘Do people believe the truth or does what the majority believes becomes the truth?’ is again a very valid one.
Performances:
Kanna Ravi, who plays the lead character, delivers a very convincing performance as both the actor and the undercover cop. Full marks to him for being able to portray both shades remarkably well. Sanjeev Venkat, who plays the role of a powerful gangster who is earmarked for an encounter, comes up with an equally impressive performance. Vinusha Devi adds strength to the credibility of the plot with her fine performance. Sravnitha Srikanth and Lavanya come up with neat performances to ably support the main cast.
Verdict:
On the whole, this is a very good web series that is definitely worth your time. Do watch it on Zee5. The series is to be streamed from October 10th this year.
