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‘Varisu’ movie review: Vijay returns to his throwback ‘90s self in this familiar emotional entertainer

Directed by vamshi paidipally, ‘varisu’ exploits vijay’s humourous and emotional facets while exploring an all-familiar tale.

Updated - January 11, 2023 09:28 am IST

Published - January 11, 2023 07:39 am IST

Vijay in Tamil film ‘Varisu’

We’ve seen numerous ‘ amma sentiment’ films in Tamil cinema. And some ‘ appa sentiment' ones too.

Varisu , Vijay’s latest outing at the box office, not only puts together these two aspects that Tamil cinema has milked for many years, but also adds another dimension: sentiment among brothers. With so much material about a family that has myriad problems between its members, Varisu resembles the popcorn tub that has seen many rounds of flavoured seasonings.

Bland popcorn in the movies isn’t exciting anymore, and that seems to be the case with on-screen proceedings as well. Vijay has certainly experimented with genres in his last few films – Bigil was a sports drama, and Beast was about people stuck inside a mall – but this time, with Varisu , he goes back to a formula that has worked well for him in the past: family.

Remember Vijay’s family in Minsara Kanna (1999) , a group of rich people masquerading to be poor to unite two people? In Varisu , they are rich – and very rich at that. The house they live in, which we see a few minutes into the film, is among the most lavish residences you’d have ever seen in Tamil cinema. The characters inside talk business and deal in crores, chief among them being Rajendaran (Sarath Kumar) whose business rival is Jayaprakash (Prakash Raj). Rajendaran proudly flaunts his two sons – played by Srikanth and Shaam – but is reticent about talking about Vijay, his youngest son. Why’s that? Will Vijay agree to ditch his carefree life – the first time we see him, he’s on a bike trip and enjoying Nature’s sights and sounds – and show interest in his father’s multi-crore business?

For a first half that relies heavily on the slow, TV serial-like sequences, Varisu has little heft to the emotional beats; the mother-son relationship seems superficial, while the brothers’ tussle to take over a multi-crore business seems trivial. Not aiding in the cause is some very average comic relief from Yogi Babu and a love story with Rashmika that seems to be going nowhere. It is only in the second half that Varisu picks up some steam. A character’s decision seems to find some payback, and once Vijay gets into his all-familiar cutesy-fun zone, Varisu becomes a different beast .

There are a few theatrical moments that are bound to hit the mark. Sparking off old Vijay film references in an important business meeting is an idea that Vijay’s fans will celebrate in the cinema halls, as will they, when the star gets dancing to the fast-paced ‘Ranjithame ’ . Those last few seconds, uff.

But, as with most hero films, Varisu too needs Vijay to play the knight in shining armour for every small problem in the house. And thus, we have an unnecessary track on someone getting kidnapped and Vijay saving the day; things that could have been taken off to lessen the 170-minute long runtime. Music composer Thaman gets the dance numbers right, and cinematographer Karthik Palani adds colour to the sequences, but it is Vijay who seems to be having the most fun.

After a long time, it is heartening to see him get back to being humourous and goofy. There are plenty of moments in the second half – especially during his conversations with his brothers and Prakash Raj’s gang – during which Vijay goes back to having fun and being the hero we loved a few decades back, before he became too socially conscious in his roles. Beyond Varisu ’s staid plot and saccharine emotional beats, that’s what stays in your mind in this Vamshi Paidipally directorial.

Varisu is currently running in theatres

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Varisu Movie Review: An in-form Vijay and self-aware writing elevate this conventional family drama

Rating: ( 3.5 / 5).

Right from the posters and trailer to the pre-release interviews, everything about Varisu clearly indicated a formulaic family drama. This would have sounded like a foolproof plan a few years ago. But in 2023, an A-list actor sticking to this template isn't the most exciting idea. But director Vamshi Paidipally and Co have given this age-old recipe a refreshing twist by adding an ample dose of self-awareness and humour. Largely, the film knows when to take itself seriously and when not to. Take, for example, the scene where Meka Srikanth tries to throw a monologue on the divinity of family and love. Before we roll our eyes or take a dig at the cliche, we hear a burst of loud laughter... not from the fans but from the screen. It is Vijay who echoes the mind of the audience, and says, " Edhuku ipo avan kitta sentiment RR music ellam pottutu iruka nee? " Bingo! A potential 'content' for meme creators dodged thanks to the witty writing. 

Director: Vamshi Paidipally 

Starring: Vijay, Sarathkumar, Jayasudha, Rashmika Mandanna, Prakashraj, Shaam, Meka Srikanth

The writers of Varisu don't stop there. They make Vijay mouth dialogues like, " Indha sondhakaranga naale toxic dhaan pa! " in a film that paradoxically talks about the importance of family. Of course, this translates to occasional tonal inconsistencies, but an in-form Vijay and the self-awareness of the film make up for the shortcomings. Throughout the narrative, we see Vijay (who plays... Vijay!) transforming from an ambitious Harvard graduate to a globe-trotter, and then from a start-up founder to a business tycoon. While this arc isn't quite novel for a 'commercial hero', it is exciting to see Vijay slip into these roles with consummate ease. The film is peppered with references from his previous blockbusters. There is the knuckle-busting action from Thuppakki , the thumb-rubbing from Ghilli , and the open-arm entrance from Sarkar . Aside from the obvious call back to Poove Unakkaga , the film also drops enjoyable, quick references to the goat sacrifice scene in Thirupachi , the western-classical dance face-off in Pudhiya Geethai and Oh Baby song from Kadhalukku Mariyadhai .

Interestingly, Varisu which was widely speculated to retain the soul of blockbuster Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo , has its very own riotous boardroom scene, where the hero goes all filmy. But Vamshi does it with a rather tasteful twist. The film provides ample space for Vijay to be at his comical best. Whenever Vijay goes a bit overboard with his antics, Yogi Babu pitches in with his sarcasm, once again turning the stretch into effective humour. 

Known for his onscreen monologues, it is nice to see Vijay move away from sermoning despite playing a messiah again. Instead, Vijay embraces silence and allows his physical performance to do the talking. One particular instance where this facet is pronounced is his confrontation scene with Sarathkumar's Rajendran. In a scene with the potential to become a long-winding exchange of dialogues, Vijay delivers it all with just a look in his eyes and walks away.     However, Varisu isn't completely devoid of the ' Kudumbam na... ' messages, and the film does occasionally become preachy. But, thankfully these stretches aren't painfully long and never come across as moral policing assignments. However, what becomes painful and preachy is the contradictions in the ideologies. At one point, the makers don't judge or gaslight a woman who wants to move out of a marriage with an adulterer. At one other point, the resolution to this broken marriage is conventional, convenient, and contrived. It almost undoes the goodness of the initial pro-choice angle when it came to divorce and separation. Also, there is a fleeting but completely unnecessary body-shaming scene that is distasteful. 

If the novelty of the story is your yardstick to gauge a film, Varisu  might not rank high. It has plot points and ideas liberally borrowed from Chekka Chivantha Vaanam, Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, Dharma Durai, and more. Despite the narrative being predictable,  it is the conviction of filmmaker Vamshi and the honest performances of the lead cast that elevates Varisu from being just another run-of-the-mill family drama. 

The film in a way is the story of Rajendran, a self-absorbed man seeking redemption and peace; and Sarathkumar ably shoulders the gloominess that comes along with the character, almost making up for his animated performance in the raging sequences. Jayasudha probably can pull off a mother longing for love even in her sleep. But the actor goes on to show why she is still the best fit for such roles. Though the camaraderie between Rajendran and Anantha Padmanaban (Prabhu) helps in making the core want of the protagonist effective, Prabhu has very less to offer otherwise. Similarly, I would have loved to see more of Rashmika Mandanna and definitely more layers to her character in the film. Seeing a female lead without a clear want or a profession is quite unsettling. 

The random appearance of " Indha paadalai paadi kondirupavar ungal Vijay " quote in 1995's Vishnu , is probably one of the oddest yet most memorable fourth-wall-breaking moments of Tamil cinema. Fast-forwarding two decades, we have another V film having a couple of interesting fourth-wall-breaking. The best among them is Vijay casually taking a dig at family dramas while making a confident statement. " Starting nala iruku, ending nala iruku, nadula konjam emotions iruku, avlo dhaan podhum! Kudumbangal kondadum vettri! " Well, it is safe to say that he isn't overconfident!

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Varisu movie review: Predictable family drama that works only due to Vijay's presence

Varisu movie review: it’s a quintessential family drama with all the familiar beats. along with vijay, the film also stars rashmika mandanna, sarath kumar, jayasudha, srikanth, shaam and prakash raj..

