Monday, January 19, 2009

Vaaranam Aayiram Review

Movie: Vaaranam Aayiram
Genre: Drama
Cast: Surya, Sameera Reddy, Divya Spandana, Simran
Director: Gautham Vasudev Menon
Music: Harris Jayaraj
Produced by: Aascar Films
Released on: 14th November 2008


Story:

The story deals with the deep bonding between a friendly, caring and dedicated father and his son who has taken his father as his role model. The total film is portrayed in flashback mode from the view point of Son Surya (Surya). Son Surya gets the news of his father’s demise while proceeding to an army mission. From there he recollects his affiliations with his father in an autobiographical form.

Father Surya (Krishnan) loves Simran (Malini) and marries her. Son Surya grows well and overcomes challenges in his school days with the friendly guidance of his father. His college life at Trichy ends up with full of joy and entertainment. He meets Sameera Reddy (Meghna) in train on his way back from Trichy to Chennai. He loves her at first sight and proposes her. But she proceeds to Berkley University, USA for further studies. He goes to USA and stays with her for 90 days. Unfortunately, Sameera dies in a blast. Surya returns to India, goes to depressed state and becomes drug addict. His parents console him and motivate him to redeem himself. Then he joins army and marries Divya Spandana.

+ Points:

Surya’s performance is fabulous. He played the role that last for a life time. Unlike Kamal Hassan in Dasavatharam, he applied minimal and realistic make-up but portrayed various shades in a highly remarkable style. His make-up, get-up, body language and face-expressions at different ages of his life in this film are extremely natural. I heard of his father, veteran actor Sivakumar, saying on audio launch of this film that he did not eat normal food for 16 months to keep himself fit for this film; he ate only leaves and vegetables. Though it is commonly thought that he is not in the race for Super Star with Vijay and Ajith, he has strongly registered himself as a dedicated actor, after Kamal and Vikram, who can go to the extremes to give such a splendid performance.

Sameera Reddy is looking ravishingly sexy with her cool smile (is not she looking elder than Surya in a few scenes?). The entire romance thread between Sameera and Surya, song sequences are portrayed well and look cool to watch.

Simran with yesteryear make up and as a 50 year old lady is good. Her gracious and natural performance is very good.

Music of the film is excellent. All songs and background score are good. Especially ‘Nenjukkul Peithidum’, ‘Mun thinam paartheney’(does it suit 1960s trend?), ‘Adiye kolluthey’ are magnificent. Harris-Gautham combination did it yet again. Though there are many English Dialogues in this film, Tamarai’s pure tamil Lyrics adds value to the songs. Rathnavelu with Camera captures the mood of the film.

- Points:

First half of the film is good but the second half is too slow. Kidnap rescue episode and War sequences in the end test the patience of the audience.

With such loving and caring parents, how come Surya becomes drug addict? And the sudden decision of Surya to join army. These are deliberately added to reveal different dimensions of Surya in his multifaceted performance in this film.

I remember here Mr.K.Balachander said on audio launch of Kamal’s film ‘Virumandi’ at Madurai that Kamal is trying to present stuff of 2 or 3 films in a single film. But when you take a film in tribute of your father and you get an actor Surya with abundant skills and ready to deliver more than expected and you a get a producer Aascar Films and Harris Jayaraj how come we expect Gautham Menon to restrain himself and deliver just an ordinary commercial film?

Final Comment:

If you respect family sentiments and love natural performances, you are welcome to watch Vaaranam Aayiram for Surya for his stupendous performance and Harris for his superb music.

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