Vaaranam Aayiram : Review

The much awaited flick starring Surya, Vaaranam Aayiram, directed by most popular director in the South Industry, Gautham Vasudev Menon has atlast got released all over the world. The film is clearly meant for niche audiences, and not for mass viewing. It is a tribute to the director's dad, who passed away last year.

The film is actually meant to show the deep bonding between a loving and devoted father and his son who is trying to discover himself. This new flick by Menon, which is inspired from his own story had a great first half, but post Interval, it lags.

The movie opens with an army officer Surya receiving the news of his dad’s death while on a mission. Flashback- Right from his birth, for Surya (Surya) his dad Krishnan (Surya), a middle-class central government employee is more of a friend and a role model than a disciplinarian father. He loves his dad more than his mom Malini (Simran) and sister Shriya, and they live a happy life. Surya is influenced by his dad's stories of how he romanced his mother and won her. Later this inspires Surya in his life, and then what happens is the story of the film.

Technically the film is state of art. Rajeevan's art work to present the sets of 60's were simply awesome, and Ratnavel's camera is eye-catching as it pans California, Dehradun, Delhi, Rameswaram and other locations and gives the film richness.

The real star of the film is Surya himself, who is outstanding in a dual role as father and son. Surya's make-up, his six pack look and old man get-up is very good. The female star cast is simply too good, with each of the three leading ladies making it big by their own.
Another major attraction of this film is the department of music. The music of Harris Jayaraj is first rate and tangy, with meaningful lyrics of Thamarai. This is Harris- Gautham's last film together and the combo is simply terrific.

Only Gautham,who is a romantic by nature can make such a great romantic scenes to work with the audience. Gautham simply wrings you dry with his overplay of emotions in the father-son bonding. The climax is heart wrenching and heartwarming as Surya's breakdown and tears roll down his cheek which looks real.

The best part of the film is the first half, especially the wispy romance between Surya and Sameera Reddy, with the scene where Surya falls for her in the train is hilarious and romantic. On the downside, the film is excruciatingly slow, and in the second half plods as the director has no story to say.

The Delhi kidnapping scenes and the military operations are done purposefully to bring out the heroism in the hero, which was really irritating in some sense. After watching the movie, one may think whether there is not any age limit to join the army also it is some what really wondering that how could an ordinary middle class, Tamil family speak so fluently in English?

All in all, one should need real patience to watch this movie because it is an overdose of emotions. No one should expect fire works from this Gautham-Surya flick, since their last venture ( Khaaka Khaaka) was a real mass thriller. If you prepare yourself to watch a movie having good mix of emotions, then you won't be dissappointed.

Simply, the film is optimistic, fresh and emotionally honest with a great music work by Harris Jayraaj and superb performance of Surya. I prefer you to watch the movie, only if you loves class acts otherwise just gets away from it.

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Tags :- Surya, Reviews, New Tamil film stills, New Tamil movies, Kollywood.