Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Vaaranam Aayiram - Love you Daddy

Gowtham Vasudev Menon’s attempt at meaningful cinema is a faithful adaptation of his real life relationship with his father who passed away when Gowtham was scripting the movie. The movie is about how a father a deep yet subtle role in defining his son’s character. He plays a significant hand in helping his son overcome different stages in his life thereby guiding him to greater heights yet preferring to stay in the background without being too proud about it. 

Surya as Krishnan (Dad) and Surya (Son) has given his best performance of his career. Tamil cinema is rest assured that the Kamal Hassan torch will be carried on by people like Surya in the future. Among the heroines, Simran has come up with one of her best performances as an understanding mother. Divya hasn’t had much to do but promises much in a small role. However Sameera Reddy takes us all as a whip of fresh air with her casual ways and beautiful looks. One can be rest assured of two things in Gowtham's movies. One, the romance part will be very good. Two, a heroine will die. The trend continues here. 

Music and Cinematography were pillars for the movie. Harris Jeyaraj has done exceptionally well in both songs and background score. Rathnavelu has done an inspiring job in giving the right mood through out the film. His contributions to the romance sequences are priceless. 

What Gowtham Vasudev Menon (Director) does here is, he did not try to make a soap opera out of the storyline but prefers a more subtle approach to it. The scene where the son calls his dad over the phone and cries for the death of his girl and also confessing that he and the girl made love shows the extent of understanding the dad has on his son. There are quite a few scenes where you will remember your dad or at least wish your dad was like the elder Surya. 

There will be criticism for the movie for its pace and for the fact that the movie shows more about the younger Surya than about the dad. To come to Gowtham’s aide, one has to understand that when a biography cannot be shown in any faster pace as that will affect the audience’s involvement in the film. We are also used to seeing movies like these as soaps where a dad’s contribution and sacrifice to a son was elobrated as a sentimental weapon to attract audience. This movie will not make you sit and cry, rather takes you on a nostalgic trip.

To like this movie you will have to get involved in it. If you are coming in just to have fun, don’t go for it. However, if u like your dad please watch this movie. If you don’t like your dad watch this movie, you will actually start loving him.