Vettai : Pledged to Hunt () was the first season of Singapore's Tamil, 72-part crime drama, Vettai. The series ran on-air from 23 November 2010 to 30 March 2011, every Monday to Thursday, at 10:30 pm on the MediaCorp Vasantham channel. The season was directed by Anuratha Kanderaju and Abbas Akbar.
Plot summary A special task force was assembled to tackle crime cases pertaining to the Indian community and Indian immigrants. Not widely publicized, the unit is kept under wraps.
Spearheaded by Chief Dayanidhi, the force consists of three teams and a criminologist. Together they investigate cold-blooded murders, kidnappings and sexual crimes. But as professional and personal lives collide, the force appears headed towards a perilous outcome with lives to be lost and bonds to be broken. The group's pledge to uphold justice and peace in their country will be put to the test.
Cast Main cast Gunalan Morgan as Mugi Arvind Naidu as Shan Vignesh Wadarajan as Seelan Shabir as Nantha Gayathri Segaran as Radha Sathish Rames as Prakash Indra Chandran as Regina Gayathri Sharma as Suganya Jivvenesh Sivan as Jivva
Supporting cast Rishi Kumaar as Praveen Elias Mikhail as Chandrabose
Guest cast Puravalan Saravanan Ayavoo Kishore
Characters Team 1: Nantha (Shabir) and Seelan (Vignesh) are a powerhouse duo. Well matched in intelligence and physical strength they are a force to be reckoned with. They complement each other well and intuitively recognize one another's moves to cover themselves on duty. They bear grudges against each other, however, which could wreck the entire unit. Seelan is the unit's only married man and is a proud father of a daughter. He is responsible and practical about saving money and achieving family security. Dark and handsome, he has a broody nature that foretells secrets which only he may know. Nantha, on the other hand, is single and likes her independence. Will they collide or unite to take on their enemies?
Team 2: Mugi is paired with rookie Prakash. Frequently their personalities collide and their ideologies run in parallel without meeting to compromise. Prakash is a university graduate, while Mugi is a secondary school diploma holder who signed onto the service. Prakash abides by rules and follows protocol strictly, to Mugi's great irritation. Mugi leans toward a 'do first, explain later' attitude. He has no interest in explaining procedures to Prakash, and frequently relegates Prakash to administrative tasks like buying coffee and curry puffs, photocopying, faxing and filing. Should Prakash comment on anything, Mugi attributes it to Prakash's arrogance in being a graduate. Will these partners solve a crime without killing each other first?
Team 3: Shanmugam (affectionately known as Shan) and Radha are best buddies and the most fun-loving team in the unit. Both are in love, but not with each other. They are attractive young individuals, but their friendship and camaraderie are purely platonic. Radha is secretly in love with Nantha, while Shan adores Gina, the in-house criminologist. How will their love interests play out?
Crew Directors: Anuratha Kanderaju and Abbas Akbar Executive Producer: Prema Pon Rajoo Assistant Directors: Radha Jeevan, Vathsala Naidu Danabalan and Pavithra Chandra Kumar Screenplay / Dialogue: Jaya Rathakrishnan and Rajarathinam Tamilmaran Photography: S. Ananth and R. Asogan Music and Effects: L. Chandiramogan Sound: A. Selva Kumar and Gan Camera: Terence Yap and Geeshan Srimantha Editing: Agustin K.M., David Anil Sharma and K. Sailenran Pragash Stunts: Jimmy Low Post Production: Video Houze
Episodic synopsis Episode 1 "The Stake out in United States of America" Chief Dayanidhi has received a tip that the drug syndicate the unit has long pursued is about to attempt dealings in various parts of the island-state. All three teams have been activated and have staked out key areas. We see them right in the heat of their operations. Do they catch the syndicate or does the entire operation get foiled?Episode 2 "Red Light Glare" Shan is lurking around the streets of Geylang, Singapore late one night and does not want to be seen. The next day a call-girl is found dead in the area. Shan has explaining to do to prove his innocence. Will anyone believe him? Can he even be trusted anymore?Episode 3 "Truth Be Told" Shan is implicated in the prostitute's murder and is being questioned by higher authorities. Shan is hiding something, but even his best buddy Radha cannot get him to talk.Episode 4 "Who Is the Black Sheep?" Chief Dayanidhi discovers something that will rock the entire unit to its core.Episode 5 "Tempt Me Not!" Shan tries to convince the Chief of his innocence. The Chief, however, refuses to consider his innocence without evidence. Undercover officers find Shan at Geylang one night. Why would he be there?Episode 6 "Another One Bites the Dust?" Another call girl is being preyed upon by the killer. The Chief's suspicion about Shan increases, though he continues to deny it. Meanwhile, Mugi and Prakash obtain leads on the Geylang murder. Will they be able to prove Shan's innocence? Is Shan indeed telling the truth?Episode 7 "The Citizen Journalist" The Chief is furious that Shalini, an online journalist, has written unfavourable comments about the unit's investigation. Shalini reveals her own investigations, which are a step ahead of the unit. Will the unit team up with Shalini to catch the killer?Episode 8 "Mend My Heart, Gina" Shan is ordered to attend counseling sessions with Regina, the in-house criminologist. Shan has harboured infatuation with Regina and is happy for this opportunity to get close to her. Will this work out for Shan?Episode 9 "The Bait" The Chief sends two of his officers, Nantha and Seelan, on a secret operation. Why? Has he a hidden motive?Episode 10 "I Am On To You!" The Chief's suspicions are further confirmed. What action will he take? Meanwhile, Seelan tries to mend his relationship with his wife, but