It is no surprise that mainstream filmmakers in the south still continue to milk the family drama genre to its last drop. In spite of the myriad iterations of the same story template over the years, it is one genre with a very high success rate. No wonder Vamshi Paidipally plays it extremely safe with Varisu, which marks his maiden collaboration with Vijay. It’s your quintessential family drama with all the familiar beats and it’s largely salvaged by the presence of one man, Vijay , who does all the heavy lifting and makes this a fairly engaging watch. Also read: Vijay’s film is old wine in the most decorative bottle. Watch Varisu trailer

The story is centered around a family that’s headlined by Rajendran (Sarath Kumar), who is one of the biggest businessmen in India. His two sons – Jai and Ajay (Srikanth and Shaam) - look after his business and one among them is hopeful of becoming the heir. One fine day when Rajendran learns that he is suffering from advanced-stage pancreatic cancer, he decides to fulfills his wife’s wish of celebrating his 65th birthday in a grand manner. Rajendran’s youngest son, Vijay Rajendran (Vijay), returns home after seven years for the birthday party at the behest of his mother. He had left home after a disagreement with his father over joining the family business. What happens in the family that forces Vijay to stay back and why does his father makes him the chairman of his group of companies?

Varisu is predictable from the word go but what still works in its favour is the mere presence of Vijay. Having predominantly worked in action films in recent years, it was refreshing to see Vijay have fun in an out-and-out family flick. Here’s a film that taps into Vijay’s comical side in a big way and it works like magic. It’s an effortless performance and one that appeals to even a non-Vijay fan. Every time predictability kicks in, Vijay walks in to distract and entertain with his pitch-perfect performance of a son who becomes the saviour of his family. Apart from Vijay, there isn’t a single factor that makes Varisu what it is. Nevertheless, it’s a film you won’t mind taking your family to this Pongal festival.

The familial moments, especially scenes between Vijay and Jayasudha (who plays the mother) work somewhat in an otherwise largely predictable film. For the family drama angle to have worked even more effectively, the conflict between the brothers should’ve been even more stronger. One thing that the film does manage to get right is deliver exactly what the trailer promised. As a viewer if you had walked in with your expectations in place after watching the trailer, you won’t be disappointed.

Film: Varisu

Director: Vamshi Paidipally

Cast: Vijay, Rashmika Mandanna, Sarath Kumar, Jayasudha, Srikanth, Shaam and Prakash Raj

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Varisu Movie Review: Thalapathy Vijay's film is high on comedy and family sentiment

The movie is directed by vamshi padaipally and stars a whole host of actors including rashmika mandanna and prakash raj. though the film is reminiscent of some telugu films, vijay keeps us engaged with his comedy and action, says our review..

Listen to Story

• Vijay's Varisu releases worldwide on January 11.
• This is a family entertainer and a multi-starrer.
• Vijay plays the son of a rich businessman in the film.

Release Date: 11 Jan, 2023

This movie has been long awaited by Vijay fans given that it is Pongal treat and a film that is a family entertainer. The fact that Varisu was releasing alongside Ajith Kumar’s Thunivu created a lot more excitement and anticipation.

Vijay Rajendran (Vijay) is the youngest of three brothers in the family helmed by Rajendran (Sarathkumar), who is in the business of mining, among others. His other two sons are Srikanth and Shaam, who play Jai and Ajay. The joint family lives together but when Vijay has a disagreement with his father over joining the family business, his father asks him to leave their home. One day, Rajendran finds himself diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and his world is shattered. Vijay comes back home after seven years to celebrate his father’s 65th birthday and this is when things change. Why does Vijay decide to stay back home and why does his father make him the chairman of his group of companies?

The first half of the film has lighter moments, fun and frolic and it’s only in the second half that the movie really takes off. The film works for the most part and is what we would expect from a family entertainer. As a treat for Vijay fans, we find references to Thalapathy's earlier films by way of gestures or dialogues sprinkled generously through the film. There are scenes which could have been edited out (those with unnecessary characters) to make the movie crisper and increase the pace of the film. Some of the dialogues are not particularly outstanding - some are just plain cheesy and others cringe. Having said that, the comedy works really well, especially the scenes and dialogues between Vijay and Yogi Babu.

The story of Varisu is reminiscent of what we see in Telugu cinema (read: Srimanthudu and Maharshi) – rich families and the son returning home to take over the father’s empire and fight off the bad men, and reunite the broken divided family into a happy one once again. There’s a sense of déj vu as we watch the film. The way the film has been shot is also similar to what we find in Telugu cinema – large, lavish homes; luxurious offices; and the entire cast dressed to the nines.

Of course, a large joint family means a multi-starrer and many cast members and, in the case of Varisu, there are many other characters as well, who make fleeting appearances throughout the film. Shaam, Srikanth, Sarath Kumar, Prakash Raj, Rashmika Mandanna, Yogi Babu, Jayasudha, Sangeetha Krish, Samyuktha Shanmughanathan, Nandini Rai, Ganesh Venkatraman, Sriman, VTV Ganesh, Prabhu, Suman, Khushbu – the list seems to be endless. Whether all these characters were really warranted for the film is the big question, since many had no connection to the core of the story.

The songs by music director S Thaman are already hits and they have been beautifully picturised to add to the technical brilliance of the film. Jani master’s Ranjiathame is a standout thanks to its top-notch choreography and Thaman’s music.

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

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Common Sense Media Review

Predictable Indian family drama has stylized fight scenes.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Varisu is an Indian drama about a son (Joseph Vijay) who returns to his estranged family when his father is diagnosed with cancer. There are no real positive messages or representations that could benefit kids -- other than overcoming differences with family -- and unethical business…

Why Age 13+?

Numerous fight scenes featuring highly dramatized hand-to-hand combat. Though no

Multiple characters drink alcohol at parties and meetings in a few scenes.

Two character's extramarital affairs are discussed but there is no sexual langua

Some dialogues are aggressive, but no slurs or abusive words are used.

Any Positive Content?

The film preaches the importance of standing up for your family even if you have

Vijay learns that familial relationships are very important and disagreements ca

The film is set in India, and features an Indian cast and crew. All characters o

Violence & Scariness

Numerous fight scenes featuring highly dramatized hand-to-hand combat. Though not gory in general, one scene features a character bleeding profusely from the mouth after being punched. A woman slaps her unfaithful husband at a family function and he slaps her back. A small sub-plot involves a failed attempt at human trafficking a 14-year-old girl. A character dies from pancreatic cancer.

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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

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Sex, Romance & Nudity

Two character's extramarital affairs are discussed but there is no sexual language or implication.

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Positive Messages

The film preaches the importance of standing up for your family even if you have disagreements with them. Divorce is shown to be a fact of life, and not the end of the world, although ultimately the couple in question reconcile. The corporate competition storyline is riddled with unethical business practices.

Positive Role Models

Vijay learns that familial relationships are very important and disagreements can be overlooked in service of protecting family members from external threats. Vijay, his two brothers, and their father all engage in shady business deals, as do their rivals. One of Vijay's brothers, Jai, is also having an extramarital affair.

Diverse Representations

The film is set in India, and features an Indian cast and crew. All characters of significance are upper class Hindus. A son points out that the mother serves food to the entire family at dinner but no one serves her, and that she has been relegated to the kitchen to cook only what her husband desires. Other than this brief instance, gender roles are not challenged and women get far fewer dialogues and screen time in a film that glorifies certain aspects of masculinity. The corporate boardrooms for example, are devoid of women altogether. There is some encouraging messaging about divorce, even though the couple eventually reconciles, which ultimately undoes this positive portrayal. Fatphobic jokes/comments are made about a character. A young character is portrayed as "ugly" because she wears braces and spectacles. The dubbing and subtitles for the Hindi version are very different from the other languages: Tamil (original), Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Parents need to know that Varisu is an Indian drama about a son ( Joseph Vijay ) who returns to his estranged family when his father is diagnosed with cancer. There are no real positive messages or representations that could benefit kids -- other than overcoming differences with family -- and unethical business practices are depicted. But the songs are enjoyable with excellent choreography and appealing costumes and Vijay delivers the charm to save an otherwise predictable and floundering script. There are some fight scenes, but these are not gory except for one instance where a character bleeds from his mouth, while there is reference to the human trafficking of a 14-year-old girl. Female characters are given far less lines and screen time than their male counterparts and any challenges to gender roles are fleeting. A young character is portrayed as "ugly" because she wears braces and spectacles, which could be harmful to any kids with body image issues. Two men are conducting extramarital affairs, but these are referenced rather than portrayed. The movie is available in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi, with some versions differing from others. The original Tamil language film with English subtitles was watched for the purposes of this review. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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What's the Story?

In VARISU, billionaire businessman Rajendran (R. Sarathkumar) must hand over the reins to one of his three sons as he nears the end of his life. He chooses his youngest, Vijay ( Joseph Vijay ), who had initially left home due to a disagreement. Upon his return, Vijay must not only save the business and defeat their competitor, but also try to reunite the family.

Is It Any Good?

Vijay brings his signature charm, comedic timing, and excellent dancing skills to this rather predictable Indian drama. However, Varisu misses a trick by under utilizing Prakash Raj as Jayaprakash, the film's antagonist, who could have brought some much needed menace to the role but is surprisingly subdued instead. Rashmika Mandanna is well cast as Divya, though the role only requires her to deliver a handful of dialogues and be Vijay's dance partner. Indeed women, in general, get less screen time than the men but they make the most of it with sincere performances. The songs are catchy and the choreography is vibrant, energetic, and extravagant.

