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Vikram Vedha review – swaggering Bollywood remake of Tamil crime caper

Pushkar-Gayatri’s reboot of their 2017 hit improves on the original thanks to two zingy lead performances from Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan

V ikram Vedha was a Tamil hit in 2017, a twisty, semi-subversive thriller in which a bad-ass Chennai cop and a wily criminal swap stories rather than blows or bullets. Mashing up mythological, procedural and rhetorical elements, it circled fresh genre territory before a dead-end payoff in an abandoned factory. Its makers, the married narrative strategists billed as Pushkar-Gayatri, now relocate to Lucknow for a Hindi remake with major Bollywood stars. Nothing about VV 2.0 refutes the idea that India’s best movie ideas are bubbling up from the south, but Pushkar-Gayatri have taken the money and really run with it. Longer and rangier, this version is also far more relaxed and enjoyable in its tale-telling, scattering swag with every plot swerve.

Replacing lived-in original leads Madhavan and Vijay Sethupathi, who looked as if they would prefer a chinwag to sustained fisticuffs, we get Saif Ali Khan (as the cop Vikram) and Hrithik Roshan (Vedha, the hood): both visibly ready to rumble and nifty dramatic players who make their mutual interrogations zip and zing. In a further upgrade, Radhika Apte’s sceptical air makes Vikram’s lawyer wife Priya – entering this battle of manly wills as Vedha’s counsel – a more forceful presence. It is crucial to Pushkar-Gayatri’s mischievous project that the cop gets it from all sides, and Roshan displays such phosphorescent, screen-torching charisma that our sympathies are regularly redistributed.

The finale has not been overhauled, exactly: after the inventive leaps to get us there, it still feels like the conclusion of a conventional crime story. Yet souping up the narrative engine makes for a smoother ride through the falling bodies; the directors’ cutting and framing, sharp enough first time out, is more so here. Pushkar-Gayatri are keen tinkerers, and there is genuine pleasure in watching a Saturday-night spectacle where all the nuts, bolts and pistons are operating more or less as they should. A likely hit for an industry that sorely needs one – and a story that bears, and even improves with, repetition.

• Drama films
• Crime films
• South and central Asia

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Vikram Vedha Review: Hrithik Roshan And Saif Ali Khan Deliver Standout Performances

Vikram vedha review: saif ali khan makes a far better vikram. hrithik roshan harnesses his star appeal and screen presence to deliver the goods..

A still from Vikram Vedha trailer. (courtesy: T-Series )

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan, Radhika Apte, Rohit Saraf, Yogita Bihani

Director: Pushkar and Gayatri

Rating: 3 Stars (out of 5)

A remake is a remake even if it overruns with style and swag. Banish that thought and calibrate your expectations accordingly and Vikram Vedha , Pushkar and Gayatri's reshaping of their own 2017 Tamil smash hit of the same title, is a meaty mass entertainer that packs quite a punch.

Working with a screenplay that has yielded dividends before and banking on a pair of Bollywood stars who give a solid account of themselves, the directing duo cash in handsomely on the film's intelligently assembled resources.

Minor tweaks in the story, a drastic backdrop change and Hindi dialogue that alternates between the conversational and philosophical enable them to craft a movie that not only does not appear like a once-too-often exercise but also possesses the potential to pull the crowds in.

Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan face off in a battle of attrition that is crammed with intrigue and energy, what with an array of characters orbiting around the cop and the criminal engaged in penetrating mind games. The two male leads, on their parts, deliver performances that stand out amid the orchestrated din.

Fleshing out characters that have been drawn from a centuries-old folktale and placed in present-day Lucknow, the actors are aided in rising above the stereotypical nature of the two men - one a policeman, the other an urban brigand; one on the side of good, the other against it - by the out-of-the-ordinary situations and the questions of ethics and emotions that the screenplay hinges on.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Vikram (Khan) is drafted into a special task force and pressed into an operation aimed at nabbing the sly and slippery Vedha (Roshan), who lords over the Lucknow underworld and keeps the law enforcers on their toes.

Vikram Vedha kicks off with a shootout in which a few gangsters are killed, which sparks off a round of violent confrontations between the STF and the vengeful Vedha. The end of violence seems nigh when the dreaded Vedha turns himself in to the police.

Vedha's surprise move is only the beginning. He has more up his sleeves than the cops anticipate. One of his trump cards is lawyer Priya (Radhika Apte), who happens to be Vikram's wife. A woman doing her job, her husband doing his and the two at loggerheads with each other - this recipe for marital discord adds a layer to the story that occasionally yanks it away from the hurly-burly of the police station and deposits it within the walls of domesticity.

Thrice in the course of the narrative, delivered as a series of flashbacks that spring out of twisted and protracted tales that Vedha narrates to Vikram, the cop is close to eliminating (or at least outwitting) the criminal. Each time, the latter convinces the former to hear a story rooted in his own life. Every story ends in the manner of a fable with a question of moral import centred on good and evil, the nature of crime, policing and culpability, and the dynamics of revenge and justice.

Inspired by the folktale Baital Pachisi in which King Vikramaditya sets out to capture a wily demon who repeatedly foxes the righteous ruler with riddles on whose answers their fate rests, Vikram Vedha transports the mythic tale to the capital city of Uttar Pradesh.

Lucknow, with its historic structures, has a key role in the film if only as a physical setting that gives the film a distinctive visual texture just as Chennai did in the original Vikram Vedha.

At three specific junctures, the police officer is forced by Vedha to confront an ethical dilemma regarding his role as a defender of the law and his firm belief that none of the encounter deaths he has caused was of an innocent man.

