October 11, 2024: Vettaiyan, the much-anticipated collaboration of Indian cinema legends Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan, has made a solid debut at the box office. Directed by T.J. Gnanavel, the film, which also features Manju Warrier, Fahadh Faasil, Rana Daggubati, and Ritika Singh, earned a whopping ₹25.27 crore (nett) in India on its opening day across all languages.
Box Office Numbers: Released on October 10, Vettaiyan performed well on its first day in theatres, registering strong collections across several regions. According to Sacnilk.com, the film had an impressive 53.96% occupancy in the Tamil sector, followed by 34.15% in Telugu, 8.11% in Hindi, and 10.79% in Kannada. These numbers reflect the film’s pan-India appeal, with Rajinikanth and Amitabh’s massive fan bases contributing to the opening success.
Mixed Audience Reactions: While Vettaiyan is off to a good start commercially, social media reactions have been mixed. Some fans have praised the film for its thought-provoking storyline and strong performances, while others found it lacking in the typical mass appeal associated with Rajinikanth’s films.
One fan on X (formerly Twitter) praised the film’s screenplay and the way it addressed societal issues, writing, “Thalaivar leads the way and carries the movie on his shoulders, but he is not alone, which is the best part. You don’t just get a mass film or a social message film; Vettaiyan hits the bullseye with both.”
However, not everyone was as impressed. Another fan expressed that it wasn’t comparable to Jailer, Rajinikanth’s previous hit, stating, “Not a regular Rajinikanth movie, it’s more of a Gnanavel movie. Content is good, but most of the mass scenes fall flat. Fahadh Faasil is the show-stealer. Rajini-Fafa combo scenes were refreshing, but don’t expect a Jailer.”
About the Film: Vettaiyan follows the story of Sharanya (Dushara Vijayan), a government school teacher in Kanyakumari who uncovers a drug trade near her school. The case is taken up by Kanyakumari SP Athiyan (Rajinikanth), who is notorious for his brutal encounter killings. After taking down the drug kingpin, Athiyan discovers that this case is just the tip of a much larger scandal involving powerful individuals.
Apart from the social issues tackled in the film, Vettaiyan also marks an exciting reunion of Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan, who last shared the screen in the 1991 Hindi film Hum. This film also serves as Amitabh Bachchan’s debut in Tamil cinema.
Director’s Vision: Director T.J. Gnanavel attempts to weave multiple social issues into Vettaiyan‘s narrative, from the morality of police encounter killings to the dark side of India’s coaching industry, particularly for exams like NEET. The film portrays how high fees and unpayable loans can ruin the lives of students and their families.
However, while the film addresses important themes, some critics feel that Gnanavel struggles to balance Rajinikanth’s star power with the social commentary, which hampers the film’s overall impact. According to Hindustan Times, “While the themes are important, the inability to manage Rajinikanth’s massive screen presence with the film’s deeper message affects the balance of the narrative.”
Final Thoughts: Despite the mixed reviews, Vettaiyan’s box office opening is impressive, and the combination of Rajinikanth and Amitabh Bachchan continues to excite fans. Whether the film can maintain its momentum over the coming weeks will depend on how well it connects with audiences beyond its star-studded appeal.
