Story
The
film
opens
up
with
animated
stretch
featuring
a
story
about
the
mighty
King
Vikram
and
the
stubborn
ghost
Betaal.
We
soon
see
an
encounter
cop
Vikram
(Saif
Ali
Khan)
busting
a
criminal
ring
in
a
rather
questionable
manner
in
an
abandoned
warehouse.
The
man
sees
and
thinks
in
black
and
white.
"Pata
hain
hum
har
encounter
ke
baad
hum
chain
ki
neend
kyun
sote
hain?
Kyunki
hum
jaante
hain
ki
humne
kisi
begunaah
ko
nahin
maara,"
the
upright
police
officer
tells
his
colleague.
Until
one
fine
day,
the
dreaded
gangster
Vedha
(Hrithik
Roshan)
who
has
kept
Vikram
and
his
team
on
their
feet,
walks
into
the
police
station
in
broad
daylight
and
surrenders
himself.
Vikram
is
convinced
that
there's
more
to
this
than
meets
the
eye.
On
the
other
hand,
Vedha
is
eager
to
narrate
a
bunch
of
stories
that
will
change
the
cop's
notions
of
morality
and
ethics.
Direction
With
the
roots
of
the
story
based
in
the
popular
folklore
'Vikram
Aur
Betaal,' director-duo
Pushkar-Gayatri
remain
faithful
to
the
original
Tamil
blockbuster
in
terms
of
execution
when
it
comes
to
Hrithik-Saif's
film.
Barring
the
milieu,
most
of
the
scenes
are
almost
replica
of
the
R
Madhavan-Vijay
Sethupathi
starrer.
Having
said
that,
it's
fortunate
that
the
makers
refrain
from
adding
any
gimmick
twists
in
the
climax
unlike
a
handful
of
south
remakes
in
recent
times.
Meanwhile,
a
closer
look
at
Vikram
Vedha's
world
shows
that
Pushkar-Gayatri
have
a
keen
eye
for
detailing.
For
example,
the
colour
of
Vikram's
polo-neck
T-shirts
undergoes
a
change
as
the
line
between
black
and
white
gets
blurred.
In
the
initial
sequences
in
the
film,
Vikram
is
in
white
while
Vedha
is
dressed
in
black.
By
the
end
of
the
film,
the
former
is
seen
wearing
grey
tees.
In
one
of
the
shots
in
the
film,
Vedha,
who
is
seated
behind
Vikram
in
the
jeep,
literally
appears
to
be
on
the
cop's
back.
Another
scene
which
has
Vedha
almost
choking
Vikram
in
the
forest,
evokes
a
similar
feeling.
On
the
flipside,
Pushkar-Gayatri
should
have
made
the
screenplay
a
little
more
tight
to
smooth
the
creases.
Performances
If
Vijay
Sethupathi's
Vedha
was
a
mix
of
swag
and
roguish
charm,
Hrithik
Roshan
defines
flamboyance
in
his
interpretation
of
this
antagonist.
With
follow
shots
and
a
buildup
music,
Pushkar-Gayatri
give
him
a
bombastic
entry
into
the
narrative.
Throughout
the
film,
he
makes
sure
that
your
eyes
are
on
him
as
he
delivers
crowd-pleasing
dialogues
and
swoops
down
buildings.
Having
said
that,
there's
one
particular
scene
that
leaves
you
with
mixed
feelings.
It
features
a
slow-mo
action
scene
where
Hrithik's
character
Vedha
takes
on
a
gang
of
rogues
while
listening
to
a
Raj
Kapoor
song.
The
playful
movement
of
the
camera
captures
the
actor's
deliciously
handsome
looks
as
he
walks
towards
it
with
his
hair
swaying
in
the
air.
For
those
few
moments,
it
feels
like
Hrithik
Roshan,
the
star
has
overpowered
Vedha
the
character.
While
your
heart
leaps
with
joy
to
see
the
actor's
dripping
hotness,
it
isn't
a
good
sign
for
his
reel
avatar.
Saif
Ali
Khan
as
the
no-nonsense
cop
whose
understanding
of
the
world
is
just
black
and
white,
hits
it
right
from
his
introduction
scene.
Be
it
as
a
gun-wielding
cop
who
won't
blink
an
eye
while
pumping
bullets
or
as
someone
who
is
slowly
clouded
by
doubt,
the
actor
essays
both
the
shades
quite
well.
The
scenes
featuring
Vikram
and
Vedha's
wordplay
and
the
action-packed
climax
are
fireworks
on
screen.
In
one
of
the
scenes
in
Vikram
Vedha,
Radhika
Apte's
character
Priya
calls
herself
a
courier
between
the
two
pivotal
characters.
That
dialogue
aptly
sums
up
her
role
in
the
film.
Sharib
Hashmi
delivers
an
impressive
performance
as
Babloo.
Rohit
Suresh
Saraf
does
a
neat
job
when
it
comes
to
his
role.
Yogita
Bihani
as
Chanda
fares
good.
Technical
Aspects
One
of
the
major
heroes
of
Vikram
Vedha
is
PS
Vinod's
sleek
cinematography.
There's
a
lot
of
light
and
shadow
play
which
lends
an
interesting
layer
to
Pushkar-Gayatri's
storytelling.
The
action-sequences
are
well-choreographed.
Richard
Kevin
A's
editing
receives
a
thumbs
up.
Music
Though
it's
a
treat
to
watch
Hrithik
Roshan
put
on
his
dancing
shoes
for
'Alcoholia',
the
song
ends
up
just
as
an
accessory
to
the
narrative.
'Bande' might
not
work
as
a
standalone
song
but
its
visuals
are
high
on
testosterone.
Verdict
"Saara
khel
aankh
aur
kaan
ka
hain,"
quips
a
character
in
this
Hrithik
Roshan-Saif
Ali
Khan
starrer.
With
the
leading
men's
combustible
chemistry,
PS
Vinod's
interesting
frames
and
the
thumping
background
score,
Vikram
Vedha
turns
out
to
be
an
engaging
battle
of
wits
about
might,
morals
and
swagger.