If you are among those that have seen the Tamil-language original, be warned that this is by and large a scene-by-scene, line-by-line reiteration that is 20 minutes longer than the Madhavan-Vijay Sethupathi starrer. The film's ability to startle and shock is therefore severely curtailed. But if you are unaware of the plot, Vikram Vedha has enough twists and turns to hold your attention all the way through.

Pushkar and Gayatri, perhaps the only husband-wife duo of directors in Asia, do well not to tinker with a successful construct. They fall back on not only the same Sam C.S. background score to shore up the action on the screen, but also on the director of photography (P.S. Vinod) and the editor (Richard Kevin).

While the cinematographer has to make significant adjustments to factor in a new location and a significantly altered production design, the editor is not required to do much that he has not done once before. But familiarity does not take anything away from Vikram Vedha .

Thanks to a new setting - Lucknow serves as a strikingly evocative backdrop to the fast-paced crime drama - and a fresh set of actors, Vikram Vedha has a colour palette of its own. Despite its length, it never feels stodgy or sluggish. The credit for that accrues as much to the technicians as to the writers (the directors themselves).

If comparisons are to be made no matter how odious they may be, Saif Ali Khan makes a far better Vikram. He inhabits the character of the tough cop with conviction and exudes the external toughness that defines the man and his mission.

Hrithik Roshan, who refrains from modelling his performance on that of Vijay Sethupathi, harnesses his star appeal and screen presence to deliver the goods and then some. It is well-nigh impossible to go one better on the inimitable Vijay Sethupathi. Roshan does not even try and that stands him in good stead.

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With two major Bollywood stars powering the film, the actors in the supporting roles suffer just a touch. Be that as it may, Radhika Apte, stepping into Shraddha Srinath's shoes as Vikram's lawyer-wife, Satyadeep Mishra playing Vikram's police academy mate SSP Abbas Ali (replacing the Tamil film's Simon), and Sharib Hashmi in the role of Vedha's foe-turned-friend-turned-foe Babloo add their mite to the film.

The characters played by Rohit Saraf and Yogita Bihani - Vedha's younger brother and the girl in his life - somehow do not seem to make the impact that Kathir and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar did in the same roles in the 2017 movie. But these are but small blips in a power-packed, compelling action thriller that knows exactly what it is getting at and achieves its ends with aplomb.

Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan, Radhika Apte, Rohit Saraf, Yogita Bihani

Pushkar and Gayatri

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Vikram Vedha Reviews

With his unrivalled screen presence, Hrithik Roshan made Vedha a villain you couldn't help but root for...

Full Review | Nov 27, 2023

From the animated Vikram Betaal opening sequence itself, it becomes evident that Pushkar and Gayatri have made a concerted effort to try and outdo the original in every perceivable way. And, in my opinion, they have succeeded.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jul 20, 2023

This Bollywood remake of a Tamil action movie is an enjoyable fare overall, though the constant violence and gore may become unbearable to some. Vikram Vedha's mystery and plot are constructed well and keep the audience on their toes.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jun 29, 2023

Fables such as this are famously uncomplicated, but in the hands of Pushkar-Gayatri, Vikram Vedha’s ‘moral’ gets lost in the murkiness of its overcomplicated plot and its pointless posturing.

Full Review | May 22, 2023

Succeeded as an original, but falls flat in its Hindi version...

Full Review | Oct 24, 2022

The lead pairing of Bollywood megastars are stunning in their performances. Saif Ali Khan plays Vikram as strongly as Madhavan. While the biggest difference in the movies is Hrithik Roshan’s performance as Vedha.

Full Review | Oct 21, 2022

Eventually it all boils down to the strength of the original concept, the well-etched, ethically complicated characters, the fast-moving action and lithe camerawork...

Full Review | Oct 17, 2022

If, like me, you are a lover of the 2017 Tamil Vikram Vedha, then the Hindi version becomes a largely laborious retread. But if you are a Vikram Vedha virgin, you might find pleasure in the puzzle-like plot.

Full Review | Oct 11, 2022

More worryingly, the cast of the Hindi Vikram Vedha can’t capitalise on a script that is ripe with potential and opportunities...

Full Review | Oct 5, 2022

Put it all together, and it’s hard not to be swept away by this rousing combination of savvy storytelling and popcorn spectacle.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 4, 2022

Hrithik Roshan shines in an efficient remake with a dash of glam.

Full Review | Oct 1, 2022

The high-octane, occasionally gory drama is fast-paced, offering several twists and turns, and the stylistic slow-motion action scenes are done well, without veering into the monotonous.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Oct 1, 2022

After a long time, two top-flight stars such as Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan sink their teeth into a proper story which comes before them.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Sep 30, 2022

Saif Ali Khan makes a far better Vikram. Hrithik Roshan harnesses his star appeal and screen presence to deliver the goods.

On its part, Vikram Vedha isn't devoid of style, charm, or even voice. Even though Pushkar-Gayathri mute down their source material for the Hindi remake, it still retains the makers' trademark measured intensity.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 30, 2022

This Hindi Vikram Vedha retains the swag of the Tamil original, but some minor changes in it are curious in what they reveal about the team’s assessment of north Indian viewers.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Sep 30, 2022

A screenplay and superstar in perfect tandem, it doesn't get better than this.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Sep 30, 2022

Pushkar-Gayatri are keen tinkerers, and there is genuine pleasure in watching a Saturday-night spectacle where all the nuts, bolts and pistons are operating more or less as they should.

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Vikram Vedha movie review: Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan's chemistry shines through in this masala action thriller

Vikram vedha movie review: hrithik roshan and saif ali khan make each other shine bright in an enjoyable--if somewhat sanitised--remake of the tamil cult classic action thriller..

