Vada Chennai teaser: Dhanush, Vetrimaaran present a tale of ambition, violence in north Chennai

Dhanush emerging from the shadows, armed with a sickle, facing off multiple goons is a sight that has been re-used over several films. The teaser of Vetrimaaran's Vada Chennai promises some more of the same. Released on the birthday of the lead actor, Dhanush, the teaser captures a tale of grim ambition, revenge and violence that emerges out of the game of politics and power in north Chennai. 

The film is a part of a trilogy set in the throes of gang-war in Chennai. Dhanush reportedly plays a national level carrom champion who is pulled into the vicious cycle of violence and politics in the region. The actor is also set to sport a complete makeover as the story covers 35 years in the lifetime of the region. The teaser offers glimpse of this, as Dhanush is introduced as a young teenager at a carrom game. His muppet crop and printed shirt suggest the look is set around the 1970-1980s period. 

While the carrom game is the beginning, the voiceover (by Dhanush) describes the challenges faced by an individual growing up in the slums of north Chennai. "Whether we win or lose, we have to fight first," he says. The fight is between the gangs and politicians (P Samuthirakani, Radha Ravi among others). Actresses Aishwarya Rajesh and Andrea Jeremiah play the women caught in between this violent gang feud. 

The teaser does have similarities with Dhanush's previos films like Pudhu Pettai (2006), and Vetrimaaran's own Aadukalam (2011). While the sinister gangster music (by Santosh Narayanan) adds to the feel of the teaser, it fails to offer something new. The glimpse does reveal the ambition and grand scale potential of the story, and that is worth savouring. 

Vada Chennai is directed by Vetrimaaran, and produced by Dhanush's Wunderbar Films. 

Watch the teaser of the film below: