‘Veera Dheera Sooran’ review: Vikram’s compelling performance is the highlight of this rustic, engaging film

'Veera Dheera Sooran', with Vikram in the lead, is not the kind of film that spends too much time on world-building. Rather, it delves directly into the conflict, while giving the audience only enough time to understand where the characters who influence the narrative stand.

Director S.U. Arun Kumar's storytelling style makes Veera Dheera Sooran appealing. The story begins after a man arrives at a police station to file a missing report for his wife and daughter.
What should have been a simple investigation drama escalates into a tale of revenge, when the Superintendent of Police Arunagiri (played by S J Suryah) uses it as a convenient ploy to finish off Periyavar aka Ravi (Maruthi Prakashraj) and his son Kannan (Suraj Venjaramoodu). But the dynamics change when Kaali (played by Vikram) enters the narrative.

The filmmaker, known for delivering grounded yet commercial films like 'Chittha' and 'Sethupathi', explores Vikram's star power in the right measure in 'Veera Dheera Sooran'. Though Vikram is known for his powerful and thoughtful portrayal of grounded characters, very few films have done justice to his acting style over the years.

However, 'Veera Dheera Sooran' brings back the vintage Vikram. The actor plays a family man who struggles with conflicting loyalties while trying to do what is best for his family. This conflicting emotion drives the narrative in many ways.
Vikram's chemistry with his co-stars, notably Dushara Vijayan, who plays his wife Kalaivaani, is remarkable. Family drama is a key element in 'Veera Dheera Sooran', and it is beautifully incorporated into the film, which also deals with vengeance and power dynamics. There are powerful moments in the film.

For instance, it is difficult to ignore Kaali’s pain when he learns of his friend Dilip’s death. Vikram’s performance in this scene is so powerful, reminding you of his excellent performance in the ‘Deiva Thirumagal’. Suraj Venjaramoodu, who made his Tamil debut with 'Veera Dheera Sooran' and S J Suryaah nailed their roles too. The cinematography by Theni Easwar, known for his captivating and intense frames, adds more depth to the narrative, while G V Prakash delivers the right music and background score.

However, 'Veera Dheera Sooran' has its faults. The film is not perfect and suffers from an overcrowded narrative at times. Some of the action scenes also feel a bit over the top. Despite this, the director has given us an engaging film that captivates you both with its writing and the stars' performances.