Disclaimer: How you look at Vikram Vedha and analyse it largely depends on whether you have seen the Tamil original or not. The Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan -starrer is a remake of the 2017 Tamil hit, which had Vijay Sethupathi and R Madhavan in those roles respectively. The shadow of that cult classic looms large on the Hindi remake but to the credit of the directors Pushkar and Gayatri, the film manages to stand well on its own, delivering a taut storyline, impressive action, and some laughs. If you have seen the original, you may end up comparing the two too often to enjoy, but if you haven’t, you may even love the film. (Also read: Vikram Vedha directors Pushkar-Gayathri say film isn't copy of Tamil original )

Vikram Vedha is loosely based on the folktale of Vikram-Betaal. Vikram (Saif Ali Khan), here, is an officer in the Uttar Pradesh Police STF while Vedha ( Hrithik Roshan ) is a gangster who lords over Lucknow. In their cat-and-mouse game, Vikram comes face to face with Vedha thrice. But each time, a riddle posed by Vedha forces him to re-evaluate what is right and wrong. Each of the answers also helps him solve a case he is working on. Surrounding this beautiful and layered folk-inspired script is an assortment of slick fight scenes and action sequences, and a Hrithik dance number. Quite simply, there is something for everyone here.

The Samurai Jack-inspired animated opening sequence sets the tone quite nicely before transporting us to Lucknow. It is an interesting choice of setting for the story, as far removed from the original’s Chennai as possible and yet desi enough to retain the earthy touch of the script. The film begins on a rather disjointed note with the first 20 minutes or so rather scrappy. But the story kicks into high gear as soon as the two leads face off for the first time. Their chemistry is crackling and the best scenes of the film are always when Vikram and Vedha are talking, not fighting, or shooting, but merely engaged in dialogue.

Maybe there is something to be said about the fact that the best part about a masala action film is its dialogues. That can be a good thing or bad, depending on what expectations you have from this film. But that is the signature of Pushkar and Gayatri. Their previous works (the original Vikram Vedha or that brilliant web series Suzhal) all worked best when the characters spoke and shared stories with each other.

The action does not disappoint though. Hrithik Roshan brings in a different kind of swag and style than Vijay Sethupathi’s Vedha. This one is more fluid, less amateur, but at times, also less imposing. The bottom line is that it is different enough to enjoy on its own, without comparisons. His fight scenes are beautifully choreographed and stylishly executed. The shootouts are cliched with once again the heroes walking around with some insane amount of plot armour. One can shoot at them with Kalashnikovs from a close range but nothing will hit them. That is so 90s.

What Vikram Vedha gets right is how to balance a two-hero film. Invariably, in a cop and gangster film, the latter walks away with the whistles and all the crowd’s love. Bad guys are naturally more enigmatic. But Pushkar and Gayatri’s script makes sure Vikram gets his due too. It gives equal importance to the two, not letting one overshadow the other. Saif Ali Khan makes use of this opportunity well, stamping his authority on the scenes he gets. And in their scenes together, neither actor outshines the other. It’s like a dance, with both leading each other fluidly.

Both actors have said it’s their best work. Both are quite wrong. The performances here are decent and not a shade on what these gents managed in Omkara and Guzaarish. To their credit, they are good enough that you don’t miss Madhavan and Vijay Sethupathi too much. The support cast is strong, particularly Radhika Apte and Sharib Hashmi, the latter thankfully cast against type in a role that allows him to showcase his versatility.

The accents of the characters are a bit out of place at times, with many of them merging the Bihari-Maithili accent with the eastern-UP one to create something that isn’t spoken in either region. Saif and Radhika Apte’s prolific use of ‘hum’ and Satyadeep Mishra’s ‘ama yaar’ notwithstanding, the dialogue doesn’t help in transporting one to Lucknow and Kanpur. But the cinematography and script fills in those gaps. PS Vinod’s camera work brilliantly captures the rural-urban amalgamation of UP’s capital and marries it with this story almost seamlessly. Lucknow becomes a character in the film, almost.

Vikram Vedha is a stylised, blown-up, and somewhat sanitised remake of a cult classic. It needs to be all those things given its size and scale, and the star power it carries. The remake is choppy with some bits left out from the original, which may have made the film better. But the makers decided to opt for style over substance in some parts. The good thing is that it is not choppy enough to be noticeable or at least, annoying. Vikram Vedha works as both a thriller and a masala action flick. It is enjoyable and even manages a few whistles and claps in a packed hall. It will get you your money’s worth, even if that worth is not ₹ 75 anymore.

• Vikram Vedha

Directors: Pushkar and Gayatri

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan, Radhika Apte, Yogita Bihani, Rohit Saraf, Satyadeep Mishra, and Sharib Hashmi.

Abhimanyu Mathur is an entertainment journalist with Hindustan Times. He writes about cinema, TV, and OTT, churning out interviews, reviews, and good old news stories. ...view detail

• Hrithik Roshan

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Vikram Vedha Movie Review: VIKRAM VEDHA is a brilliant massy fare that works.

With outstanding performances and unpredictable moments vikram vedha is a brilliant massy fare, vikram vedha review {4.0/5} & review rating.

