Vaaranam Aayiram - A review

It was a much awaited movie and when I went to watch it, I was waiting for the movie to end! I wouldn't call this movie a boring one, at the same time I wouldn't call it captivating either. The least I expected out of it was some eye-candy called "Surya" and am happy at least I got that.

With Mr.Menon's superb 'Kakha Kakha' and mediocre 'Vetayadu..', I went to watch ‘Varanam..’ with an open mind. The film starts on a sad-serious note with a death and promises a powerful story and good performances. And from there what you have is the son of the deceased Surya, thinking back in the past and how his father played a major role in his life. Bringing back memories onto the screen in a narration is something we have all liked, for instance Cheran's Autograph. The idea itself not being a novel one, the difference could have been made by the style of narration. But the story is not linked smoothly. Sometimes you just feel that they wanted to tell this, that and all.

A little into the second half and the movie finally gets one interested, for once one gets to expect something out of it. And there are few touching moments (the death of the girlfriend followed by the addiction to drugs etc.). And Varanam, would have been a wonderful movie had these emotions been picturised in a stronger way and till the end. Instead the focus is lost and the end seems to be prolonged till that scene on the beach.

The one thing that is commendable without any doubt is Surya's acting. The way he camouflages into all the different roles, and different ages of the roles is simply mesmerizing. Simran does a decent job too. The songs can be skipped except for one or two.

Overall this is a movie that could have been an exceptional one, but alas it comes out just as ordinary as any one of them. It’s not worth the wait!