Varisu Review – Cut & Paste Family Template

BOTTOM LINE
Cut & Paste Family Template

OUR RATING
2.25/5

CENSOR
2h 50m, U Certified.

What Is the Film About?
Rajendran (Sharath Kumar) is a businessman with an empire. He has three sons who are potential inheritors of his property. Vijay (Vijay), his youngest son, has independent thoughts and moves out of the bungalow conflicting with his father’s ideology.

How Vijay, the reluctant heir, returns to save the empire from the rival’s clutches? What he did do for the family forms the movie’s overall plot.

Performances
Vijay continues his glorious on-screen presence in Varisu. He sports cool casuals with a fresh prince vibe that perfectly suits the movie’s role. His star aura is the single reason one sits through the film. The dances are also fine considering the age. Then there are action and comedy moments which he aces in his usual style. While there is nothing memorable or outstanding work here, it is enough within the predictable premise.

Rashmika, on the other hand, is a mere flower pot role. She mainly appears in the songs, has a few scenes with the hero in the first half and disappears later. Rashmika looks fab in the songs, though, glamour-wise, and is an asset in that department.

Analysis
Vamshi Paidipally directs Varisu. It is a typical template family drama with rich production values that he has become specialised in over the last decade.

Right from the opening, there is no ounce of originality in the movie. The director sticks to his strengths and narrates the utterly familiar tale with conviction or rather follows the formula to the T without any deviations.

The entire first half is an elaborate setup of the king, kingdom, and family. Only here is a large corporate design, a big mansion and so on. Then there is the prince in exile who comes as the rightful heir at the right time. The whole thing is done in detail, much to the audience’s chagrin. The slow pace is an issue.

Vijay and his typical screen presence as a star hold the attention all through. There is a fine mix of the boy next door and superhero simultaneously in him that works for the narrative. It also helps that there is a history that fans could connect to bringing back the vintage memories.

The second half, too, follows the template out and out. But what makes it slightly better than the first one is some fan-pleasing moments and action thrown in between. Again, nothing is new, and we have seen it all before, but Vijay makes them work with charm and ease.

The action and dance neatly punctuate the proceedings at the right moment and keeps things flowing without too much drag. Still, the sheer predictability makes the whole narrative feel lengthy. The brother’s track and sentiment etc., belong to this category.

After all the predictability, the climax is neatly wrapped with a family message. It makes one leave with a positive frame even though there is hardly anything new or unexpected here.

Overall, Varisu is that utterly predictable and template-driven film that still manages to survive due to the hero and some commercial elements within the standard setup. If you don’t mind the utter routineness and want to watch something with your family for the festival, Varisu is the option. Otherwise, stay away.

Performances by Others Actors
Varisu is filled with multiple known faces in supporting roles. While Sharath Kumar and Jayasudha are seen as the parents, Srikanth and Kick Shyam play the elder siblings to Vijay. Then there are the familiar names like Prakash Raj, Prabhu, Khushbu etc., doing other vital parts. 

The problem is the repetitiveness with the cast here. We have seen them do the same role many times before. Take Jayasudha and Prakash Raj, for example. They feel like they are sleepwalking through the part, sporting different dresses. Only Srikanth and Shyam offer some relief, especially the latter, with a bit of negative shade. But this, too, is only mild and doesn’t register overall. The rest of the cast, too, fit into the stock characters.

Music and Other Departments?
S Thaman has put effort into the songs and the music, and it’s visible on the screen quality-wise. A couple of songs not only sound good but are also shot well. The background score too neatly allows the drama and action to carry and elevate the proceedings. It is nothing spectacular but adequate within the predictable premise.

Karthik Palani’s cinematography is neat. Some parts do look overdone concerning the richness. It results in artificiality, but otherwise, there is nothing to complain about. Praveen KL’s editing could be crispier. Things are too slow and feel very lengthy, on the whole. The writing is reasonable, considering the template in place.

Highlights?
Vijay’s Presence
Couple Of Songs
Action Blocks

Drawbacks?
Utterly Routine Premise
Hackneyed Narration
Repetitive Supporting Cast

Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, In Parts

Will You Recommend It?
Yes, But With Huge Reservations

Varisu Movie Review by M9News