13. Varisu; movie review

VARISU

Cert 12A

169 mins

BBFC advice: Contains moderate violence, occasional bloody images, implied strong language

Vijay has such a powerful screen presence and, unlike many Indian superstars, can get away with playing characters who are much younger than his 48 years.

That is also how he is able to carry a movie like Vamshi Paidipally's family drama, Varisu.

This is Vijay at his impish best - dancing at a thousand miles an hour, beating up all-comers with fast feet and fists and always having the perfect one-line put-down.

True that the movie's storyline is a bit predictable but it doesn't prevent the audience from rooting for their hero.

Vijay stars the youngest son of a business mogul (R. Sarathkumar) and is estranged from his family because he wants to pursue his own interests.

This leaves his brothers (Shaam and Srikanth) vying for the position as heir to his company.

However, the dynamic changes when, persuaded by his mum (Jayasudha), our hero returns for a birthday celebration.

Meanwhile, a ruthless business rival (Prakash Raj) is waiting in the wings to play the brothers off against each other and their dad.

Vijay plays the cheeky, ultra-confident lead with vigour and panache and even though his romantic interest (Rashmika Mandanna) is nearly half his age, their liaison is still believable.

Sarathkumar also impresses as the tough patriarch whose abrasive exterior belies a warm heart.

Wealth pours out of Varisu - the family live in a modern mansion and have all the trappings of money - and I wonder how that resonates with poorer people in India and beyond.

Nevertheless, family rivalries and jealousies can be translated to every sphere of society and they are played out with great passion.

And there are several toe-tapping song-and-dance set pieces to boot.

PS I should give a shout-out to the ever-excellent Rekhs and her subtitling team. They must work so hard to make the songs rhyme in English.

 

Reasons to watch: Engaging family drama

Reasons to avoid: A little bit too twee at times

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 7/10

Did you know? At the age of 10, Vijay started his film career as a child actor in Vetri (1984), making his first pay check of 500 rupees paid for by actor-and-producer P. S. Veerappa.

The final word. Vamshi Paidipally: "Varisu will have everything and every section of the audience from six-year-olds to grandmas and grandpas can watch this movie." Movie crow

 

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