Vaaranam Aayiram
Plot of the Movie
This film explores family relationships, especially the father–son relationship in depth. The story follows the lead characters (the protagonist and his father) through decades. Much effort has been taken to bring out authenticity to the 'period' effect which is praiseworthy.
Genre: Romance / Family
Language: Tamil
Cast: Surya, Sameera Reddy, Divya, Simran
Music: Harris Jeyaraj
Direction: Gautham Vasudev Menon
Released on Nov 14, 2008
The movie opens with an aged Surya succumbing to throat cancer. The news is then conveyed to his son, played by Surya again, who is on a defence operation somewhere in Kashmir. The rest of the movie is the son’s reminiscence of his father. What a fantastic dad he had had! The story is narrated through beautiful sequences – the time his father had met his mother in college (as told to him by his mother) and the innovative way he had made known his love for her – his birth and the way he had always looked up to his dad as a real hero – his sister's birth and the happy little family that they were – his adolescence – his adventures – his love
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Surya's adolescent days look quite refreshing. The antics he indulges in once he sees Meghna (Sameera Reddy) on a night train and his acts of trying to woo her, gets across to the audience very well. An unfortunate incident happens and Meghna dies.
A reckless Surya then starts smoking, drinking and becomes a drug addict. His parents take care of him through these torrid times. His parents even want him to go away somewhere so that he can overcome his grief. Surya walks the streets of Kashmir and Delhi and even indulges in daring acts like rescuing a kidnapped child. Then he joins the armed forces. After six years in the armed forces, he becomes a major and also has loving thoughts of a girl (Priya played by Divya Spandana) he had known for a long time but had really not given any kind of attention to. Does time wither away the association they had had?
The flashes of reminiscence stops and reality dawns….he is part of the rescue mission now, fighting terrorists….
The earthly presence of his father might have gone away forever….but will always have a place in his heart….probably thoughts that Gautham Vasudev Menon has….
Surya the actor rocks throughout. The variety of emotions he has portrayed is very good and a strong mention has to be made about his good looks and charm. He looks unbelievably like a person in his early twenties in some sequences that require him to be so. Something very few actors can really do.
Gautham has derived inspiration for Vaaranam Aayiram from his own life and hence the movie is by and large close to real life with only very few scenes seeming out of place. There are touching and heart-warming moments in the movie; however, they are few and far between. Like the scene in which the cancer patient dad expresses his helplessness in telling stories to his grandson since his vocal chords no longer support him and Simran’s emotional silent outburst when she is being told that her husband is about to start his final journey.
The three hour long movie advocates non-smoking heavily and hits the smokers hard with the harsh reality of its consequences – cancer, for instance.
Vaaranam Aayiram is a deeply touching movie that brings forth several emotions at once. Every incident you see in the film will remind you of an aspect of your own life. That's how real this Gautham Menon film is. And Surya's performance is one of his best till date. Adding charm to the film are Sameera Reddy and Divya Spandana. But Simran takes away the attention from both of them with the way she carries her role.
Positives
* Surya’s portrayal of father and son
* Simran’s acting prowess
* Harris Jeyaraj’s Music
* Camerawork by Rathnavelu
Negatives
* Sister character in the story is completely wasted. No specific role to play.
