Vanavarayan Vallavarayan Movie Review

Cast: Kreshna, Ma Ka Pa Aanand, Monal Gajjar, Santhanam, Thambi Ramaiah, Jaya Prakash, Sowkar Janaki, Kovai Sarala, Meera Krishnan, SP Charan & Others

Cinematography: Palani Kumar

Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja

Editing: Kishore TE

Written & Directed by: RajaMohan

Produced by: Zero Rules Entertainment

Release Date: 12-09-2014

Run Time: 02:17:00

It’s interesting to see how director Rajamohan has treated Vaanavarayan Vallavarayan in its entirety. On one hand, the film is poignant, well-poised in sentimental scenes with sane dialogues and on the other hand, it’s blatantly queasy, annoying and filled with sleazy jokes.

Director Rajamohan surely knows his craft well. Even in a largely familiar story, he has reasonably managed to keep the ball rolling. The absurd, ludicrous comical scenes fused with crass objectification of women are doled out as wisecracks and that’s the most sickening aspect of this film. Though it actually works in few portions, it appears too hard to digest and literally gives a grimace of pain in most parts. Why should filmmakers resort to morally offensive, nauseating jokes in order to pander to a section of the audience? The film appears clearly targeted at the C center audiences. And why should they even underestimate the intellingence of audiences?

Set in the backdrop of a village in Coimbatore, Vanavarayan Vallavarayan is a story of two brothers played by Kreshna (Vaanu) and Ma Ka Pa Anand (Vallu). In their introduction scene, we are shown that they are totally contradicting characters – if Vaanu is India, Vallu is Pakistan, we are told – unemployed, gossipmongers and pick petty fights with villagers. So, the villagers are quite wary of the duo’s mischief-making behaviour. But what we realize later, as the story passes, is that they also passionately care for each other and Vallu would even give up his life if Vaanu has to lead a happily-ever-after life with his girl friend played by Monal Gajjar, who looks more cute and lovely in this film than Sigaram Thodu. When their romance come out in the spotlight, everyone in the house opposes but Jayaprakash, who plays Monal’s father and has delivered a neat performance, as always. Will their love succeed or not?

While the film starts off with lewd jokes to establish Kreshna and Ma Ka Pa Anand’s camaraderie, it suddenly shifts gears before the interval with overtly melodramatic scenes. What makes the film unstimulating  is the disconnected scenes, emotions and characters. Kreshna and Ma Ka Pa Anand become butt of jokes in one scene and suddenly we are subjected to an upsurge of emotions in the next scene. This contradicting nature in the narration with a half-hearted writing is what makes the film a least interesting fare.

The second half is replete with schmaltzy scenes and farcical dialogues. If not for the occasional jests here and there, Vanavarayan Vallavarayan would have been a sore watch. Thankfully, Rajamohan has knitted almost every scene with a gist of comedy.

Seasoned performers like Thambi Ramaiah, Kovai Sarala are underutilized whereas SPB Charan has done a good job. Santhanam makes a forgettable cameo with lame jokes. Yuvan Shankar Raja’s background score is pretty middling and Kishore’s editing could have been miles better.

Vanavarayan Vallavarayan Movie Review Rating:  2.5/5