VIKRAM VEDHA is the story of a cop trying to hunt down a dreaded criminal. Vedha ( Hrithik Roshan ) is a gangster based in Lucknow who has committed 16 murders till date. He has become so notorious that the Uttar Pradesh police has created a Special Task Force (STF) to finish him and his gang. Headed by Vikram ( Saif Ali Khan ), the force gets a tip that Vedha’s gang members are hiding in a faraway abandoned structure. Vikram, his best friend Abbas (Satyadeep Mishra) and others of the STF reach the place with the intention of killing them. As planned, the STF eliminates everyone present, even though one of them was ready to surrender. This gangster, Muni (Amarjeet Singh), even offers a bribe in exchange for his life. Vikram, however, is an honest cop and he kills him. While checking the crime scene, the cops realize that one guy who was killed had no weapon in his possession and was presumably innocent. Realizing that this can put them into trouble, Vikram tells his colleagues to plant a weapon in his hand and make it seem like he fired at the cops, due to which the police had to also open fire. Vedha wasn’t present at this place and the hunt to find him continues. One day, the cops get a tip about his whereabouts. As they prepare to leave the police station to kill Vedha, they get the shock of their lives. Vedha coolly walks into the police station and surrenders! The STF members interrogate him one by one but he doesn’t open his mouth. Finally, when Vikram sits opposite him, Vedha asks him to hear his story. He takes him back to 13 years when he used to work for a Kanpur-based criminal, Parshuram (Govind Pandey) and how he won his trust. He also tells him about his brother Shatak (Rohit Saraf), his childhood friend Chanda (Yogita Bihani) and what made him commit his first murder. He also puts Vikram in a dilemma as Vedha’s story changes his perception of good and evil. Unfortunately for Vikram, before he could hear more stories from Vedha, the latter secures a bail. And the lawyer who gets it done is none other than Priya ( Radhika Apte ), who is also Vikram’s wife. What happens next forms the rest of the story.

Pushkar–Gayatri's story is fairly simple but has been written in a back-and-forth manner that makes it worthwhile. Pushkar–Gayathri's screenplay (Hindi adaptation by B A Fida) is entertaining and also makes you ponder. One of the biggest strengths of writing is that it surprises at regular intervals. It’s intelligent and the way every aspect and plot point is neatly linked in the climax is seen to be believed. The romantic portions of Vikram and Priya, however, could have been written better. Manoj Muntashir and B A Fida's dialogues pack a punch. This is important for a film like this where dialogues play a crucial part.

Pushkar–Gayatri's direction is marvellous and deserves distinction marks. They had also directed the original Tamil 2017 film of the same name and in terms of plot, there has been no change. However, in certain places, they have made some tweaks and it’ll leave even those who have seen the original astonished. Talking about their other achievements, they have effortlessly set the story in Lucknow and the characters, all of them grey, are very well fleshed out. And unlike other Tamil or Telugu remakes, this one is not a typical masala fare. It has action but it also relies a lot on the  dialoguebaazi . And even the latter gives you your money’s worth.

On the flipside, at 159 minutes, VIKRAM VEDHA is a lengthy affair. In fact, it’s longer than the original film too. After Saif Ali Khan’s powerful entry, the interest dips. The entry of Hrithik Roshan happens after 20 minutes and till then, one tends to get restless. Even in the second half, there are scenes where the film tends to slow down a bit. The slapping scene between Shatak and Chanda could have been better executed. Lastly, the writers skip certain developments in the narrative. Of course, the intention was to keep the focus on the principal plot. Yet, one wishes it was taken care of. For example, in the pre-interval scene, Vedha is trying to run from the cops and he comes across a girl learning karate. The way she smiles at him and even helps him, shows he was a messiah for the residents. But why and how that happened is never shown. For a film where everything is there for a reason, this aspect doesn’t add up. Thankfully, there are minor shortcomings that don’t affect the narrative much.

VIKRAM VEDHA starts with a nice animation montage, explaining the story of Vikram and Betal. Vikram’s entry is heroic and the encounter sequence sets the tempo. The entry of Vedha, however, is terrific and not just single-screen cinemas but even multiplexes would thunder with whistles, claps and hooting at this point. All scenes of Vikram and Vedha together from here on are superb. The Kanpur sequence is surprising as the makers have changed the plot point and it’s too good. The use of the song  ‘Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai’  is witty. Abbas’ encounter and the scene where Vikram follows Priya are gripping sequences. The interval fight is decent but the intermission point has more of a massy appeal. Post-interval, the interest continues as Vedha further talks about his life. The scene where Vikram gets into an action mode while trying to hunt the informer and the sequence thereafter is terrific. The climax is the best part of the film.

Vikram Vedha Official Trailer | Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan, Pushkar & Gayatri

VIKRAM VEDHA rests on the strong shoulders of Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan. Hrithik Roshan gets into the skin of the character and delivers one of his most accomplished performances. He carries the swag and the attitude with utmost ease and takes the film to another level. It’s also amazing how one can’t compare his work with that of Vijay Sethupathi in the original film. He portrays the character rather differently, and fans of the original will have no reason to complain. Saif Ali Khan, too, puts his best foot forward. He also has his share of massy dialogues and sequences and his strong persona works perfectly for the character. What’s also praiseworthy is that at not a single juncture are the two actors trying to dominate each other. They are simply going with the character and the result is magical. Radhika Apte has a supporting part but delivers a fabulous performance. Sharib Hashmi (Babloo), as expected, gives a memorable performance. Rohit Saraf has a late entry but leaves a mark. Yogita Bihani’s performance is sincere. Ishan Tripathi (young Shatak) and Drashti Bhanushali (young Chanda) also do well. Satyadeep Mishra is dependable. Manuj Sharma (Deepak; the newbie in Vikram’s team) is fine. Govind Pandey, Amarjeet Singh and others are decent.

The music gels well with the narrative.  'Alcoholia'  is the best song of the lot and Ganesh Hegde's choreography enhances the fun.  'Bande'  is the theme song and will keep lingering in one’s mind even after coming out of the theatre.  'O Saahiba'  and  'Yaara'  are forgettable. Sam C S's background score is the third hero of the film after Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan! At several point, it’s the BGM that ups the mass element.