The film struggles to set tone, switching between drama and comedy at random times, often mid-scene. However, it manages to be a moderately entertaining fare despite the code switching and constant breaking of the fourth wall. The first half could have benefitted from tighter editing but the second half is well paced and hits quite a few emotional notes just right. Overall, Varisu manages to accomplish what it set out to do -- to showcase its lead actor's talents in the style his audience historically laps up.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the fight scenes in Varisu ? Did the gravity-defying stylized action make it feel less impactful? If so, why? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?

How were women portrayed in the movie? Did you find it problematic? Why representation matters in kids' media?

What were some of the unethical business practices portrayed? Why were these methods problematic?

Movie Details

• In theaters : January 11, 2023
• On DVD or streaming : February 22, 2023
• Cast : Joseph Vijay , Rashmika Mandanna , Prakash Raj
• Director : Vamshi Paidipally
• Inclusion Information : Indian/South Asian directors, Female actors, Indian/South Asian actors, Indian/South Asian writers
• Studio : Phars Film
• Genre : Drama
• Topics : Brothers and Sisters , Music and Sing-Along
• Run time : 169 minutes
• MPAA rating : NR
• Last updated : April 24, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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Related topics.

• Brothers and Sisters
• Music and Sing-Along

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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

VARISU MOVIE REVIEW

Varisu is a film written and directed by Vamshi Paidipally and produced by Dil Raju and Sirish under the banner Shri Venkateswara Creations. The film has Thalapathy Vijay and Rashmika Mandanna as the lead actors while Sarathkumar, Jayasudha, SJ Suryah, Shaam, Srikanth, Yogi Babu, Prakash Raj, Ganesh Venkatraman, and others play supporting roles.

Vijay Rajendiran (played by Vijay) is the third and youngest son of Rajendiran (Sarathkumar). He stays away from home after a tiff with his father but circumstances force him to take up his father's multi-million business ahead of his elder brothers. How he manages to smoothen the strained relationships in his big joint family, as well as tackle the business enemies forms the rest of the film.

After two consecutive films where he portrayed roles with mental health issues like trauma in Beast and depression in Master, Vijay returns to the over-the-top zone with Varisu and the decision seems to be a smart one. It is often said that Telugu cinema directors understand the emotions of the mass audiences really well. And director Vamshi definitely seems to have cracked the code.

While the film chooses to settle in the family drama template like Ala Vaikunthapuramuloo it is self-aware completely, and that ends up as one of the biggest positives. It aids the film's humour quotient and that is bolstered further by Vijay's comedic timing. In the emotional scenes, stunts, and comedic scenes, he makes acting seem like a cakewalk. It's all so effortless.

Vijay's charm, screen presence, and charisma make us look past the flaws in the film's screenplay. His dance moves set the theatres on fire, the action sequences are stylish, and there are a lot of cute moments spread all over. But all this is only till a certain point. The second half surges ahead with Vijay's rise as the boss but the screenplay starts lagging with unnecessary plot points cropping up.

Among the other actors, Yogi Babu scores almost every time he's on screen. Jayasudha and Sarathkumar as Vijay's mother and father get memorable roles as well. Rashmika's character could have been written more meaty. Shaam and Srikanth shine as Ajay and Jai - Vijay's siblings.

Thaman's music takes time to settle in, and the loud nature of the background score blends well as the film progresses. A couple of songs hinder the film's pace. KL Praveen's cuts and Karthik Palani's cinematography add good values to make the film technically solid.

Overall the film has all elements to end up as a pucca family entertainer and a Pongal feast. Vijay's comic sense stands out and is the backbone of the film. It does have a few flaws but at the end of the day, when you look at the film as a theatrical experience, it is worth your money and time. The boss returns. In style.

VARISU VIDEO REVIEW

BEHINDWOODS REVIEW BOARD RATING

Public review board rating, review rating explanation.

பிரேக்கிங் சினிமா செய்திகள், திரை விமர்சனம், பாடல் விமர்சனம், ஃபோட்டோ கேலரி, பாக்ஸ் ஆபிஸ் செய்திகள், ஸ்லைடு ஷோ, போன்ற பல்வேறு சுவாரஸியமான தகவல்களை தமிழில் படிக்க இங்கு கிளிக் செய்யவும்      

VARISU NEWS STORIES

• Rashmika about Vijay varisu goosebump moments exclusive
• Rashmika about vijay varisu FDFS secret exclusive
• Rashmika about Varisu and Thunivu clash amid movie release
• varisu vijay mother character jayasudha exclusive