to no avail. Why is Manju behaving that way?Episode 11 "Casefile: The Missing Boy" Shan and Radha embark on a missing boy case. The deeper they dig, the more skeletons they discover. Can they save the boy?Episode 12 "The Fall of the Chief" After tonight, the unit will never be the same again. Watch for revelations that will yield unexpected turns of events and power shifts.Episode 13 "Aftermath of Foul Play" Seelan and Nantha's enmity rises to a new level as trust is questioned and suspicions are blazing.Episode 14 "Eulogies & Betrayals" The unit remembers and mourns its loss, but on the other side acts of betrayal are shaking the unit's very existence.Episode 15 "Just Admit It!" When Nantha looks at Radha silently, he really is not as cold as he appears. But can Radha tear down the wall that Nantha has built around himself?Episode 16 "Reunion!" Shan and Radha get a tip about a Chinatown slavery ring. Will this lead bring them closer to solving the case?Episode 17 "Moral Compass" Mugi uses his influence to spend time with Shalini. Seelan is about to cross over to the dark side. Nantha catches Angel intoxicated on booze! Care to use a moral compass, anyone?Episode 18 "Stakes Are High!" Shalini calls Mugi with some leads about the rich elite kids and their drug suppliers. Mugi uses this opportunity to rope in Shalini for the stakeout, leaving Prakash out. Will Prakash endure this insult or will he confront Mugi and put him in his place?Episode 19 "Who is the Bose?" The unit has long grappled with the existence of an underground drug syndicate. Today we finally see them, or, rather, the man behind the syndicate. Bose!Episode 20 "Accidental Hero?" Mugi is hot on the heels of the drug syndicate but lands himself in hot water when he bites off more than he can chew. Will Prakash save the day?Episode 21 "Angel or Devil?" Mugi is in serious trouble and the unit must do something to save him. Meanwhile, we find out about Angel's real background.Episode 22 "Are You Out of Your Mind?!" A dead infant has been found, and it looks like foul play is at work. Regina concludes that the perpetrator must be someone who is mentally ill. But on the personal front, even sane individuals are sidestepping sanity's blurred line, doing things that they are not supposed to do. It is all in the mind, or rather, out of their minds?Episode 23 "The Un'Holy' Grail" Regina develops a deep interest in Nantha's attitude and mannerisms. She takes it upon herself to study him and to find out more about him. Will she unearth more than she bargained for?Episode 24 "Flying High" Shalini has gathered enough clues to cast doubt on Mugi's charge. She approaches Seelan with the list. Seelan assigns Prakash to nab the suspected kids from the elite society. The 'FLYING HIGH' operation kickstarts. Nantha and Seelan get nearer to nabbing the criminal responsible for the infant's death. Will both teams fly high or fall flat?Episode 25 "Let truth Sting!" It is time for painful truths to be told, seen and heard. Shan sees something he should not see. Nantha hears something he does not want to hear. Mugi must utter something he does not wish to say. Let it sting.Episode 26 "Massacre!" A serial killer is on the loose. Young Indian girls are being raped and killed. Nothing will ever be the same for anyone.Episode 27 "Somebody Is Watching Me!" Vithya notices Shan's grief but is unable to help him. Manju spots Seelan and Regina. And lo and behold! The serial killer strikes again. But this time, he is too close for comfort.Episode 28 "Revelations" Radha finds out about her sister's secret activities. When Nantha confronts Angel about it, things get out of hand. Meanwhile, Manju's secret life is revealed. Is her story taking a whole new twist?Episode 29 "You Are Not the Boss of Me!" After harboring the grudge for days, Shan finally confronts Seelan about his dalliance with Regina and things get messy. Will they become too caught up in their personal mess to realise that a snake is inching its way close?Episode 30 "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" The one who shall not be named inches closer and gets under the skin of a loved one. He has wormed his way too close for comfort. Where will this lead?Episode 31 "The Weakest Link" When a loved one is found dead, the team is close to crumbling under the emotional upheaval. But the predator must be caught, so the team needs to pull it together. Weak links need to be cut. Who will it be? Will they recover in time to nab the serial killer?Episode 32 "It Is Not Over Till It Is Over!" The team is interrogated about the Chief's death. Will this reveal new surprises? Meanwhile, Pravin resurfaces again. This time, his eyes are on someone within the team. Who is that?Episode 33 "Wanted Dead or Alive!" Radha offers herself as a scapegoat to lure Pravin out, amidst protests from her team. Will this plan work?Episode 34 "I Will Do Anything For Love." Nantha is impressed with Radha's commitment to friendship. Does this spell love? Is Nantha ready to embrace love in his life again?Episode 35 "Oh, The Guilt!" Regina chances upon Manju and notices her ill health. Will this affect her relationship with Seelan? And after a botched attempt on the stakeout, the unit is stranded in a sea of self-recriminations and guilt! Will they drown or dive deeper to find the parasite?Episode 36 "Watch Me Watching You" Radha goes as a human bait to lure Pravin out. But Pravin outsmarts them. How? Watch him watching them!Episode 37 "Killing Me Softly" Radha is in the clutches of manic Pravin. If you think you know how sick Pravin can get, think again. The slow torture that Radha goes through is a worse fate than death itself. Nothing will ever be the same.Episode 38 "60 Minutes" The unit receives a mysterious parcel. It is a DVD containing footage with clues about Radha's location. The psychopath is riddling the unit to find Radha. The deadline is one hour. Will they find her?