After teaming together for that engaging action flick 'Khaakha Khaakha', Gautham and Surya join together yet again for 'Vaaranam Aayiram'. A heartwarming story of a son who crosses the various vicissitudes of life with the encouraging support of his father, the film has Surya playing both the father and son.
The Plot
The film opens with the son Suriya (Surya), a Major in the army on a rescue mission, receiving the shattering news of his father Krishnan’s death. Trying to cope with it, Surya reminisces about the deep bonding he shared with his father.
And it’s through his narration that we get to learn about his past and the way his father had influenced his life. We learn about his parents brief college romance and marriage, as told to him by his mother (Simran). The flush of first love when Surya meets Meghna (Sameera) in a train and professes his love to her; Meghna’s going to the U.S. for higher studies and he madly in love, following her there; The tragedy that befalls her and his attempts to cope with it; his trips away from home, his enlisting in the army; and his slow realisation of the attraction he felt towards Priya (Divya) a friend since his childhood.
And all through this, the encouragement from his parents, particularly his father, who was more of a friend to him.
Karacter, Forrest Gump and 'Vaaranam Aayiram'?
Yes, one can find the influence of these films here. It’s not so much in the characterisation, but in the flow of the incidents in these films that the director seems to have taken some inspiration from. In Karacter as in here, it’s the death of the father that triggers the memories of the son,all of which we are told in a first person narrative. The fathers in both remain in the periphery, the sons reaching out to them (whether in anger or for support) at crucial moments in their lives. Only, while in one it is the antagonism of the father which goads the son to overcome hurdles and achieve great heights, it’s the sympathy and encouragement of the father here ,that is the motivating factor. The Forrest Gump –element is felt in the scenes where a restless disturbed Surya, takes frequent trips away from home on a journey of self-exploration, enlisting in the army being a common factor to both, apart from the guilt-factor that seems to disturb them. At times in the second half, it does seem that the director had structured some of these incidents, and made a futile attempt to string them together into a coherent whole.
Simran, Sameera and Divya
Gautham has projected his three female leads in favourable light.
Simran lends dignity and elegance to her role of the understanding wife and mother, and there is a cool comfort in the interaction scenes among the trio. If it’s Sameera Reddy’s physical assets that Mumbai makers exploited to advantage, Gautham has given her a new, wholesome and endearing image here as Surya’s first love. And there is the graceful Divya Spandana as Suriya’s second love, Priya. Three screen sizzlers, who in the director’s hands have turned out to be women of substance, charm and individuality.
The Suriya factor
What does one say about Suriya? He is one of those rare actors who doesn’t stagnate, but constantly evolves, revealing a new dimension to his performance each time. And here yet again he amazes you in the subtle but brilliant way he has demarcated the two roles with suitable body language and voice modulation.
Bringing out the quiet dignity of the father, and the vulnerability and toughness of the son, with equal flair. The make-up of the father is worth a mention.
Suriya oozes a lot of charm , fitting well in the college scenes, his sixpack abs a sure attraction for his female fans.
Director’s takes
The first half is refreshing, whether it’s the parents’ love saga, or Suriya’s delightful wooing of Meghna in the train. So too is the natural evolving of the relationship in the U.S. The film has it’s poignant and emotional moments. At times the emotional play may seem a bit overdone. But there are moments which tugs at your heart strings.
One can feel a personal intimate touch in the father-son interactions.
And some of this may well be the reflection of the director’s own personal experience. A key strength of the film is it’s catchy numbers by Harris Jairaj. Some of the old popular hit songs of Hindi and Tamil films, have also been weaved in engagingly by the director. And then, there is it’s brilliant cinematography (Ratnavelu). It’s not just the capturing of the lush locales and action as the plot changes ambience, but also in the flattering close-up shots of the actors too.
It’s in the second half that Gautham seems to lose his grip and the script strays to irrelevant and contrived incidents. Surya’s trip to the US. too seems a bit far-fetched. His wandering off to Kashmir and Delhi, his solo fight and rescue of a little girl from the hands of a dreaded kidnapper, and later the mission to rescue a journalist kidnapped by a terrorist ,all don’t really jell with the emotional saga we had got to watch in the earlier part. The sluggish pace here, makes the nearly three hours film a bit too long and dreary a journey for a viewer.
expresso@epmltd.com