The 2023 film (titled Sir in Telugu) is a period action drama that tackle the commercialization of the Indian education system in the late 1990s. Directed by Venky Atluri , it stars Dhanush as Balamurugan, a junior teacher who fights against the "education mafia" to ensure quality schooling remains accessible to the underprivileged. Core Themes & Plot

Reviews for Vaathi were mixed, often praising the lead performance while critiquing the execution:

Dhanush's character is sent to a neglected government school in Sholavaram where he must overcome political and commercial hurdles to help his students succeed.