Sruthi shines in action thriller

For those tired of seeing men being macho on-screen and saving the day, ‘Vadham’, starring Sruthi Hariharan, is refreshing.

The story revolves around a special task force of four lady police officers led by an energetic and ambitious inspector Sakthi Pandiyan (Sruthi). As the team investigates the murder of an influential businessman, the truth startles Sakthi, so much so that at one point she must weigh morality against the law.

‘Vadham’, a good mix of action and comedy, tries to explore the conflict between law and justice. There is a nod to the #MeToo campaign as ‘Vadham’ tries to include the women-empowerment angle. The series talks about corrupt police officers, how society judges transwomen, and the risks of women doing ‘manly’ jobs.

Sruthi and the leads Ashwathy Warrier, Semmalar Annam, and Preethisha Premkumaran deliver convincing performances but the story appears convoluted in some places. The revenge with a twist doesn’t come as a surprise.

The fight sequences in ‘Vadham’ are amateurish. The biggest plus of the series is its portrayal of the police as being as human as anyone else. The writing, though, needed to be tighter. Overall, ‘Vadham’ is a decent effort.