VARISU RELATED NEWS STORIES

• Vijay Varisu Grand release 400 Screens in Kerala
• Puducherry CM Rangasamy watch vijay speech at varisu audio launch
• Music director thaman tweet about varisu movie pic with vijay
• Vamshi on Vijay varisu and maharishi mahesh babu
• varisu beyond trailer secrets director Vamshi Paidipally
• Actor Vijay Releases Sharukh Khan Pathan Movie Trailer
• Venkat Prabhu changed his twitter dp amid thunivu varisu release
• Boney kapoor about number 1 thunivu varisu movies exclusive
• Vijay to watch Varisu Final Copy before release deets
• Thalapathy Vijay varisu running time details deets
• Thalapathy Vijay Varisu Movie New Family Poster Released
• Mayiladuthurai Vijay fans prayers for Varisu Success
• Actor Mathew Varghese Exclusive about Varisu Expectations
• Mathew Varghese Exclusive Interview about Vijay Varisu Movie
• Varisu Art Director Sunil Babu Passed away
• Thalapathy Vijay Varisu Movie Release Date Announced
• Shahrukh Khan Answered about Thalapathy Vijay on Twitter
• is that Veteran Actor Gemini Ganesan in Varisu Trailer
• Bigg boss fame in thalapathy Vijay varisu trailer
• Varisu Trailer Crossed 5 Million Views in YouTube within a hour
• Thalapathy Vijay Varisu Movie Trailer Released
• Vijay and Ajith movie rajavin parvaiyile re release in theatre
• Valaipechu Bismi about Thunivu Varisu Release Date
• Valaipechu Bismi about Varisu Telugu Box Office Collection
• After the decade two vijay films might releasing in same year
• Thalapathy 67 writer Ratna Kumar Changed His Twitter Bio
• Varisu Trailer Releasing on SunTV YouTube channel
• Thalapathy Vijay Varisu movie censor board certificate reportedly
• Nandini Rai about Emotional VARISU Climax Scene
• Vijay Varisu Movie Promotion on Chennai Rameshwaram Train
• James Vasanthan Fb Post about Vijay Varisu Audio Launch Apperance
• Thalapathy Vijay varisu movie censor update reportedly
• Thalapathy Vijay with Shaam in Varisu Shooting
• Actress Rashmika Mandana Talks about Gilli Movie
• ctor Vijay Talks about Varisu Movie Producer Dhill Raju
• Actor Vijay On SJ Surya and Kushboo in Varisu Movie
• Actor shaam speech about Vijay on Varisu audio launch
• Child actors harshitha advaith about Varisu Movie
• Actor Vijay Smiling for Varisu Audio Launch DJ Mixing
• Thalapathy Vijay Video Call Before Varisu Audio Launch
• Varisu Vijay Selfie with His Hair stylist Jagdish
• Shobha Chandrasekhar Visit Kanchipuram Kamatchi Amman Temple
• Thaman S Shared a Video Vaa Thalaivaa Beat Sound Check
• Vijay Varisu Audio Launch on Sun TV New Year Special
• Singer Manasi about thalapathy vijay gesture in audio launch
• vijay watched kushboo chinnathambi movie with girlfriend
• Vijay Praises fans Blood Donation activity Varisu Audio Launch
• Thaman Emotional Speech in Vijay Varisu Audio Launch
• I told Kalaingnar vijay will be super star Sarathkumar Varisu
• Vijay Opens Up about his competitor Varisu Vijay Speech
• Vijay speech Sentiment Kutty Story in Varisu Audio Launch
• Vijay Selfie video from Varisu Audio Launch goes viral
• Vijay helped Singer Manasi in Varisu Audio Launch
• Ennai Uruvakiya Rasigragaluku Varisu Vijay New Words
• Prakash Raj Speech vijay Vamsi PaidiPally Varisu Audio Launch
• Vijay Varisu Vamsi PaidiPally Shoots like Bigg Boss VTV Ganesh
• Vijay Varisu Audio Launch host Bigg Boss Raju Trending
• Rashmika in Chennai for Varisu Audio Launch pic viral
• Vadivelu answers about thunivu and varisu movie
• bigg boss amir post Varisu song to wish his mother
• Mahanadhi Shankar about ajith and vijay together act in movie
• Varisu Audio launch Suprise Song Says Drums Sivamani
• Varisu Vijay New Poster with Jawa Adventure Bike
• Thalapathy Vijay Varisu trailer release date deets
• S Thaman Visiting Varisu Audio Launch Location
• Dhanush Vaathi Sir Movie Tamilnadu Theatrical Rights
• Vijay Varisu Audio Launch Telecast on Sun TV
• Thalapathy Vijay Varisu Audio Launch Ticket Coupons
• Thunivu Lyricist Vaisagh Exclusive about H Vinoth and Varisu
• Thalapathy Vijay Varisu introduction song deets
• Soul of Varisu Mother Song Released Thalapathy Vijay
• Thaman S Tweet about Varisu 3rd Single Amma Song
• SJ Suriya Vijay Kushi Pawan Kalyan Telugu re release
• Gp Muthu Answered about watching Thunivu Varisu Movie
• Varisu Movie soul of Varisu glimpse video
• Singer Priyanka Singing Ranjithame and Chilla Chilla Songs
• Soul of Varisu 3rd Single Amma Song Release Update
• Varisu Producer Dhil Raju speech after Number 1 actor remarks
• Actress Sanjana Tiwari on her parents reaction over chance
• Actress sanjana Tiwari on Varisu shooting first Day with vijay
• Producer Dhananjayan on Vijay Varisu and Ajith Thunivu Release
• Red Giant Going to Distributes Varisu and Thunivu in Tamilnadu
• Actor Vijay Varisu Movie Distribution across Tamilnadu
• shoba chandrasekhar about vijay ranjithame song varisu
• Varisu Producer Dil Raju about VARISU Theatre Screens
• Ganesh Venkatraman about Varisu Movie Sj Suryah Role
• Vijay Varisu Movie Audio Launch Date Ganesh Venkatraman Exclusive
• Varisu UK Distributor Ahimsa Entertainment Deepa Iyer Exclusive Interview
• Vijay Ranjithame Song Style Flying Kiss to fans
• Phars Films Bagged Varisu Thunivu Theatrical Rights
• both Vijay Ajithkumar won fans heart trending pics
• BIGGBOSS Sheriina Queency Dancing for VARISU Ranjithame Song
• Is this Red Giant Movies Bagged Varisu Movie Theatrical Rights
• Lokesh Kanagaraj about Varisu and Thalapathy 67
• Varisu Vijay Movie Posters on Metro Train
• Singer Harika Narayan about thee thalapathy song and vijay
• thalapathy vijay attend marriage function video gone viral
• Actor Vijay Gifts cricket bat to yogi babu pic viral
• Singer Thirumoorthy Sing Varisu Thee Thalapathy Song
• SJ Suryah in Vijay Varisu Official from SVC
• S Thaman video from thee thalapthy set viral among fans
• shaam about vijay varisu and ajith thunivu movies
• vijay response after ajith kumar thunivu release with varisu
• ajith thunivu and vijay varisu movie banners in chennai theatre
• Vijay Silambarasan Thee Thalapathy TR Lyrical Video
• 30 Years Of Vijay Varisu Vijay New Poster Thee Thalapathy
• Silambarasan TR Sung Varisu Thee Thalapathy Song for Vijay
• Varisu Thee Thalapathy Second Single Release Update
• Vijay Varisu Movie Shooting Update
• Varisu Vijay Fans at Sabarimala Temple
• Varisu Movie Release Date Announcement Poster from Distributor
• Baghavathy Vijay Meets Baba Rajinikanth Throwback pic
• Vijay Starring Varisu Movie New Poster Released
• Thalapathy Vijay Varisu is releasing on Hindi language
• vijay varisu second single release update simbu singing sources
• Simbu Vijay Sandy Master in Vijay single shoot deets
• is Silambarasan TR Sung in Varisu Vijay Next single
• Animal welfare board of India issues a notice to Varisu Producers
• VARISU Movie Second Single Song Release Update
• Varisu Vijay mother shoba chandrasekhar phone conversation
• Varisu North South Arcot Salem Area Theatrical Rights
• Vijay VARISU Ranjithame School Girl Dance video viral on Twitter
• VARISU Music Director Thaman Reply to Jani Master Tweet
• Varisu North America Rights Bagged by Shloka Entertainments
• Jani Master Tweet about Varisu Song Shooting
• vijay flying kiss in ranjithame varisu style to fans
• Varisu TN theatrical distribution bagged by 7screenstudio
• Thalapathy Vijay Meet Fans after 5 years amid varisu
• Agent Kannayiram Santhanam Over vijay Varisu telugu release
• Agent Kannayiram Santhanam On watching Varisu Thunivu
• vijay like biryani shoba exclusive cooking exclusive
• Vijay Varisu Movie TT Area Rights Bagged by NarayanaSamy
• Vijay Varisu Movie UK Rights Bagged by Ahimsa Entertainment
• Vijay Varisu Ranjithame song crossed 5 crore views
• Is this Vijay Varisu TK Area Distribution by Muthukani
• Actress Harija Dancing for VARISU Ranjithame Song
• thalapathy vijay varisu last schedule update
• Lyricist Vivek Exclusive Answer about Vintage Ajith Vijay Songs
• Petta Song Lyrics was changed due to Viswasam says lyricist Vivek
• Meaning of Ranjithame Varisu Lyricist Vivek Exclusive Answer
• Lyricist Vivek Exclusive Interview about Varisu Ranjithame
• Baakiyalakshmi Serial Suchitra Rithvika Dancing for Ranjithame
• Rashmika Mandanna Recent Instagram Story about Ranjithame Reels
• Vijay Rashmika Mandanna Varisu Movie Audio Launch Deets
• Thaman Tweet about Vijay Varisu Ranjithame Full Video Song
• Vijay next varisu movie dubbing starts now sources
• Vijay Varisu Ranjithame Singer MM Manasi Exclusive Interview
• Vijay Varisu Ranjithame Most viewed Video in past 24 Hours
• Vijay Varisu first single Ranjithame 1 M likes in same day
• Varisu First Single Ranjithame is Out Thalapathy Vijay Rashmika
• varisu Ranjithame song thalapathy vijay rashmika look
• vijay Varisu first single ranjithame music director thaman post
• varisu ranjithame promo fastest 100k liked promo in india
• Jani Master Tweet about Thalapathy Vijay Varisu First Single
• Vijay Varisu Movie First Single Song Ranjithame Glimpse
• Vijay Varisu First Single promo is releasing Today
• Actress Poonam Bajwa Tweet about Thalapathy 67 Movie
• Thalapathy Vijay with Baby Photo went Viral on Social Media
• vijay varisu audio rights acquired by t series official
• Varisu Thunivu Pongal Race Ajith Vijay Previous Clash Films
• Actor Vijay Changed to Varisu Pic in Twitter DP
• Official Vijay Varisu Movie HD Viral BTS Photos
• Varisu Director Vamsi Attend Birthday party of Sangeetha Krish
• Varisu Germany Austria Release by Tamil de Filmverleih Official
• Varisu TN Theaterical rights acquired by Seven Screen Studio Lalith sources
• Vijay Varisu song update from Music Director Thaman S
• Vijay Varisu Fourth Look Poster Released for Diwali
• Actor Vijay Varisu Audio rights acquired by T Series
• Vijay Varisu song shooting wrapped in Gokulam Studios sources
• Vijay Varisu Europe Theatrical Rights Bagged by Famous Distributor
• Actor Manobala viral Tweet about Varisu Vijay
• DOP Manoj Paramahamsa Recently Shot One Song in Varisu
• Varisu First Single Update from Music Director Thaman S
• Varisu Vijay Movie first single will be released on Diwali
• Jani Master About Thalapathy Vijay Varisu Movie Fans Excited
• Thalapathy Vijay Varisu Movie Last Schedule Shooting Update
• Vijay Varisu song shooting planning on October 17th
• Kuthu song has been recorded for Vijay Varisu
• Is Khushboo acting in Vijay Varisu film here is her answer
• Vijay Varisu Train Song Shooting Chennai விஜய் வாரிசு
• Vijay Meet Fans at Varisu Movie Ennore Shooting Spot
• Vaarisu shooting update final schedule starts tomorrow
• Actor sriman joins with vijay again in varisu movie
• Varisu Movie BTS Photo of Kushbu Prabhu Sarathkumar
• Thalapathy Vijay Varisu 100th day shooting completed today
• Vijay Rashmika Mandanna Selfie at Varisu Movie Shooting
• Vijay Varisu next schedule starts from today at Hyderabad
• Vijay and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar met in Hyderabad Flight
• Vijay Son Jason Sanjay Social Media fake Account clarification from Pro Riaz K Ahmed
• Vijay Sharukh Khan meeting clarification from Pro Riaz K Ahmed
• Vijay Varisu Movie Shooting Spot BTS Image from Jani Master
• actor ganesh venkatram in the sets of vijay next movie varisu
• Vijay Varisu Movie SJ Suriyah Latest Exclusive Update
• Vijay Varisu Movie Exclusive Update from Sarathkumar
• SJ Surya joined in Thalapathy Vijay Varisu movie
• Thaman with vamsi for varisu movie song composing

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Bharath Reddy

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சீரியல் உலகின் adjustments open-ஆக உடைத்த இயக்குனர் திருச்செல்வம் பளிச் பேட்டி videos.

