I wish you could see it

I deliberately refrained from writing anything for awhile. I was in a pretty bad state emotionally. December blues had set in, to be precise, with big events occurring, both in and outside the operation theatre, that had repercussions on my mental state of mind. But that’s for another post. Because today I just want to tell you of a gem you may miss.

I guess one of the advantages of being a Southie is that, no matter where we’re from, we do have to learn the national language. Ergo we do not miss the various flavours Bollywood has to offer for us. But you see, that leaves the rest at a distinct disadvantage. Because you do not get to experience true beauty on celluloid, simply because language remains a barrier. The closest you get to Southern flavours are Priyadarshan’s retellings of old films, and trust me, they ain’t worth much.

Vaaranam Aayiram is one such film I hope you get to see someday, if language permits. It is a tribute from the director, Gautham Menon  , to his father. 

The tale begins with the sudden death of an old man and his son, an Army Major, receiving the news while on a mission. And then, we go into a flashback so natural and seamless in it’s storytelling, you’re in love with the film even before the 1^st hour is over.

You watch the child listen as his mother ( Simran ) tells him how his father swept her off his feet. You watch the 15 year old boy trying to impress girls, the college lad fall head over heels for a girl on a train in his college days ( Sameera Reddy – I’ll come to her later ). You watch him woo her in a manner only true love can, an event in 1994 that changes everything, his downfall in life and how he finally realises his true destiny. 

Through it all, you watch his father age with him – as the 70’s and 80s give way to the present, how he stands by his son through the best and worst of times, not turning a blind eye in his worst moments but just supporting him and carrying his son through each phase of his life – be it bullying, love or drugs.

The story itself is magic, just in its simplicity. And then, you have to factor in the most amazing aspect of this movie – every role : be it the son as a 15 year old with a kid moustache ( I still don’t know whether it was make up or graphics, but the final effect was tremendously realistic ), to the cocky teenager, the smitten lover, the crazed drug addict, the bearded vagabond and eventually the six-pack  Army Major or the father as a love struck man of the 70s, the young father providing for his children, the delicate aging and receding hairlines, the heart patient and finally the cancer victim – are played by the same person : Suriya.

Don’t mistake me. This is not a double role like Shah Rukh’s Om Shanti Om or Karan Arjun ; they pale into absurdity in comparison. This is a role of a lifetime. And it is rendered tremendously by this fine actor. You watch him age simultaneously twice in front of you and you feel your heart go with each of them. You literally feel his love for the girl, feel his mind break as the unexpected strikes and watch him get reborn. His mannerisms in each role, even his body in each phase of his life is an example of character acting. His gawky teenager is a young lad who you’d pass by every day of the year without giving a second look. The druggie is a man you’d hate to be near and well, the six pack flaunting Armyman would give the Khans nightmares of insecurity.

Simran and Sameera Reddy. Two item girls of Bollywood. Just goes to show you how much waste of talent there is in Hindi cinema. Simran, as the protective mom, is so genuinely your every day mom, that you forget that this was/is one of the hottest girls of Tamil cinema. There is no effort to show her as anything other than a working class mom and she excels in a role with great scope.

Sameera Reddy. Well, if the images ofthe miniskirt babe in Musafir have finished washing past your memory, then perhaps you can settle down and see what she is capable of when a good script is actually given to her. As the girl initially attracted and then slowly falling for Surya, she makes you want to fall in love. Well, she made me want to fall in love and it’s been a while since I’ve felt that way.

Divya Spandana too has a major role to play too in the latter half and she does it with absolute ease.

The music by Harris Jeyaraj is again par excellence. He captures the mood of the moment, be it the swinging 60s, the Micheal Jckson era or just the pain of a broken heart.

Finally, the director. This is a man who made movies like Minnale  (a big hit  which was more appreciated in Tv than in the theatres in its Hindi version Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein) , Kaaka Kaaka ( an out and out police thriller ) and Vethiyadu Veliyadu ( the ultimate thriller tracing the progression of psychopaths )- all films which have been decent to major hits.  And after this fine foray into action films, he’s decided to return back to a story with a heart. And it is a tremendous return. You feel the love he had for his dad and how he aims to instill in within each one of us.. by the end of the movie, you’re praying the initial reels are a hoax and the dad survives somehow.. you wish you could rewind time and be with your dad again.

Many were crying as they left the theatre. Many more were smiling. All clapped as the credits rolled. That’s the perfect sign that the movie had hit where it was aiming to – our hearts.

P.S. I do hope those of you who can , do watch it. As for those who don’t understand the language, well, all I can say is, I hope there isn’t a Hindi remake. Because, quite frankly, there is neither the director nor the actor in Bollywood who could pull off this script and lend you the same effect as this movie does.