After many half-hearted efforts during recent years, Mammootty takes the viewer through the pain of a doting dad, who has to face an extremely disturbing reality in director Ranjith Sankar’s ‘Varsham’.
Venugopal (Mammootty) is a successful private financier who considers money the be all and end all of life. Living in an affluent residential colony along with his wife Nandini (Asha Sharath) and only son Anand, Venugopal is a rustic man at heart. The film takes its own sweet time to settle down, with the incidents in the day to day of life of the protagonist and in the neighbourhood looking predictable and inert. The light humour that is sought to be worked out in the early parts look out of place. The whole focus of Venugopal and Nandini is on their son Anand. Usual elements like pressurizing children to excel in all fields, the never ending comparisons, the petty arguments between husband and wife are touched upon. The character of Asha Sharath is shown as a typical housewife bogged down by envy and dissatisfaction.
Director Ranjith Sarkar’s script packs the calamity early on, and after that takes its own sweet time, filled with mood swings of the bereaved, before the lost smile on the couple’s lips crops up – one reason why the like-it-fast moviegoers might find Varsham too long. But, even for them, the movie has its moments. The movie also has a subplot involving the world of businessmen, where for one to commit an act of good, the will of others too become necessary.
Cast and Performance
Mammootty delivers his best performance in recent times as Venu. The actor once again proves his mettle to play emotional scenes with a balanced act. While Asha Sarath struggles to play the role of a typical housewife in the first half, she excels in the second half with perfectly delivered emotional scenes. Mamta Mohandas, who plays Dr Jayashree does her role to near perfection. Master Prajwal Prasad, who portrays Venu and Nandini’s son Anand, is convincing in his role. Rest of the cast did complete justice to their respective characters.
Varsham is a rehashed version of those stereotyped movies from the past, but even then it has been presented well. For the fans of Mammootty, this one is nothing less than a grand treat. Watch this one but don’t forget to carry a box of tissues to wipe your tears for sure!
Verdict: Very Good