"என் VARISU VIJAY-க்கு THUNIVU அதிகம்!" 💥 REEL AMMA JAYASUDHA INTERVIEW VIDEOS

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• Varisu : “பெருமையா இருக்கு...
• “Friends -உடன் தளபதி போஸ்டர...

VARISU RELATED LINKS

• Varisu - வாரிசு: இந்தி உரிமம் | பொங்கலுக்கு ரிலீஸாகும் விஜய்யின் 'வாரிசு'.. உலகளாவிய வினியோகஸ்தர்கள் யார் யார்? முழு லிஸ்ட்! - Slideshow
• Varisu - வாரிசு: ஒட்டுமொத்த வெளிநாட்டு உரிமம் | பொங்கலுக்கு ரிலீஸாகும் விஜய்யின் 'வாரிசு'.. உலகளாவிய வினியோகஸ்தர்கள் யார் யார்? முழு லிஸ்ட்! - Slideshow
• Varisu - வாரிசு: ஐரோப்பிய உரிமம் | பொங்கலுக்கு ரிலீஸாகும் விஜய்யின் 'வாரிசு'.. உலகளாவிய வினியோகஸ்தர்கள் யார் யார்? முழு லிஸ்ட்! - Slideshow
• Varisu - வாரிசு: ஐக்கிய ராஜ்யம் உரிமம் | பொங்கலுக்கு ரிலீஸாகும் விஜய்யின் 'வாரிசு'.. உலகளாவிய வினியோகஸ்தர்கள் யார் யார்? முழு லிஸ்ட்! - Slideshow
• Varisu - வாரிசு: மலேசியா உரிமம் | பொங்கலுக்கு ரிலீஸாகும் விஜய்யின் 'வாரிசு'.. உலகளாவிய வினியோகஸ்தர்கள் யார் யார்? முழு லிஸ்ட்! - Slideshow
• Varisu - வாரிசு: வட அமெரிக்கா உரிமம் | பொங்கலுக்கு ரிலீஸாகும் விஜய்யின் 'வாரிசு'.. உலகளாவிய வினியோகஸ்தர்கள் யார் யார்? முழு லிஸ்ட்! - Slideshow
• Varisu - வாரிசு: கேரளா உரிமம் | பொங்கலுக்கு ரிலீஸாகும் விஜய்யின் 'வாரிசு'.. உலகளாவிய வினியோகஸ்தர்கள் யார் யார்? முழு லிஸ்ட்! - Slideshow
• Varisu - வாரிசு: கர்நாடகா உரிமம் | பொங்கலுக்கு ரிலீஸாகும் விஜய்யின் 'வாரிசு'.. உலகளாவிய வினியோகஸ்தர்கள் யார் யார்? முழு லிஸ்ட்! - Slideshow
• Varisu - வாரிசு: தமிழ்நாடு உரிமம் | பொங்கலுக்கு ரிலீஸாகும் விஜய்யின் 'வாரிசு'.. உலகளாவிய வினியோகஸ்தர்கள் யார் யார்? முழு லிஸ்ட்! - Slideshow
• பொங்கலுக்கு ரிலீஸாகும் விஜய்யின் 'வாரிசு'.. உலகளாவிய வினியோகஸ்தர்கள் யார் யார்? முழு லிஸ்ட்! | பொங்கலுக்கு ரிலீஸாகும் விஜய்யின் 'வாரிசு'.. உலகளாவிய வினியோகஸ்தர்கள் யார் யார்? முழு லிஸ்ட்! - Slideshow
• Thunivu - துணிவு: மத்திய கிழக்கு நாடுகள் உரிமம் | பொங்கலுக்கு ரிலீஸாகும் அஜித்தின் 'துணிவு'.. பட வினியோகஸ்தர்கள் யார் யார்? முழு லிஸ்ட்! - Slideshow
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Varisu (aka) Vaarisu

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Varisu Review: Now Streaming On Prime Video, The Film Is A Templated Celebration Of The "Toxic" Family

Director: Vamshi Paidipally

Writers: Vamshi Paidipally, Hari, Ahishor Solomon

Cast: Vijay , Rashmika Mandanna , Shaam, Sarathkumar, Yogi Babu, Prakash Raj

The word “toxic” in the headline, dear reader, isn’t my grandstanding judgment. It is Varisu ’s only moment of self-awareness, the words written by Vivek (dialogues) uttered by the film’s hero, Vijay himself. It’s also the off-handed acceptance of the message that Varisu is going for: Even if toxic, to the point of being murderous, families are sacrosanct. 

As you would surely have guessed by now, Varisu is the story of a family. At its head is the controlling and competition-obsessed father, Rajendran (Sarathkumar), who also runs a business conglomerate. His wife, Sudha (Jayasudha), is a long-suffering mother and family peacekeeper. She dresses in gorgeous saris, serves everyone food, laments about the greatness of a family and worries endlessly. 

Their elder son, Jay (Meka Srikanth), is an incompetent businessman, philanderer and a sore loser. His wife (Sangeetha) is a long-suffering loner with a perpetual long face. Their 16-year-old daughter is a rebellious teenager, who smokes in the garden and leaves butts behind that apparently no one sees or even smells — perhaps the perils of living in a house that large! 

The middle son, Ajay (Shaam), is an incompetent businessman in debt, easily falling into the hands of evil corporate forces. His wife (Samyuktha)...well, by now, you know the drill. Forget the Bechdel test, she is such an integral part of this film’s family that she has not a single dialogue of consequence.

All that is left is for the prodigal son, Vijay (played by Vijay), to return and put this broken family in order — and that’s what he does. No spoilers there, no?

The good thing about Vamshi Paidipally’s Varisu is that there is no pretense of doing anything new, unique or imaginative. It is the ten-a-penny template film that Tamil cinema has been grinding for years and years. In typical Telugu cinema fashion, there are dozens of characters always crowding the scene. Prakash Raj as a meek villain, Ganesh Venkatraman as a loserly financier, Prabhu as the endearing family doctor, Yogi Babu as the ‘kitchen uncle,’ once a Rajinikanth villain Suman as some sort of business collaborator, Sriman, VTV Ganesh, Sathish, and even SJ Suryah in a cameo, for good measure. 

So, there is always something going on. The template has its beats and there is something to give us a booster shot every time the predictability flu is about to hit. For instance, every time we hit a painful vacuum created by this silly family’s pointless antics, Varisu breaks into song and dance. Oh, don’t blame me for forgetting to mention Rashmika Mandanna until we got to the song-and-dance drill — that’s entirely on the writers, Paidipally, Hari, Ashishor Solomon and Vivek. Rashmika, for her part, dances her heart out. In fact, at various points, she has a more arresting screen presence than Vijay himself. 

There are plenty of fight scenes, too, choreographed in typical uninventive fashion — you know, flying goons, breaking necks, kicking on the chest, carrying a half-dead man over the shoulder kinda things. Thaman, with his songs and background score, gives us great nostalgia, whether it’s deliberate or not, I couldn’t tell.

As for the comedy, though, the joke is on us. Vijay blackmails board members of a public limited company with inane personal stuff in response to which they vote for him as chairman; some of them even dance at the board meeting (somewhat à la that Vaikuntapuram film). Vijay’s “startup” — some kind of undefined social enterprise, I gathered because he keeps talking about serving those with hunger or some such — is a unicorn, but we never see him do any work on it except scroll through some India maps. Vivek’s dialogues often feel like a listicle of things that actor Vijay — or his colleagues — have said in his previous films, often so forcefully inserted that it bleeds a little. If you’re curious, yes, there is a fat-shaming joke about Yogi Babu too. 

For most of the first half, the predictability of these beats and the setup-punchline-slomo structure of these scenes make us restless to just get on with it. I found myself wondering which of these punchlines would give me the much-awaited interval block. It felt like it took too long. In the second half, Vamshi Paidipally makes up for this somewhat. He ups the mass quotient, the obstacles shatter, and the sly remarks keep coming. While the intent is probably fan service, it’s unfair to classify this as exclusively for the fandom. If you can catch the references (I couldn’t, at least not all) and enjoy the ridiculousness (I most certainly could), Varisu is certainly tolerable.

That doesn’t discount its violently flattened-out view of the family structure. By its own admission — a moral-of-the-story type voice-over summary in the end — Varisu is a message padam. A message that prioritises the toxic family collective over progressive individual values. One that reduces its women to just wives and mothers destined to remain silent spectators and sufferers. Varisu celebrates a woman’s stoic acceptance of the kitchen as her place. It writes off a woman’s entire life of loneliness, lack of emotional fulfillment and blatant rejection by her husband with a one-word apology. It refuses to even consider a woman’s abject lack of agency in something as basic as where she lives — boxed around by her husband’s trigger happiness and father-in-law’s control of the finances — a legitimate problem. It fills its boardrooms with silly men.

In the end, the message is clear: Every family is upheld by the silencing and erasure of its women. Behind every victorious Varisu lies a million women's dead dreams and happiness.

