VANANGAAN – MOVIE REVIEW

Vanangaan is an action drama film written, co-produced, and directed by Bala under B Studios, while Suresh Kamatchi of V House Productions serves as co-producer.

Bala remains unapologetic in showcasing the pain and struggles of the subjugated, presenting his viewpoints with a rawness that sets him apart from today’s directors who often disguise their biases under the garb of political activism. With Vanangaan, Bala stays true to his distinct style, but this time it feels like a repetition of his own template.The film brings back Bala’s trademark elements—quirky characters, a screenplay loaded with wit and sarcasm, and dialogues with an edge. But Vanangaan meanders aimlessly, lacking clear purpose. The story incorporates all the clichés we’ve come to associate with Bala’s films, and predictably takes a dramatic twist halfway through, offering little surprise in its trajectory. While there are moments of brilliance, they are overshadowed by unnecessary and objectionable scenes that could have been avoided altogether. The courtroom sequences manage to inject some energy and coherence, but the climax leaves viewers with more questions than answers.

On the performance front, Arun Vijay delivers a commendable effort, but Ridha is the one who truly steals the show with a nuanced performance. Roshni Prakash tends to go overboard at times, while Samuthirakani sticks to his tried-and-tested persona.

Gurudev’s cinematography is neat and complements the film’s tone well. Sam CS’s background score is adequate, though the songs by GV Prakash feel uninspired and routine. Sathish Surya’s editing keeps the narrative tight, but the dialogues feel standard and the direction too typical for Bala’s calibre.

Vanangaan carries Bala’s signature throughout but ultimately feels like a rehash of his earlier works—clichéd, scattered, and largely incoherent.

VANANGAAN – VALAKKAM !!

2.25/5

B.U.Shreesha