Last updated: 16 February 2023

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Film: Vaathi (Tamil), translates to ‘Teacher’ / Sir (Telugu)

Directed by: Venky Atluri (of Mr Majnu, Rang De fame)

Cast: Dhanush, Samyuktha, Samuthirakani, Sai Kumar, Sumanth (extended cameo)

Highlights: Very relevant concept about commercialisation of education, terrific performance by Dhanush, intriguing screenplay (Venky Atluri) with many moving scenes, excellent climax and impactful background score

Lowlights: some scenes are unrealistic and over-the-top, comedy falls flat

Cinemania rating: ★★★½☆

Detailed Review

Plot: Vaathi follows an inexperienced assistant teacher Bala (Dhanush) who is asked by his employer – a leading private school owner Thirupathi (Samuthirakani) – to teach at a derelict government secondary school in a small town as part of his cunning scheme to prove his schools are better than state schools. Bala realises that the students lack motivation to come to school and their parents don’t encourage them either.

Unaware of his employer’s intentions, Bala works very hard to convince the people of the town to send their children to the school and starts teaching them. He also falls in love with a Biology teacher (Samyuktha) in the same school. However the good things that Bala does makes him the enemy of his employer as well as the state establishment, who create hurdles in Bala’s attempt to make his students attend the board examinations. The rest of the story is about whether or not Bala will succeed in his mission.

Performances: Dhanush delivers one of his best performances in a role he’s not done before. Samyuktha does a good job. Sumanth plays a fine cameo. Samuthirakani is apt as the antagonist. Saikumar does justice to his role as the village head. The actors playing students have all performed well.

Technical departments: Venky Atluri’s plot, screenplay and direction is fabulous. Vaathi has plenty of moving scenes, some romance and well-choreographed fight scenes that elevate the protagonist. Editing (Naveen Nooli) is impressive. G. V. Prakash Kumar’s background score is top notch and one of the highlights of the film. Makeup for Dhanush is inconsistent – his beard colour shifts between black and grey in continuing scenes (for example the scene where he waits for students outside the school following the motivation speech he gives the previous day).

On the flip side, the comedy involving physics and chemistry teachers in the first half falls flat. There is a bit of lag in the first half where the film gets a little bit boring and preachy. Some scenes, though entertaining, look a bit unrealistic and over-the-top like a disabled student relentlessly pumping water to wet Bala’s feet, Bala using a movie theatre screening adult films to teach students (why would parents send their children to that theatre in the first place). But those glitches are overshadowed by Dhanush’s terrific performance and an excellent climax.

In summary, Vaathi is an excellent film that deserves to be watched for its relevant concept about free education, Dhanush’s performance, Venky Atluri’s direction and screenplay, and G. V. Prakash Kumar’s astounding score. This film deserves to be commercially successful.

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