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entertainment

Varisu movie review: Vijay Thalapathy is a no brainer entertainer until it's NOT

Updated Jan 12, 2023, 23:41 IST

Varisu movie review starring Vijay Thalapathy

• Cast : Vijay Thalapathy, Rashmika Mandanna, R Sarathkumar, Jayasudha, Srikanth Meka, Shaam, Prakash Raj
• Director : Vamshi Paidipally
• Ratings : 2.5/5

Varisu Direction

Varisu story, varisu performances, varisu music, varisu overall.

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‘Varisu’ Review: Thalapathy Vijay's Film Is a Formulaic Family Entertainer

Vijay's 'varisu' released in theatres on 11 january., ‘varisu’ review: thalapathy vijay's film is a formulaic family entertainer.

Ahead of Varisu’s release, at the audio launch, producer Dil Raju’s speech about what the audience should expect from the film went viral on social media. He stated unequivocally that the Vijay-starrer will be a complete package of all the elements that make up a perfect family entertainer.

True to his words, Thalapathy Vijay shines like a superstar, whether it's through power-packed action sequences, hilariously timed comedy scenes, groovy song renditions, or peppy dance moves. He is at his charming best.

Review: Vijay's 'Beast' is Entertaining, But Doesn't Exceed Expectations

The story revolves around estranged Vijay (Vijay) who is the youngest of his two brothers, Jay (Srikanth) and Ajay (Shaam), and his family, helmed by his father Rajendran (Sarathkumar). Vijay fights to create his own identity by breaking free from his father, a business tycoon who treats his family members like mere money-minting machines.

Varisu poster.

(Photo: Twitter)

The best thing about Varisu is Vijay’s comedic timing. It is at an all-time high, letting us experience flashes of his 'Ghilli' and 'Sachein' days. His imitation of Redin Kingsley's body language, his scenes with Yogi Babu, and a specific boardroom sequence complete with dialogue and song references from several of his previous films make it a hilariously fun ride.

Varisu advocates for the need to understand the complexities of Indian families. At many levels, it felt like an amalgamation of the previous Tamil family dramas that were themed around bruised father-son relationships— Prakash Raj’s Santhosh Subramaniam , Sarath Kumar’s Sooryavamsam , Sivakarthikeyan’s Don , Dhanush's Thiruchitrambalam or Karthi’s Viruman . I know you must be wondering why I have to quote so many films when talking about Vijay's Varisu .

The obvious reason: Varisu fits in a typical commercial family drama template. And hence, it doesn’t unravel anything novel but rather tries to gold-plate a tried and tested genre in the most entertaining way possible.

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The film, however, takes a contradictory stance on toxic relationships. It empowers a woman in an unhappy marriage to seek divorce only to ask her to reconsider "family" over leaving the relationship later on. 

The underlying message of valuing familial bonds while navigating the complexities of them was admirable. However, I was left with two unanswered questions. The film says, 'Stick with your family no matter what'. Sure, will do that but at what cost? Is it really worth it to forgive people even before they repent for their mistakes? For instance, Vijay’s elder brother cheats on his wife and even attempts to murder him. However, even before he could realise his mistake and repent, he was accepted despite his entitlement.

Jayasudha is noticeable for portraying the sentimental mother figure and Rashmika Mandanna for her dance numbers and romantic scenes, even though they seemed like tokenistic female representations. What bothered me the most was that Rashmika's character is mocked when she doesn't conform to conventional beauty standards as a teen ( she appears with nerdy glasses, double-plated hair and tooth braces), but is ogled at when she undergoes a makeover. Isn’t it 2023?

A still from Varisu

Photo: Twitter

The setting and the characters in the film look like they were straight out of a posh clothing or jewellery advertisement. The way the emotional sequences were choreographed simply gives you a high-budget serial vibe. Despite the fact that the film's primary goal was to play on sentiment, director Vamsi Paidipally's writing lacked emotional depth.

The screenplay suffered majorly during the first half. It did, however, pick up steam just before the intermission and soon became fast-paced in the second half.

There is no denying that Varisu gets the basics right. It is loaded with sentiment, love, dance, action, and whatnot. Despite certain cliches, the film is self-aware, up-to-date in understanding the pulse of young audiences, and successfully caters to the die-hard fans of Thalapathy Vijay . He even broke the fourth wall a couple of times with a flying kiss to his fans at one point, leaving them enthralled.

Varisu is running in cinemas now.

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'Varisu' movie review: The '90s melodrama we didn't ask for

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Tamil (Theatres)

Director: Vamshi Paidipally

Cast: Vijay, Rashmika Mandanna, R Sarathkumar, Jayasudha, Prakash Raj

Rating: 2.5/5

"It's all about loving your family," said the tagline of Karan Johar's magnum tear-jerker 'Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham' ('K3G), a film that hasn't aged well ever since its release in 2001. More than two decades later, an Indian filmmaker's idea for a film still begins with the low-hanging fruit called family.

In, Vamshi Paidipally's 'Varisu', Jayasudha yearns for her son's return to the family just like Jaya Bachchan in 'K3G'. In the latter, though, Jaya Bachchan is always seen praying to the almighty with a Pooja thaali in hand while hoping to see his son.

So why is Vijay, the youngest son of business tycoon Rajendran (R Sarathkumar) banished from the family? Because the Harvard-return hero isn't interested in enjoying ancestral wealth. He has his dreams for which he doesn't need the financial aid of his father's business. A familiar plot point? Well, the film's story is extremely familiar and the screenplay is boringly templated. Paidipally predominantly makes Telugu films.

Sure, the star is in his elements (he dances like a dream and his trademark humour is still intact). But his in-form performance should have come in a better film. The hangover of an average Telugu blockbuster (be it 'Srimanthudu', 'Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo' or 'Attarintiki Daaredi') looms so large over 'Varisu' that it's impossible to embrace this bloated melodrama that is obsessed with the 'family sentiment' trope.

Vijay, like several portrayals of Telugu cinema heroes, plays the protagonist who resurrects a crumbling family. Things go downhill for Rajendran when he is diagnosed with last stage of pancreatic cancer and his two sons (played by Shaam and Srikanth) are greedy about family inheritance. Enter Vijay, who takes up the task of fixing the cracks in the family and taking on his father's professional rival Jayaprakash (Prakash Raj with an off-colour performance in a terribly written role).

The film has short bursts of energy thanks to its star but overall, it lacks the spark that's required to lift this old-school 'masala' film that doesn't forget to be loyal to over-the-top action sequences and needless songs. Thaman's score is jarringly loud and his songs feel like clones of Anirudh's 'Arabic kuthu' from 'Beast'.

'Varisu' is replete with outdated writing decisions. Yogi Babu, who has broken his image of a stereotypical comedian, is back essaying an insignificant character trying to generate laughs with slapstick humour. Rashmika Mandanna is seen more as a dancer than as a performer in a negligible character. The emotional scenes between Vijay and Jayasudha appear painfully superficial.

Films like these sell themselves as festival gifts with an intention to draw the family crowd. 'Varisu' is far from a festival film that gets its commercial elements right. There are far better Vijay offerings to binge-watch at home with family if that's what you are looking for.

'Beast' from Nelson's was a misfire, yes, but it was at least encouraging to see Vijay collaborating with a youngster. He took that path with 'Master' first, where he responded to the sensibility and style of a new-gen filmmaker. With 'Varisu', it seems the actor has played it safe.

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Last Updated : 12 Jan, 2023 04:31 AM

Published : 12 Jan 2023 04:31 AM Last Updated : 12 Jan 2023 04:31 AM

வாரிசு: திரை விமர்சனம்

தொழிலதிபர் ராஜேந்திரனுக்கு (சரத்குமார்) 3 மகன்கள். மூத்த மகன் ஜெய் (மேகா ஸ்ரீகாந்த்), நடு மகன் அஜய் (ஷாம்) இருவரும் அப்பா சொல் கேட்டுத் தொழிலை கவனித்துக் கொள்ளும் பொம்மைகள். கடைசி மகன் விஜய் (விஜய்), சொந்தத் திறமையால் முன்னேற விரும்புகிறார். அதை அப்பா விரும்பாததால் வீட்டிலிருந்து வெளியேறுகிறார். 7 ஆண்டுக்குப் பின் மீண்டும் வீட்டுக்கு வர வேண்டிய சூழல். அப்பாவின் தொழில் எதிரி ஜெயப்பிரகாஷால் (பிரகாஷ் ராஜ்) சரியும் குடும்பத்தின் தொழில் சாம்ராஜ்ஜியத்தையும், குடும்பத்தின் சிக்கல்களையும் சரி செய்ய விஜய் என்ன செய்கிறார், ராஜேந்திரனின் தொழில் வாரிசாகும் தகுதி விஜய்க்கு வந்ததா, இல்லையா? என்பது கதை.