P S Vinod's cinematography is splendid. The action and confrontation scenes are shot neatly and watch out for his camerawork in the  'Alcoholia'  song. Parvez Shaikh's action is raw and fantastic. Darshan Jalan and Neelanchar Kumar Ghosh's costumes are realistic and yet stylish. Durga Prasad Mahapatra's production design is authentic. Anuj Deshpande's VFX is appropriate. Richard Kevin A's editing is fair but could have been tighter in some places.

On the whole, VIKRAM VEDHA is a brilliant massy fare that works due to the strong writing, unpredictable moments, Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan’s outstanding performances and the electrifying background score. At the box office, it’s sure to have a fantastic weekend due to the positive word of mouth and will successfully run in cinemas till Diwali. The mid-week Dussehra holiday will also aid its first week collections. Recommended!

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Vikram Vedha

A tough police officer sets out to track down and kill an equally tough gangster. A tough police officer sets out to track down and kill an equally tough gangster. A tough police officer sets out to track down and kill an equally tough gangster.

• Benazir Ali Fida
• Manoj Muntashir
• Saif Ali Khan
• Hrithik Roshan
• Radhika Apte
• 232 User reviews
• 31 Critic reviews
• 4 wins & 16 nominations

• Parshuram Pandey
• Constable Dubey
• Inspector Prabhakar

• Head Constable Yeshwant
• Sub Inspector Ranjan

• Sub Inspector Ansari

• Shiv Prasad
• (as Dr. Rati Shankar Tripathi)

• (as Sahidur Rehman)

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• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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• Trivia It is the hindi remake of the Tamil film with the same name, starring R. Madhavan and Vijay Sethupati.
• Goofs Saif Ali Khan went to have a Kucha Nihari at Gajju ka mashhoor Dhaba and during his conversation over mobile with Hrithik Roshan he was saying that he got something special for him about who is giving tips to Mumbai Gang and then in next scene When Saif Ali Khan went inside the room of Moon Lodge and in start there is no cigarettes pack on blanket and in next scene when he sat on bed there was a pack of cigarette.
• Connections Referenced in 68th Hyundai Filmfare Awards 2023 with Maharashtra Tourism (2023)

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• Runtime 2 hours 40 minutes

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Vikram Vedha Movie Review: No anari, only khiladi! Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan shine in this remake

Vikram vedha is unapologetically massy, and a lesson in how to feel secure in a two-hero film where the needle of popularity could swing either way. here's our review..

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Cast & Crew

Hrithik Roshan

Saif Ali Khan

The story of Vikram Betaal is a classic. A king named Vikram who has a ghoul, Betaal, stuck to his back asking him to narrate stories if he wants to seek freedom from his clutches is a childhood favourite of many. The plot lights up every corner of our imagination because the idea of storytelling is universal. Any sentence that begins with the words ‘Once upon a time, long, long ago.’ is destined to capture our attention. That's exactly what directors Pushkar and Gayatri’s film Vikram Vedha is.

Directors Pushkar-Gayatri’s film Vikram Vedha, starring Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan, is a remake of their own 2017 release, starring R Madhavan and Vijay Sethupati in the lead roles . The fact that VV’s plot is fairly linear and simple makes it an engaging watch.

Vikram (Saif Ali Khan) is a police officer who has been assigned the task of nabbing a gangster named Vedha (Hrithik Roshan). As simple as it might sound, what makes the film different is its treatment. Vikram Vedha is no ordinary cop-goon chase film. There are multiple layers and peripheral characters that contribute a lot to making the film a terrific watch. The pivotal twist comes when, instead of running from Vikram, Vedha surrenders himself and walks into a cop station. His decision to do so is mad and devoid of any logic. After his surrender, Vedha starts narrating stories from his past to Vikram. Are these fictional or real? How much can Vikram trust Vedha and will he fall for his tales? The film grapples with the grey areas between the right and the wrong.

Apart from Pushkar and Gayatri, who are the captains of the ship, the other pillars of this tour de force are the dialogue writers, Manoj Muntashir and BA Fida. Their writing is super-sharp and the lines are written, keeping the masses in mind. Everything from the background score to the camera work works in tandem with the two leading men in the film. The beauty of the film is how much the writing is in sync with what’s happening on the big screen.

The film is also a lesson in how to feel secure in a two-hero film where the needle of popularity could swing either way . The magic of Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan lies in how secure these two actors are in their craft. There is never a need to do more or to underplay anything. As Vedha, Hrithik reminds us why we fell for his charm in the first place. In most of the important scenes, he does a lot of talking with his eyes, his facial expressions, his body language. He almost becomes a vessel for what’s been written for his part.

Complimenting his every move is Saif Ali Khan as Vikram. It’s not just the well-fitting polo tees that stand out in his entry scene but the command he has over every line he delivers. Saif has gone for the kill in Vikram Vedha and he doesn’t hesitate to go all out in the big scenes. Hrithik and Saif’s confrontation and dialogue scenes are almost hypnotic and mesmerising in the oddest way possible. You can’t take your eyes off them when Vikram and Vedha lock horns on the big screen.

On the flip side, the film is overindulgent and lengthy. Especially in the attempt to stylise and do the slow-mo action scenes, the makers seem reluctant to let go of material on the edit table. Rohit Saraf and Yogita Bihani, who are in the supporting cast, needed some better scenes. Radhika Apte, who plays Vikram’s wife, could have had an equally important part to play. At the cost of focusing all the attention on the two central characters, the writers fail to give equal footage to voices who could have offered a different point of view.

