VIP 2 is supposedly Kajol's comeback into Tamil. But from the very first frame, she owns it like she never left.
Amala Paul, Samuthirakani and actor/director Balaji (who could be directing Dhanush in his next film) do their bit, to keep Dhanush's character grounded.
Dhanush Writes Well!
No, I'm not surprised that Dhanush can write. What is surprising, is his learning curve. He debuted with Pa Pandi (writer / director). It was full of plot holes, despite which it leaves you warm and fuzzy. But VIP 2 is so slickly written, it's hard to believe it's only his second movie.
He has written his women well. His mother (his mother's photograph, to be precise), his wife, and his antagonist are the characters who move the story forward.
At the very end, he spews (literally, in a single breath) feminist gyaan. But anyone with such a large platform and a captive audience would do it.
Kajol Swears, And I Swear By Her
Kajol is all sass, all suave and all powerful in the movie. I'd place her right up there with Ramya Krishnan’s Neelambari in Padayappa.
For someone who doesn't know the language, you hardly notice the dubbing faux pas. She conveys what she means with a roll of her eyes, or a well placed, authoritarian 'What the F@#*’.
Right after Dhanush's final long dialogue, Kajol agrees with him, wordlessly, and drops her imperial guard. That wordless moment is all she takes to trump Dhanush's breathless spiel.
Jallikattu Protests and the Floods
I realise I've lived to see two truly major social events. Almost all of the movies that depict a mass positive change, cannot help but reference the Jallikattu protests: the lifting of the mobile phones, and people watching and sharing on FB and WhatsApp. Dhanush brings these events and more into the movie rather seamlessly.
Side note on Music
Sean Roldan replaces Anirudh as music director. The music of VIP was a hit. VIP 2's numbers are side notes. I mean no disrespect. Sean Rolden’s songs and BGMs are intelligent and pleasing. But Anirudh brought a level of mass appeal that the second instalment has failed to replicate.
The Superhero Genre that Just Got Told
Most hero-centric Tamil films are actually superhero movies. The hero does things that are humanly impossible, both physically and through acts of selfless kindness. VIP 2 is full of such elements. But the movie ends not in confrontation, but in a beautifully crafted conversation.
To turn a Man vs Woman, Rich vs Poor class conflict on its head; this, is Dhanush's true triumph as a story teller.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)