பார்த்துப் பழகிய கதைதான். அதை பெரும் தொழிலதிபர் கூட்டுக் குடும்பத்தில் நுழைத்தது, அம்மா - அப்பா - அண்ணன் - அண்ணி - அவர்கள் குழந்தைகள் என சென்டிமென்டாக மாற்றியது, அதன்வழி தொழிலுக்கும் குடும்பத்துக்கும் இருக்கும் பிணைப்பை ஆழமாகவும் அழுத்தமாகவும் வெளிப்படுத்தும் குடும்பக் காவியமாகக் கொடுத்தது ஆகியவற்றில் வெற்றிப் பெற்றிருக்கிறார் இயக்குநர் வம்சி.

மாஸ் ஹீரோ படங்களில் துணைக் கதாபாத்திரங்கள் என்பவை பெரும்பாலும் நாயகனின் திறமைகளை வெளிச்சம்போட்டுக் காட்டவே பயன்படுத்தப்படும். இதிலும் அந்த சொதப்பல் ‘டெம்பிளேட்’ இருக்கவே செய்கிறது. அதைத் தாண்டி, முதன்மை துணை பாத்திரங்களுக்குத் தனித் தனி சிக்கல், வீழ்ச்சி மற்றும் எழுச்சியை எழுதி அவற்றை முழுமைப்படுத்திய வகையில் இயக்குநரின் கதாபாத்திர அணுகுமுறையைப் பாராட்டலாம். அதேநேரம், நாயகன் - நாயகி காதல், பாடல்கள் ஆகியவற்றை திரைக்கதையில் ஒட்டியதைத் தவிர்த்திருக்கலாம்.

விதி மீறி இயங்கும் சுரங்கங்கள் சுற்றுச் சூழலின் ஆன்மாவைச் சிதைப்பவை. அவற்றை மூலாதாரமாகக் கொண்டுள்ள தனது தந்தையின் தொழிலைக் காக்க, அவற்றை ஏலம் எடுத்து மீண்டும் சுரண்டுவதற்கு போராடுகிறார் விஜய்.‘கத்தி’ போன்ற படத்தில் தண்ணீர் சுரண்டலுக்கு எதிராகப் போராடும் இளைஞனாக வந்த விஜய், இந்த முரண்பாட்டை எப்படி ஏற்றுக்கொண்டார் என்பது அவருக்கே வெளிச்சம்.

தான் நிராகரித்த தொழில் திட்டத்தை, ரூ.400 கோடி கடன் வாங்கி மகன் ரகசியமாக நடத்துவதும், மற்றொரு மகன், வேறொரு பெண்ணுடன் தொடர்பில் இருப்பதும் சக்தி வாய்ந்த அப்பாவுக்குத் தெரியாமல் இருப்பது உட்பட திரைக்கதையில் தர்க்கப் பிழைகள் நிறைய.

அதை, ஒற்றை ஆளாக மறக்கடித்துவிடும் ‘என்டர்டெயின’ராக படம் முழுவதையும் தாங்கிப் பிடிக்கிறார் விஜய். அவரது நக்கல் கலந்த நகைச்சுவை நடிப்பும், யோகி பாபுவுடனான கூட்டணியும் ரசிகர்களை உற்சாகப் படுத்துகிறது. ராஷ்மிகாவுக்கு காட்சிகள் குறைவு என்றாலும் ஈர்க்கும் தோற்றம், நடனம், நடிப்பில் திறமையை வெளிப்படுத்தத் தவறவில்லை.

வெற்றிகரமான தொழிலதிபராக சரத்குமாரும், குடும்பத்துக்காக தன் கனவுகளை உதறிவிட்ட அவர் மனைவியாக ஜெயசுதாவும் அழுத்தமான நடிப்பைக் கொடுத்திருக்கிறார்கள்.

வில்லனாக வரும் பிரகாஷ் ராஜ் வழக்கமான கார்ப்பரேட் எதிரியாக கடந்துபோகிறார். தமனின் இசையில் பாடல்கள் இனிமையாகவும் விஜய் ரசிகர்களுக்கு நடன விருந்தாகவும் அமைந்துள்ளன. திலீப் சுப்பராயன் - பீட்டர் ஹெய்ன் இணைந்து அமைத் துள்ள சண்டைக் காட்சிகள் மாஸ் ரசிகர்களின் பசிக்கு பெரும் தீனி.

சொந்தக் காலில் நின்று தொழில் தொடங்க நினைக்கும் நாயகனை தற்காலத்தின் பிரதிபலிப்பாக எழுதிய இயக்குநர், ஒரு தொழில் குடும்பத்தில் இருக்கும் உள்ளடி உறவுச் சிக்கல்களையும் மோதல்களையும் கூட தற்கால பிரதிபலிப்பாக எழுதியிருந்தால் ‘வாரிசு’வின் கம்பீரம் இன்னும் கூடியிருக்கும்.

அன்பு வாசகர்களே....

இந்த ஊரடங்கு காலத்தில் வீட்டை விட்டு வெளியே வராமல் நமக்கு நாமே சமூக விலகல் ( Social Distancing) செய்து கொள்வோம். செய்தி ஊடகங்களின் வழியே உலகுடன் தொடர்பில் இருப்போம். பொதுவெளியில் இருந்து தனிமைப்படுத்திக் கொண்டு கரோனா பரவலைத் தடுப்பதில் நம் பங்கை முழுமையாக இந்த சமூகத்துக்கு அளிப்போம்.

CoVid-19 கரோனா தடுப்பு / விழிப்புணர்வு கையேடு - இலவசமாக டவுன்லோடு செய்து பயன்பெறுங்கள்!

- வாசகர்கள் நலனில் அக்கறையுடன் இந்து தமிழ் திசை

தவறவிடாதீர்!

•   ‘வாரிசு’, ‘துணிவு’ கூடுதல் காட்சிகளுக்கு தமிழக அரசு அனுமதி
•   ‘‘இந்திய சினிமாவை பெருமைப்பட வைத்ததற்கு நன்றி” - கீரவாணிக்கு ரஜினிகாந்த் வாழ்த்து
•   உடைந்து அழுத தமன்... தேற்றிய வம்சி... - ‘வாரிசு’ ஷோ நெகிழ்ச்சி சம்பவம்
•   உக்ரைன் அதிபர் ஜெலன்ஸ்கி வீட்டின் வெளியே படமாக்கப்பட்ட ‘நாட்டு நாட்டு’ பாடல்

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Varisu Review - Vijay Shines in this Passable Entertainer!

PUBLISHED DATE : 11/Jan/2023

Varisu is a family entertainer starring Thalapathy Vijay, Rashmika Mandanna in the lead roles. Tollywood technicians assemble… directed by Vamshi Paidipally, produced by Dil Raju and the music is scored by Thaman S.

Wanting to be independent in his career, Vijay moves out leaving his family and the business empire behind. After a series of issues within the joint family and in the companies, the hero returns to make things right.

Writing/ Direction

The story is familiar, follows the usual template, yet is sufficient enough as the initial establishment is convincingly made. The arcs are also tried and tested, but it is sure to connect to the targeted audience. The opening portions are focused, though they are delivered in a dramatic way at an unhurried pace, the film doesn’t move out from its core conflicts until a point. Take any family story, how attached the people are, what situations they go through and the rift happens, then how they feel and get back as one… even here, the basic structure is the same, but there are no good scenes to elevate any sort of sentiment. Supposed to be an emotional flick, but it doesn't touch us even to a smallest of extent. Plot-points have the scope to create momentum, but the situations are brought on-screen with spineless sequences. Company side on the other hand, feels like they have been kept to bring in some sort of heroic moments into the flick, but there is no clarity in what deals they are planning to lock and what investments they are trying to make. Prakash Raj's character fails to be a threat of any sort, so there are no challenges to drive the script, his portions in the second half are very blunt and boring. Climax passes on a valuable message, but what we are actually in for is absent, just a namesake emotional entertainer.

Performances

Vijay is a show-stealer for life. He's capable of carrying anything on his shoulders, same way he has strengthened the film by his effortless screen presence in a lot of scenes. Sarathkumar has a good role and he has done it decently. Likewise, Jayasudha is good as an emotional mother. Her scenes with Vijay worked well. Rashmika Mandanna is just an extra addition here, no scope for her, appears to fill the romantic space and dance numbers. Prakash Raj, Prabhu, Shaam, Srikanth are all miscasts and have gotten weak characters to play, they lack the punch, such bad casting choices. Yogi Babu is a good relief here, his combination scenes with Vijay are enjoyable as their conversations are funny.

Technicalities

Thaman S has given a likeable album, He has scored well with respect to the background score, he has tried his best to present the family scenes with the intended essence and as always the musician has delivered the hero elevation moments powerfully. Camera work is terrible, feels so mainly because of excessive green mat shots as they look so evidently fake on-screen, and looks like DI has not been done properly. Old-school editing with split screen frames and too many lags. Poor VFX from start to finish, edges of the artists are evidently visible and the green mat shots are brought to screen in a nasty quality. Dance choreography is solid, and Vijay proves his mettle once again in gracefully presenting himself in the songs. Stunt choreography is decent, nothing exceptional and the star has been made to do some of his signature style body language that are fans-friendly.

A light-hearted film that could have been related if it had been executed well, Thanks to Vijay and Thaman, despite many issues, the film stays as a fairly watchable entertainer largely due to them.