Vikram Vedha is unapologetically massy. It’s also a lot of fun, and with two rock-solid performers like Hrithik and Saif, the film hits the bull's eye with ease. Published By: Nairita Mukherjee Published On: Sep 29, 2022 --- ENDS --- ALSO READ | Kareena Kapoor reviews Saif Ali Khan, Hrithik Roshan's Vikram Vedha, declares it a blockbuster

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Vikram vedha, common sense media reviewers.

Violent cop vs. gangster Bollywood crime drama.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Movie poses questions of morality. Are extra judic

Vedha's younger brother, Shatak, starts an altruis

Gangsters and cops -- all men -- engage in heavy f

Numerous gory fight scenes involving guns, swords,

A superior questions if a new recruit has ever had

A song lyric makes a racist reference to having "M

Betting and gambling are normalized. A gangster ex

Most characters are shown smoking. Children are re

Parents need to know that Vikram Vedha is a violent Bollywood action movie that deals with the complex subject of morality and police ethics. Actor Hrithik Roshan delivers a menacing performance as feared gangster Vedha, while Saif Ali Khan, as corrupt cop Vikram, holds the narrative together and undergoes a…

Positive Messages

Movie poses questions of morality. Are extra judicial encounters justified? Can cops also be criminals? What does it mean to take someone's life?

Positive Role Models

Vedha's younger brother, Shatak, starts an altruistic business venture to provide loans to poor people who want to start a small business. But Vedha and Shatak use gangster kingpin Parshuram's earnings as investment, so the politics of this action are a bit murky. Shatak intends to convince Vedha to start legitimate businesses instead of operating in the black market. His girlfriend Chanda, however, opposes this move. She is also portrayed as impulsive and greedy, as she stages a robbery to steal Parshuram's investment money for herself. Vikram's wife, Priya, is a lawyer who tries to be unbiased and fights for justice. She stands her ground through the ethical dilemmas of advocating for a criminal's human rights and providing him efficient legal defense. When Priya's husband asks her to give up her case, she retaliates and asks him to give it up instead. She takes a feminist stance and emphasizes that her career is as important as his. Priya is perhaps the only righteous character portrayed in this movie where every cop is corrupt and the gangsters are the ones operating in the gray areas of morality.

Diverse Representations

Gangsters and cops -- all men -- engage in heavy fighting and show of machismo. The only two women characters of the movie are placed on opposing sides and never interact. However, the marriage between the central character and his wife is shown to be one of both being equal and respectful to each other, which is refreshing to see in a Bollywood movie. The men are from diverse religious backgrounds, which is a plus as Indian cinema often shies away from having characters with names that sound Muslim or Christian. A song includes a racist lyric and a scene involves body shaming. The borderline racist and casteist choice to cake Hrithik Roshan in brown make-up, along with his below par mimicry of a Bihari accent, leaves a bad taste. The film is directed by a husband and wife team.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

Numerous gory fight scenes involving guns, swords, and knives. Someone impales a child's hand with an iron spike. A man slaps his girlfriend during an argument and she slaps him back. He then grabs her throat and pushes her against a wall.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A superior questions if a new recruit has ever had sex. Kissing and sex is implied between a couple, but it is not explicitly depicted on camera.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

A song lyric makes a racist reference to having "Mongolian" facial features. A superior officer uses fatphobic language and tells the junior cop to suck their stomach in. Some mild curse words like "saala" are occasionally used. A character says an incomplete phrase that implies a curse word for mothers.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Betting and gambling are normalized. A gangster explains that power comes from money. A character steals a bag of money but then returns it.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Most characters are shown smoking. Children are recruited to transport heroin. Alcoholism is glorified in a song (titled "Alcoholiya") dedicated to the joys of getting excessively drunk. A character encourages a young person to smoke a cigarette that contains pot.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Vikram Vedha is a violent Bollywood action movie that deals with the complex subject of morality and police ethics. Actor Hrithik Roshan delivers a menacing performance as feared gangster Vedha, while Saif Ali Khan , as corrupt cop Vikram, holds the narrative together and undergoes a crisis of ethics the audience can readily engage with. The movie has many dangerous stunts, gory fights, shoot outs, and glorification of violence. There is plenty of smoking in the film -- including one scene where someone is encouraged to smoke pot -- and children are recruited as drug mules. A song glorifies heavy drinking and another has a racist song lyric. To a great extent, the film manages to be very true to life in the depictions of corruption and the police's lack of accountability. It is a great conversation starter to discuss real life incidents of extrajudicial killings and encounters that frequently make the news in India. But the violence might be too much to handle for younger children. The film is a remake of a Tamil movie and is in Hindi with English subtitles available. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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What's the Story?

In VIKRAM VEDHA, corrupt cop Vikram ( Saif Ali Khan ) leads a task force to capture notorious gangster Vedha ( Hrithik Roshan ). In the process he commits 18 extrajudicial killings and stages fake crime scenes. Vedha then hatches a plot to use Vikram to expose police corruption, leading Vikram to the realization that the police, including himself, are as culpable as the criminals.

Is It Any Good?

This Bollywood remake of a Tamil action movie is an enjoyable fare overall, though the constant violence and gore may become unbearable to some. Vikram Vedha 's mystery and plot are constructed well and keep the audience on their toes. The songs are forgettable despite actor Roshan's excellent dance moves in "Alcoholia." Radhika Apte shines in an understated but firm performance as main character Vikram's wife Priya. They portray a modern couple grappling with professional conflicts of interest, and live in an egalitarian household that challenges gender roles prevalent in India. Filmmaking duo and real-life couple Pushkar-Gayathri have done an excellent job of writing and directing the film. The reference to the ancient myth of Vikram-Betaal as the string that binds the narrative is an inspired choice. Though the gratuitous violence and gun toting action may seem like the focal point of the film, it's the storytelling and plot twists that keep you hooked.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the violence in Vikram Vedha . How did it make you feel? Did it add to the story? Do some types of media violence have different impact than others?

