Plot
The story of Vedaa delves deep into the journey of a young woman named Vedaa, played by Sharvari Wagh, and her transformation under the guidance of a seasoned mentor, portrayed by John Abraham.
Vedaa, a strong-willed yet emotionally conflicted woman, finds herself at a crossroads in life. She is burdened by her past, struggling to find her place in a world that seems both hostile and indifferent. When a dangerous threat emerges, her life takes a drastic turn, forcing her to confront her fears and confront the demons of her past.
Enter John Abraham’s character, an experienced soldier with a mysterious background. He recognizes Vedaa’s potential and decides to train her, not only in physical combat but also in mental and emotional fortitude. The film dives into rigorous training montages where Vedaa is pushed to her limits, both physically and mentally. Their bond evolves from that of mentor and student to something deeper, built on mutual respect and understanding.
As Vedaa progresses, she starts to find strength in herself, shedding the pain of her past. However, the stakes are raised when an imminent conflict threatens to destroy everything she has worked for. The antagonist, played by Abhishek Banerjee, is a relentless figure whose actions push Vedaa to fight for justice.
The narrative weaves together action-packed sequences with moments of emotional intensity, showing how Vedaa transforms into a warrior ready to take on the world. She must navigate through a web of deceit, violence, and betrayal while discovering her power and destiny.
Star performance
Sharvari Wagh delivers a passable performance as Vedaa, but considering her potential in The Forgotten Army, Munjya, and Maharaj, it’s disappointing to see her talent wasted. The real issue lies with the direction and script, which hold her back. In the title role, she struggles more due to the poor writing than her portrayal of Vedaa, a Dalit character.
John Abraham engages in intense action sequences and attempts to convey emotion through his expressions, but it’s the action itself that carries him through the film. Unfortunately, his pattern of starring in subpar patriotic films continues. Selecting quality patriotic projects isn’t his strong suit.
Box Office
Vedaa opened with a domestic box office collection of ₹6.52 crore, with the majority of its earnings, ₹6.5 crore, coming from the Hindi market. Its performance in regional markets was minimal, with ₹0.01 crore each from the Tamil and Telugu versions. This opening is slightly lower compared to the debut of John Abraham’s previous film.
Rating
On Rotten Tomatoes, Vedaa received a 50% approval rating from 8 critics, with an average score of 5.6/10. The film earned mixed reviews from Indian media outlets as well. NDTV India and India Today both rated the film 2.5/5 stars, while The Indian Express was slightly less favorable, giving it 2/5 stars. On a more positive note, The Times of India rated the film 3.5/5 stars.
IMDB: 6.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 50%
Critics: 4.7/5
Release Date: 15 August 2024
Genre: Action/Thriller
Duration: 2h 31min
Original Langauge: Hindi
Dubbed Language: Tamil, Telugu
OTT Release Date: Na
OTT Platform: Na
Directors: Nikkhil Advani
Cast: John Abraham, Sharvari, Abhishek Banerjee, Ashish Vidyarthi
Producers: Umesh KR Bansal, Monisha Advani, Madhu Bhojwani
