Gautham's Vaaaranam Aayiram may not be a masterpiece in overall, but the very fact the film dishes out few of the most momentous scenes i have ever seen in cinema justifies this rating. The film may appear slow for some, especially those who are yet to experience the lost of a loved one, or those who are yet to fall in love. Vaaranam Aayiram is about the strength of love and memories, how important they are in your life, even if your loved ones depart. The film is in no way a remake of Forest Gump and was not even for a moment intended to be so. It is rather inspired by Gautham's real life events and observations. Some of the scenes in VA are truly momentous, send a chill down the spine for any romantics. I can't remember San Francisco being shown to be so beautiful in Hollywood movies even, especially when Meghna (Sameera Reddy) confesses her feelings for Surya (Junior Surya) at the backdrop of the bridge while he is playing with a toy helicopter. Masterstroke. The scene where Surya calls his parents and cries uncontrollably about Meghna's death is certainly one of the most moving scenes ever in Tamil cinema, i can almost feel the same pain that the character feels at that time. Gautham directs the movie superbly in parts and complacently in parts, but Surya is the order of the day, as his performance as both father and son keeps the movie going, even in the parts where Gautham obviously could have done better. As a doting grandfather unable to tell stories to his grandchild, as a cancer patient meeting his end days, as a young man who is head over heels in love, as a naughty college student, as a lover struggling to get over his lover's death, a young man who's life taken over by drugs, as a man searching for himself in the mountains, as the re-discovered man who saves an abducted child, as a major, and as a son who struggles to see his daddy's sufferings, Surya is a class act in this movie. Simran too is fantastic, and this might well be her comeback card. Sameera Reddy leaves an impact in your heart that she remains etched even after the character is killed, and even makes you long for her presence. Divya Spandana does a decent job, but doesn't overshadow the impact of Sameera's character, she basically underplays her character. This is something for the personal collection.
Review of Vaaranam Aayiram