How was drinking, smoking, and drug use depicted? Were they glamorized? Were there consequences ? Why does that matter?

The movie has very little female representation . Did you find this problematic? Why, or why not?

What were some of the ethical questions the film raised? How were the police portrayed? Were their actions justified or not?

Movie Details

• In theaters : September 30, 2022
• Cast : Saif Ali Khan , Hrithik Roshan , Radhika Apte
• Director : Pushkar-Gayathri
• Inclusion Information : Indian/South Asian actors, Female actors
• Studio : Reliance Entertainment
• Genre : Action/Adventure
• Topics : Music and Sing-Along
• Run time : 160 minutes
• MPAA rating : NR
• Last updated : June 22, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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Vikram Vedha review: Hrithik Roshan owns this intelligent remake, Saif Ali Khan brings in the much-needed drama

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Users' reviews.

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive . Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.

Premkumar Dua 1 617 days ago

Bogus! Disaster! Waste of time and waste of money 

shashikanta 723 days ago

Average movie

raghu6300386775 raghu 110 944 days ago

A Brilliantly Made Cat and Mouse Game .

raghu6300386775 raghu 110 1058 days ago

Powerful action with Powerful two heroes

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Vikram Vedha movie review: Hrithik & Saif spar well together, but this near-Xerox remake has nothing new to say

This Hindi Vikram Vedha retains the swag of the Tamil original, but some minor changes in it are curious in what they reveal about the team’s assessment of north Indian viewers.

Language: Hindi

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan, Radhika Apte, Rohit Saraf, Satyadeep Mishra, Sharib Hashmi, Yogita Bihani   

Director: Pushkar-Gayatri

Star rating: 2.5/5

In the ancient legends of King Vikramadithya and the Betaal (Vampire), the wise and valiant monarch would capture the latter, only to be told a story at the end of which was a riddle that Vikram had to crack each time. The Betaal – a clever fellow himself, well aware of the extent of his captor’s intelligence – agreed not to resist captivity if Vikram did not have the right answer; if the king knew the answer and did not reveal it, then his head would explode; and if he did respond correctly, then Betaal would and could escape.

This framing structure was used to narrate dozens of charming tales that remain prominent in Indian popular culture till date. In the final one, Betaal’s motivations were revealed. The 2017 Tamil blockbuster Vikram Vedha was a contemporary adaptation of Vikram and Betaal, with Vikram ( R. Madhavan ) written as a smart, incorruptible policeman on the trail of the dreaded gangster Vedha ( Vijay Sethupathi ), and the story told each time – to Vikram by Vedha – involved the latter’s own life.

Writer-directors Pushkar and Gayatri have remade their Tamil film in Hindi, with Saif Ali Khan as Vikram, a policeman in Lucknow, and Hrithik Roshan as Vedha. This Vikram Vedha is a near-photocopy of the Tamil original with some minor changes that are curious in what they reveal about the team’s assessment of the north Indian audience. For a start, Vedha’s name is Vedha Betal here, almost as if there was a worry that Hindi viewers would not get the point despite the animation add-on that leaves us in no doubt of the source material. Did the producers insist on this tweak or was it the directors’ call? Either way, it’s notable, noticeable and – unless the condescension bothers you – amusing.

The action in the Hindi film is set in Uttar Pradesh where Vedha Betal is a criminal so dangerous that the UP police sets up a special task force to capture him. The group includes Vikram and his dear friend Abbas (replacing Simon in the original, played here by Satyadeep Mishra) .

A bloody opening encounter between the police and Vedha’s gang introduces us to Vikram’s prowess in combat and his unscrupulousness within which is contained his dubious definition of honesty: he judges a human being on sight, and if he concludes that that person is a crook, he has no qualms about framing them for a crime they did not commit. This questionable understanding of morality apart, Vikram is ramrod straight. He cannot be bought or sold, he cannot be bribed, and he will not yield an inch in his work without justification, even if it means antagonising his lawyer wife Priya (Radhika Apte) when she is the opposing counsel in a case he is handling. Vikram will do everything in his power for what he views as the greater good.

Enter Hrithik Roshan a.k.a. Vedha Betal about half an hour into the narrative. And thence begins the saga of stories within the main story.

The lead stars of this Vikram Vedha have the pizzazz of the duo in the original (though I think Vijay Sethupathi pulled off Vedha’s casual coolth even better than Hrithik), the action is as neatly edited as the original, the sense of humour as strategically inserted to lighten the mood in the midst of grave moral dilemmas, cinematographer P.S. Vinod explores Lucknow’s visual wealth with a keen eye, the song Alcoholiya is thrust in as abruptly as the song in the same passage in the original, and the suspense is sustained till the climax…just like in the original. Since this remake has almost nothing new to offer, a viewer’s enjoyment of it depends greatly on whether or not they have seen the 2017 film. I have, and my experience of Hrithik and Saif’s sparring has been vastly diluted by my very clear memory of Vijay and Madhavan’s screen chemistry and the details of the mystery woven around them.

Hrithik and Saif are first-rate actors with swag that serves their characters well, and they play off each other nicely in Vikram Vedha . I also liked the use of songs from Raj Kapoor’s greatest works in the background score. And it was nice to see a wife in a Hindi film reminding her husband that her career is as important as his work. The equality in Vikram and Priya’s relationship is unusual for Hindi cinema. But through all this, I confess, I could not shake off the question of why Vikram Vedha needed to be remade in Hindi at all in an era when streaming has made it so much easier for us to access films across languages, and the Tamil Vikram Vedha with English subtitles is just a remote button away on Zee5.

