Vedha Movie Review: Shiva Rajkumar's vengeance thrill ride is convincing just on a superficial level

Shiva Rajkumar and filmmaker A Harsha have a history of pushing the envelope with their film projects. In Vedha, their third collaboration, they tackle the sensitive subject of child sexual assault. Despite the filmmakers' noble intentions, the end result is a flawed and shallow film that only briefly touches upon the emotional depth it aims to achieve.

The film follows the journey of Vedha (Shiva Rajkumar) and his daughter Kanaka (Aditi Sagar), two travelling assassins who have a tragic past. Their mission to seek revenge is filled with action and violence, but the film fails to fully delve into the emotional turmoil of the characters. The central performances, particularly from the female cast, are strong but Shiva Rajkumar's character lacks vulnerability and becomes a larger-than-life entity, taking away from the tension of the story.

Vedha's plot is straightforward, but the filmmakers attempt to add emotional depth through extreme stylization, such as a powerful soundtrack, slow-mo shots, and a believable setting. However, despite these efforts, the film feels far removed from reality and never fully immerses the viewer in the story.

The film takes on a huge responsibility in dealing with sexual violence, but fails to thoroughly examine the issue and provide a realistic resolution. The conclusion of Vedha, where the characters champion the fight against violence against women, is a noble gesture but feels contrived and shallow.

Overall, Vedha is an entertaining film with action and thrills, but it only briefly touches upon the emotional depth it aims to achieve and fails to fully examine the sensitive subject it tackles.