After charming the audience with their performance in 19(1)(a), Vijay Sethupathi and Nithya Menen are back on screen together with the Tamil-language film, Thalaivan Thalaivii. This rom-com and family drama film, directed by Pandiraj, got released on July 25, 2025. With Vijay and Nithya shining with both their epic comic timing and heartfelt emotional scenes, their chemistry works really well on screen. However, some aspects of the film feel lacklustre and repetitive.
Synopsis of Thalaivan Thalaivii
In the film, Vijay Sethupathi portrays the character of ‘Agasaveeran’, a small-time businessman who runs a tiffin centre alongside his family. He gets married to ‘Perarasi a.k.a Arasi’, played by Nithya Menen. They start their marital life smoothly, but soon there’s some trouble in paradise. The newlyweds start sparring over trivial and strange matters. As a result, they separate from each other for three months and apply for a divorce. Their fights also expand to their families, and everyone gets involved.
The chemistry of Vijay Sethupathi and Nithya Menen works really well
The best part of the film is the chemistry between Vijay Sethupathi and Nithya Menen, which makes their characters even more convincing and authentic. Due to this, their comedy scenes also flow naturally without any over-the-top punchlines. Vijay also does an amazing job portraying the conflict of trying to be a good husband and a good son. Nithya, on the other hand, does a phenomenal job of showcasing the nuances of her character.
Also, special praise for the sound and dubbing department since Nithya’s Tamil dubbing was so natural that it was unimaginable that it was someone else’ voice. Along with that, the music and background score of the film also fit perfectly with the scenes and the context. The dance sequence of both the main leads looks refreshing and doesn’t come across as awkward or out of place. Additionally, the Madurai accent of all the characters also sounds natural in Thalaivan Thalaivii.
The aspects that don’t work for the film
The film, at a certain point, revolves entirely around one particular issue, which becomes quite repetitive. The screenplay could have been better, as the storyline tries to oversimplify and generalise the marital problems of all the couples. As a result, the film delivers a message against permanent separation between couples, which could be quite problematic. The on-screen husband and wife’s problems were comparatively not serious enough, but not all couples and their issues are alike. Given that the story is set in a rural town, where divorce is already a taboo subject in real life, this kind of messaging could promote the stigma.
The film also has a lot of characters on screen. However, their stories and voices are insignificant in the context of the film. Some of the supporting actors who are known for their acting prowess also remain underutilised in the film. Giving their characters a little more depth could have made the screenplay better as well, since it is a family drama along with being a rom-com. Popular comedian, Yogi Babu also makes the viewers laugh in every scene he appears in, but those scenes are very few and far in between.
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Also Read: Vijay Sethupathi Of ‘Thalaivan Thalaivii’ Met His Wife, Jessy, First Time On Their Engagement Day