More important, in the five years that have passed since 2017, Pushkar and Gayatri seem not to have deemed it fit to add nuances that would elevate their film above the original, and perhaps give us some food for thought.

Even classics when remade can be made special with small touches or even a complete re-envisioning. My favourite among recent examples abroad is Greta Gerwig’s excellent feminist reinterpretation of the heroine Jo March’s professional journey in the American novel Little Women . Here at home, Malayalam director Dileesh Pothan and writer Syam Pushkaran earned critical acclaim and audience attention with Joji , their pandemic-time revisitation of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth . There are so many examples from Hindi cinema itself, the most high-profile being Vishal Bhardwaj’s rendition of Shakespeare’s plays in the Indian socio-political context: Macbeth as Maqbool , Othello as Omkara and Hamlet as Haider . Vikram Vedha in 2017 did not underestimate the audience’s intellect despite being what industry wisdom considers a mass-targeted film. Vikram Vedha in 2022 is entertaining, but has nothing new to say. Except…

Apart from naming the Hindi version’s lead character Vedha Betal to rub in our faces the fact that Vikram Vedha draws inspiration from Vikram-Betaal lore, there are a couple of other nips and tucks that are mystifying. The background score during fights in the original was throbbing and addictive. In the Hindi remake it is still pulsating but raised to a shrieking level. During a heated argument that Vikram has with Priya early in their relationship, she roughs him up in the Hindi version. Priya (Shraddha Srinath) in the Tamil film gesticulated furiously but did not touch Vikram. Later in the Hindi film, Vedha’s brother Shatak (Rohit Saraf) gets violent with his girlfriend (Yogita Bihani). It turns out that he was faking it for a fun reason, but what was the purpose, especially considering that Pulli in Tamil did not pretend-assault his lover in that scene?

And then there’s the choreography for the song Alcoholiya. In Tamil, we got Vedha, his mentor and an entire horde of men including members of their gang dancing wildly to Tasakku tasakku. In Hindi, a swarm of unidentified semi-clad, plastic-looking women have been added to the mix. The idea being?

So yes, Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan play off each other nicely in Vikram Vedha , but having watched the Tamil original, I wish this one had taken it a step forward.

This review was first published when Vikram Vedha was released in theatres in September 2022. The film is now streaming on Jio Cinema.

Anna M.M. Vetticad is an award-winning journalist and author of The Adventures of an Intrepid Film Critic. She specialises in the intersection of cinema with feminist and other socio-political concerns. Twitter: @annavetticad, Instagram: @annammvetticad, Facebook: AnnaMMVetticadOfficial

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Vikram Vedha movie review: Don’t miss this thriller starring Madhavan, Vijay Sethupathi

Vikram vedha movie review: the crime drama starring madhavan, vijay sethupathi is by far the best film to release in tamil this year so far. the film is directed by pushkar-gayathri and the film is inspired by the mythological characters of vikram and betaal..

Vikram Vedha movie cast:  Madhavan, Vijay Sethupathi, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Shraddha Srinath Vikram Vedha movie director:  Pushkar-Gayathri Vikram Vedha movie rating: 4 stars

Nearly 30 minutes into the film, we are introduced to Vedha (Vijay Sethupathi), a wanted gangster, who is being hunted by a unit of encounter specialists headed by Vikram (R. Madhavan). The police team put together a huge force as they gear up to storm the hideout of Vedha based on a tip off they received. And that’s when Vedha walks into the police compound with a snack in his hand. He is there to surrender himself to the police.

It’s for the first time Vikram and Vedha come face to face with each other in flesh and blood. While Vikram’s introduction was very subtle, Vedha gets a mass hero introduction. Vikram and Vedha are bound together on a journey that questions the well-established moral compass of the society that helps one to tell good people from bad ones.

Vikram is a ruthless police officer, who has killed many criminals in his illustrious career. He thinks he can identify who is a criminal just by looking at someone’s eyes. This very confidence of Vikram is shattered as Vedha begins to unravel the flaws in the former’s judgements with a series of personal stories that gradually unveils a much bigger conspiracy in the story.

Vedha is also ruthless when it comes to being a gangster. But he has a sentimental and righteous mind that allows him to identify a good egg from the rotten ones. For Vikram, there is only right and wrong, good and evil, and there is no in between. Vedha, with stories of his personal tragedies, teaches Vikram to appreciate the nuances of a situation before arriving at a conclusion. Maybe that’s the reason director duo Pushkar-Gayathri have shown Vedha’s character with a lot of grey hair, which traditionally signifies one’s wisdom.

Pushkar and Gayathri, who are also married to each other, has written Vikram Vedha based on the mythological characters of Vikram and Betaal, which were made famous through folklore. The film questions the criminal justice system of the country and its dubious methods that are vulnerable to corruption and manipulation.

It’s highly difficult not to love Vedha’s character, thanks to his wisdom and never-say-die attitude. While Vikram is naive and sort of represents the general public that easily judges one’s character without knowing the entire story.

Madhavan and Vijay have competed with each other in delivering intense and convincing performances. However, it is Vijay that manages to draw the applause and whistles from the audience for his natural performance.

Cinematographer PS Vinod’s past experience in working on gangster movies have come handy for Vikram Vedha. His camera work complements the thrilling narrative of this crime drama.

It’s by far the best Tamil film to release this year so far. And it is the movie you should not miss this week.

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