Vasu Bhasker's Tamil film Vedha, directed by R Nithyakumar tries to walk the tightrope between commercial pot-boilers and art-house cinema but ends up plunging into the crevice of boredom.

The beginning promises some eventful fare, at any rate. Vijay (Arun Vijay) makes an appearance as the kindest, most understanding brother anyone could have. Vathsan (Vathsan), his brother turns out to be the luckiest brat alive; he wants to win elections, get the bad guys bashed up and be the victor in every game of life. Vijay does it for him, even charging into villain kingpin Sowcarpet Sathya's hangout in a disguise. The blitzkrieg that ensues is enough to cause you severe earache. At other times, though, it is Vijay who is the guiding light, tapping Vathsan like a billiards ball, sending everything rolling in the right direction.

But then, as per the gripping screenplay, Vathsan asks for something Vijay simply cannot give; his beloved, Vedha (Sheela.) Vathsan doesn't know that the girl he's fallen for is already his brother's lover.

Their love-story is charmingly handled, with Vedha and Vijay bumping into each other often, and gradually finding out that they have the same tastes. Naturally, do-gooder Vijay spends a good deal of his time in helping the poor, which is something Vedha also does. The two gradually build up a solid relationship, until Vathsan reveals that he's in love. Vijay, who has never refused his brother anything, asks his mother (Seetha) to ask for Vedha's hand in marriage and all hell breaks loose.

'Rising Star' Arun Vijay, who must have changed his name at least half a dozen times in a vain bid to find success, has come a long way since he played the angry young man in stereotypical movies. It's to Arun Vijay's credit that he can turn even a role that requires him to bash up twenty men, into a worthy performance.

The same can be said of Sheela. She can even deliver emotional dialogues well.

Villain Sathya is not that lucky, though. But to be fair, it's the screenplay which is at fault. How many more years must we endure loud villains frothing at the mouth and screeching like banshees? As for Seetha, she is reduced to anguished mother-roles.

R Nithyakumar's script is as full of holes. The movie could have beautifully explored the relationship between a spoilt younger brother and a supportive one, which it doesn't. As for Vedha's ultimate fate and the final climax scenes, they go way back to the melodrama of the 1960s.

The stunts are well done befitting an Arun Vijay film, which means lots of noise, things breaking and men flying. Srikanth Deva's music is barely there.

It's neither time-pass nor meaningful cinema; Vedha stumbles somewhere in between.

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