Vettaikkaran Full Story Explained (2009)
Imagine a young man who dreams of wearing a police uniform, but the system is so broken that he has to become a vigilante to fight crime. That is the heart of 'Vettaikkaran' (2009), a Tamil action film starring Vijay as Ravi. Directed by debutant B. Babusivan and produced by the legendary AVM Productions, this movie pairs Vijay with Anushka Shetty for the first time. Ravi is a simple college student who drives an auto rickshaw to pay his fees. But when he stands up for a friend, he makes a powerful enemy. Soon, he is framed, beaten, and thrown into jail. With no one to trust, Ravi creates a new identity — 'Police' Ravi — to hunt down the criminals the real police cannot touch. It is a story of courage, loss, and finding the hero within yourself.
A student with a dream
Ravi lives in Thoothukudi, a small town. He is a huge fan of DCP Devaraj, a famous encounter specialist. Ravi's biggest dream is to become a police officer just like his hero. He studies hard and moves to Chennai for college. To support himself, he drives an auto rickshaw in his free time.
Full Plot
Ravi is a young man from Thoothukudi who admires DCP Devaraj, a famous encounter specialist police officer. Ravi's biggest dream is to join the police force and serve the people. He moves to Chennai for his higher education and drives an auto rickshaw to pay for his expenses. In college, he meets Suseela, a beautiful IT professional, and falls in love with her. Suseela initially rejects him, but with the help of her loving grandmother, Ravi eventually wins her heart. He also makes good friends, including a girl named Uma.
One day, Uma is collecting donations in a public place. Chella, the son of the powerful don Vedanayagam, sees her and humiliates her by shoving a rupee note into her jacket. Uma feels deeply ashamed and tells her father. Her father informs Ravi, who becomes furious. Ravi finds Chella and beats him so badly that Chella ends up in the hospital. This act of bravery makes Ravi a target of Vedanayagam's wrath.
Vedanayagam is a ruthless crime boss who controls Chennai with the help of corrupt police officer Kattabomman. He uses his power to frame Ravi for drug smuggling. Ravi is arrested, thrown into jail, and expelled from college. His life is completely destroyed. Suseela goes to DCP Devaraj, Ravi's hero, and begs him to help. But Devaraj refuses. Years ago, Vedanayagam killed Devaraj's entire family and blinded him. Devaraj is a broken man who has lost all courage.
However, Devaraj secretly uses his old contacts in the police department to save Ravi from a fake encounter. Ravi escapes death and realizes that the system is corrupt and useless. He decides to take matters into his own hands. He creates a new identity called 'Police' Ravi and starts hunting down Vedanayagam's criminals. The public begins to love and support him.
Vedanayagam cannot catch Ravi directly, so he targets Ravi's close friend Sugu. His men kill Sugu brutally. Ravi is heartbroken and filled with rage. He kills Chella as revenge. Vedanayagam then becomes a minister to gain legal immunity. Ravi plans to kill him at the swearing-in ceremony. But the police arrive to arrest Ravi first. As they handcuff him, Ravi spots Devaraj in the crowd. He shouts Vedanayagam's location. Devaraj shoots and kills Vedanayagam, finally avenging his family's death.
In the end, Devaraj is reinstated as a police officer. He offers to make Ravi a real cop. But Ravi refuses with a smile. He says he has already found the police officer within himself. That is all he needs to succeed in life. Ravi walks away, a true hero without a badge.
Characters
Ravi
Played by Police Ravi
Ravi is a young, honest student from Thoothukudi who dreams of becoming a police officer. He moves to Chennai for college and drives an auto rickshaw to support himself. After being framed by the don Vedanayagam, he creates a vigilante identity called 'Police' Ravi to fight crime. In the end, he refuses a real police job because he has found the officer within himself.
Suseela
Played by Susi
Suseela is a smart IT professional who becomes Ravi's love interest. She initially rejects Ravi but later falls in love with him thanks to her grandmother's help. She is loyal and brave, even going to DCP Devaraj to beg for Ravi's life. She supports Ravi throughout his struggle.
