There was a time when remaking a regional movie for the mainstream audience was a direct formula for success. However, when the cult of the South itself became mainstream, things started to change. Nowadays, the audience expects more from the makers. Especially the fans of Vikram Vedha.
Apart from the commercial clichés and raw action, they also want the critical aspects of the source material to remain intact, if not improved.
Vijay Sethupathi and R Madhavan Starrer Vikram Vedha(2017) lie in the same bracket. It received immense acclaim at the time of its release, followed by high IMDb ratings and positive word of mouth. Moreover, the dubbed version of the Tamil language thriller attracted new-age movie enthusiasts and made it a popular watch.
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In 2022, the makers are attempting a mainstream Hindi version with Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan in titular roles. Although the trailer has generated some strong buzz, the elephant in the room still remains. Will it meet the expectations of seasoned viewers?
It will be interesting to see the approach of the directing duo in this rendition. Whether they will add new things or seal it frame by frame is their personal creative decision. But as a fan of the original version, here are some elements that I wish they don’t meddle with.
The core influence of the source material in Vikram Vedha
For the unversed, Vikram Vedha is based on the ancient folklore of Baital Pachisi. The story of King Vikramaditya and the spirit of Baital, a celestial identity with a knack for telling riddles. Personally, my first introduction to the story was the reruns of Ramanand Sagar’s Doordarshan adaptation. It was an instant childhood classic that infused my interest in mythology. Therefore, when I first saw a modern take on the story with crime and mystery as the central theme, the stakes were pretty high.
By keeping the essence of Folklore, and designing characters around it, Pushkar-Gayatri enthralled me as a viewer. I had rarely seen something of that sort, and it immediately brought me in.
Adaptations, if done sincerely, are guaranteed to attract your core audience. I only wish for the same level of sincerity in the Hindi language version of the film.
The OG performance of Vijay Sethupathi
There are several instances where Vijay Sethupathi has played the wicked guy, and none of them are alike. The way he builds up his arch and makes you root for him is definitely a mark of brilliance. In Vikram Vedha it almost feels like he absorbs the fictional counterpart, and adds a touch of his own.
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I believe there were similar signs in the trailer, where Hrithik Roshan gives a proper bad guy with a good motive. But it will be amazing to see what he adds to the role and how he redefines the character.
The soul-satisfying payoff
The third act of the original film is spot on with the dramatics. Apart from the typically loaded action, the big follow-up to the end with well-kept suspense is a compulsory trait of the genre. At last, a thriller is only as good as its moment of revelation.
The almost open-ended nature of the ending, with Sethupathi and Madhavan’s standoff, is a treat to watch. It did complete justice to the story and left me in awe of its appreciation.
We have often seen Hindi mainstream films taking the high road with the climax. Where leaving an open end for interpretation, feels like a taboo in general. However, with the original set of makers, nothing is off-limits.
The original film is streaming now on MX player. If you too are a fan of the original, let us know how excited you are about the upcoming remake, in the comment section below.
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