Vedaa unfolds like a modern Western, set against a stark and rugged backdrop reminiscent of classic frontier tales. The film introduces us to Major Abhimanyu Kanwar, portrayed by John Abraham, who steps into the life of Vedaa (Sharvari) with an almost mythic presence. Much like a mysterious stranger riding into town, Abhimanyu arrives to offer aid to the downtrodden, resonating with Western tropes of lone heroes coming to the rescue. However, this film’s narrative feels undermined by Abhimanyu’s serious saviour complex. His character, though well-intentioned, overshadows the true protagonist of the story.
The film centres on Vedaa, a young girl who has endured the horrors of honour killings firsthand, including the brutal murder of her brother by the village Pradhan, Jitendra Pratap Singh (Abhishek Banerjee). Singh’s cruelty extends to killing a girl from his family for eloping with a lower-caste boy. Despite her aspirations to become a boxer, Vedaa faces discouragement from her community. Recognizing her potential, Abhimanyu takes it upon himself to train her, an act that doesn’t sit well with the local male boxers. The director could have continued this story arc, with Vedaa becoming a national level boxer but he chooses to ignore the Million Dollar Baby route, concentrating on making a solid action film, replete with flying bullets, flying cars and a damsel in distress rescued by a white knight.
While John Abraham’s physical presence adds authenticity to his role, his portrayal of Abhimanyu feels incomplete. His entry into the story is subdued, mourning the loss of his wife (played by Tamannaah Bhatia) and seeking vengeance. Although Abhimanyu's support helps Vedaa gain confidence, the film’s climax betrays its foundational themes. The courtroom setting becomes the battleground where justice is sought, but Abhimanyu’s intervention—using a gavel as a weapon—turns the metaphorical into the literal, and the narrative’s tension dissipates. The resolution is particularly absurd. After all the build-up of Vedaa’s struggle and her quest for justice, it is an upper-caste man who ultimately handles the climactic confrontation, including killing the main villain inside the court. This not only diminishes Vedaa’s journey but renders the entire struggle for justice seemingly superfluous.
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