DCP Devaraj
Devaraj is a famous encounter specialist police officer and Ravi's role model. Years ago, Vedanayagam killed his entire family and blinded him, leaving him broken and scared. He initially refuses to help Ravi but secretly saves his life. In the climax, he finally kills Vedanayagam and is reinstated as a police officer.
Vedanayagam
Vedanayagam is the main villain, a powerful don who controls Chennai with an iron fist. He uses corrupt police officers like Kattabomman to do his dirty work. He kills Devaraj's family and later targets Ravi. He becomes a minister to gain legal protection but is finally killed by Devaraj.
Chella
Chella is Vedanayagam's violent and womanizing son. He humiliates Ravi's friend Uma, which triggers the entire conflict. Ravi beats him badly, and later kills him as revenge for the murder of his friend Sugu.
Kattabomman
Kattabomman is a corrupt police officer who works for Vedanayagam. He arrests Ravi on false charges and tries to kill him in a fake encounter. He represents the broken system that Ravi fights against.
Themes
Corruption in the system
The film shows how the police and political systems are rotten from the inside. Corrupt officers like Kattabomman work for criminals instead of protecting citizens. Ravi is framed and jailed for a crime he did not commit. This theme forces the hero to become a vigilante because the law cannot help him.
Finding the hero within
Ravi starts as a normal student who admires a police officer. But when the system fails him, he discovers his own inner strength. He does not need a badge to be a hero. In the end, he refuses the police job because he has already found the officer inside himself. This is the core emotional message of the film.
Revenge and justice
Both Ravi and Devaraj are driven by a desire for revenge. Devaraj loses his family to Vedanayagam and spends years in fear. Ravi loses his friend Sugu and kills Chella in retaliation. But the film shows that true justice comes from courage, not just revenge. Devaraj finally finds the courage to kill Vedanayagam and end the cycle.
Love and support
Suseela's love gives Ravi emotional strength during his darkest moments. She does not abandon him when he is in jail or in danger. Her grandmother also plays a key role in bringing them together. This theme shows that love can be a powerful force in the fight against evil.
Ending Explained
The climax of 'Vettaikkaran' takes place at Vedanayagam's swearing-in ceremony as a minister. Ravi is determined to kill him to end his reign of terror. But just as he is about to strike, the police arrive and arrest Ravi. As the officers handcuff him, Ravi sees DCP Devaraj standing in the crowd. Devaraj, who was blinded by Vedanayagam years ago, has finally found his courage again. Ravi shouts Vedanayagam's exact location. Devaraj pulls out his gun and shoots Vedanayagam dead. This act avenges the murder of Devaraj's entire family. After Vedanayagam's death, Devaraj is reinstated as a police officer. He offers to make Ravi a real cop. But Ravi refuses with a smile. He tells Devaraj that he has already found the police officer within himself, and that is all he needs. Ravi walks away, a true hero without a badge. The ending delivers a powerful message: real authority comes from courage and integrity, not from a uniform.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'Vettaikkaran' is an original story written by director B. Babusivan. It is not a remake of any other film. However, the title was taken from a 1964 film of the same name starring M. G. Ramachandran.
The music for 'Vettaikkaran' was composed by Vijay Antony. The soundtrack was very popular, especially songs like 'Naan Adicha' and 'Oru Chinna Thamarai'. The song 'Naan Adicha' was partially copied from a Marathi song called 'Ye Go Ye Ye Maina'.
Yes, 'Vettaikkaran' was a commercial success. It completed a 100-day theatrical run in Tamil Nadu. The film collected about $1.4 million at the overseas box office. It was Vijay's first film with AVM Productions.
The word 'Vettaikkaran' translates to 'Hunter' in English. The title suits the story because Ravi becomes a hunter of criminals. He tracks down and eliminates the bad guys that the police cannot touch.
The role of Vedanayagam was played by actor Salim Ghouse. He portrayed the ruthless don with great intensity. Salim Ghouse was nominated for the Best Villain award at the Vijay Awards for his performance.