Vaa Vaathiyaar, starring Karthi, faced several delays before finally releasing in theatres during Pongal. Despite having no strong competition at the box office, the film failed to attract even minimum collections and ended up as a major box-office failure. The response has been similar after its OTT release, while the reception for Vikram Prabhu’s Sirai has been completely different.
OTT audiences widely felt that Vaa Vaathiyaar has a messy screenplay and fails to live up to its promising, though simple, MGR-inspired vigilante premise. Directed by Nalan Kumarasamy, the film disappointed viewers with its disjointed and boring narration, often described as a “hotchpotch” presentation.
Though intended as a tribute to legendary actor MGR, both critics and audiences felt that the film failed to explore the concept properly, resulting in a shallow and meaningless portrayal of the character.
In contrast, another recent Tamil film, Sirai (2025), has received widespread appreciation for its heartfelt and realistic storytelling. The film revolves around a touching tale of innocent love and human compassion and has been praised for its emotional depth and sincerity.
Suresh Rajakumari’s direction and grounded screenplay have earned special appreciation. Vikram Prabhu’s performance as a sincere head constable is being hailed as a return to form, marked by maturity and restraint. Debutant Akshay Kumar delivers a good performance, while Ashima Anilkumar impresses with her role.
Vaa Vaathiyaar is currently streaming on Prime Video, while Sirai is available on Z5.