Rating: 2.5/5

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Varisu Movie Review

Average Ratings: 2.96/5 Score: 86% Positive Reviews Counted:9 Positive:6 Neutral:2 Negative:1

Ratings: —  Review By: Komal Nahta Site:Zee ETC Bollywood Business

Vamshi Paidipally, Hari and Ahishor Solomon have written a story of the kind which used to be in vogue in the 1980s and 1990s. The incidents in the family drama are all of the kind one has seen in films of a bygone era. The trios screenplay is slow-paced as well as predictable. Nothing, therefore, comes as a shocker. The resolution also does not warm the cockles of the heart because it seems to be too hurried.On the whole, Varisu is an ordinary fare and will do very ordinary business at the turnstiles because it offers nothing new or fresh.

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Ratings: 3/5 Review By: Divya Site:Rediff

While the media-shy Vijay Sir can easily charm his devoted fan base with Varisu featuring action, dance sequences and masterful punch dialogues customised to feed his star image, it isn’t too hard to see the hypocrisy behind the humbling man who calls himself his own competitor even in real life. It really doesn’t matter how I view this movie because this is a film written for an audience that thrives on Vijay’s stardom and it satisfies them thoroughly.

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Ratings: 2.25/5 Review By: Mirchi9 Site:Mirchi9

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 dont mind the utter routineness and want to watch something with your family for the festival, Varisu is the option. Otherwise, stay away.

Ratings: 3.5/5 Review By: Priyanka Site:NewsMinute

From advocating sticking to family no matter how toxic they are (and we mean toxic in the level of an attempted murder), to sending goons flying as a manner of conflict resolution in business, actor Vijay’s latest outing Varisu is everything that its trailer promised it would be. And with it, the actor manages to deliver a tried and tested drama, which €” while highly predictable €” still manages to entertain the audience.

Ratings: 3.5/5  Review By: Suganth Site:Times Of India

If there are slip-ups in the form of a rather slight romantic track, and less-than-formidable villains, the film makes up for all of it through its leading star. Vijay is in terrific form, cracking one-liners that have us break out into a smile, make self-referential punches and show earnestness in the sentimental moments.

Ratings: 3/5  Review By: Latha Site:India Today

Vijay choosing to do this family entertainer is not surprising given that he likes to change gears ever so often and, in this film, he has acted, danced and fought his heart out throughout the film. And director Vamshi Padaipally has ensured that the movie is packed with plenty of family sentiment, action, romance and comedy to cater to Vijay fans and the audience. Vijays cute guy meets tough businessman characterisation takes some getting used to as weve not seen him in such a role play in a long time.

Ratings: 2.75/5  Review By: Behindwoods Review Board Site:Behindwoods

Overall the film has all elements to end up as a pucca family entertainer and a Pongal feast. Vijay’s comic sense stands out and is the backbone of the film. It does have a few flaws but at the end of the day, when you look at the film as a theatrical experience, it is worth your money and time. The boss returns. In style.

Ratings: 3.25/5  Review By: Siddarth Site:OnlyKollywood

Varisu is far from being a perfect entertainer that gets everything right. But yes, the film treats itself scene by scene, and perfects out what the fans want and also what the families want. A Vijay film coming in such a package is definitely worth a visit to the theatre, say what.

Ratings: 2.5/5  Review By: MovieCrow Site:Movie Crow

A light-hearted film that could have been related if it had been executed well, Thanks to Vijay and Thaman, despite many issues, the film stays as a fairly watchable entertainer largely due to them.

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Varisu Story:

Vijay Rajendran is a happy-go-lucky man, but everything changes after the unexpected death of his foster father.

Varisu Release Date:

Jan 11, 2023 ( India) straight to Theaters

Varisu Cast:

Vijay as Vijay Rajendran Rashmika Mandanna R. Sarathkumar as Rajendran, Vijay’s father Prabhu Prakash Raj as Jayaprakash

Varisu Director: 

Vamshi Paidipally

Varisu Producer: 

Dil Raju Sirish

Varisu Production Companies:

Sri Venkateswara Creations PVP Cinema

Varisu Distribution Companies:

Seven Screen Studio Red Giant Movies

Varisu Run Time: 

2 Hours 47 Minutes (167 minutes)

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• What Is Cinema?

Even With Angelina Jolie, Maria Struggles to Hit the High Notes

In Maria, a biopic of the late, great opera singer Maria Callas that premiered here at the Venice Film Festival on Thursday, Angelina Jolie tackles her first big leading role in three years—and her first major dramatic role in far longer. She was, it seems, drawn to director Pablo Larraín ’s woozy picture of an icon in decline, perhaps because Larraín has done this before, with good results for his actors.

Maria is the third film in Larraín’s series of interior, nonlinear studies of famous women at a crossroads. Jackie follows Jacqueline Kennedy in the days immediately after the assassination of her husband. Spencer peers in on Princess Diana as she spends one last miserable weekend with then Prince Charles and his family. Larraín has developed something of a brand, an upending of biopic norms that seeks to uncover core emotional truth rather than dutifully reenact a series of events. It worked brilliantly in the strangely frightening Jackie, slightly less so in the stiflingly gloomy Spencer.

Maria is the thinnest of the three, psychologically facile and overly mannered. There is something arbitrary, unspecific about the film. With a few details removed, Maria could be about any grand diva, this blurry picture of a woman swanning through the final week of her life. Larraín and screenwriter Steven Knight don’t convince us of the iconography; they shoot past artful abstraction and land in the realm of vagueness.

This could partly be blamed on their choice of subject. Callas, who died at 53 in 1977, was certainly a legend of the opera world, renowned around the globe. She suffered her fair share of tragedies and tabloid scandals. But she does not engender the same sort of international fascination associated with Jackie and Diana, such enduring emblems of glamour and privilege darkened by cruel twists of fate. I’d imagine that most audience members will walk into Maria with fewer preconceived notions, less readiness to fill in the gaps in Larraín’s portraiture. His particular trick proves less effective when it isn’t subverting or complicating long-held ideas about a person.

What biographical information the film does contain is clunkily delivered. In black-and-white flashback, we learn that Callas was essentially pimped out by her own mother during the Second World War, a trauma that this version of Callas never recovers from. That’s compelling pathology, but Larraín doesn’t linger on it. He’s more interested in Callas’s affair with Aristotle Onassis ( Haluk Bilginer ), which would eventually be undone by Onassis’s marriage to Jackie Kennedy. (Perhaps Larraín is quite deliberately looping back on himself.) The film trusts we will feel the grand drama of this tortured romance, but such swells of emotion never arrive. Similarly undercooked and overly telegraphed are Callas’s hallucinatory musings about life, art, and career, given to an imagined interviewer played by Kodi Smit-McPhee. There is little insight to be found in these interludes, coy and generic as they are.

Still, Jolie brings some life to this programmatic exercise. She murmurs and laments in a pleasing midcentury accent, one that doesn’t sound much like the real Callas’s but is a nifty bit of transformation anyway. Jolie keenly renders Callas’s regret and wounded pride, which flicker across her face as she tries to keep her head held as high as a prima donna’s should be. She doesn’t push as far into inner depths as Natalie Portman did in Jackie, but that’s not exactly being asked of Jolie here. In some ways she is meant only to be a physical manifestation of the music—recordings of Callas that play throughout the film, sometimes mixed in with Jolie’s own singing. Jolie struggles in these scenes, never quite convincing us that these huge notes and plaintive lilts are actually coming from her. Whether that’s a problem with Jolie’s performance or the postproduction sound-matching process, the film suffers for it. These moments of Callas lost in song, or struggling through it, are the tentpoles of Maria, but they prove pretty wobbly.

The uncanny-valley singing is representative of the fussy artifice of Maria as a whole. Our admiration for the ardor Larraín feels for these oft-misunderstood women, figures battered and ennobled by the forces of money and history, begins to curdle. With Spencer and especially with Maria, the director seems less like he is reaching for understanding and more like he is bending his subjects’ legacies toward his preferred style—as if he has been merely searching for tragic women of the past to send wandering around his luxe, prefabricated haunted houses.

I still prefer his mode of biography to the standard varietal—at least in these sorts of films, there is some attempt to grapple with the ineffable. But should Larraín continue this project, it might serve him well to adjust the approach. Perhaps he could turn his focus to characters like the ones sensitively played by Pierfrancesco Favino and Alba Rohrwacher in Maria, a doting butler and cook who tend to their ailing employer with the care of concerned family members. Through their quiet and despairing presence, Maria hits on something stirring, the idea that these two individuals might be the last people on earth who truly know this dying star. It’s only in their eyes that we catch the glimmering reflection of something Maria otherwise denies us: a woman in full.

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Movie Review: Quaid looks (and sounds) the part, but ‘Reagan’ is more glowing commercial than biopic

“Reagan” runs for 135 minutes, and yet at the end, it's hard to say we've learned anything insightful about such an influential figure in American politics

“Is there anything worse than an actor with a cause?” asks an annoyed Jane Wyman, Ronald Reagan’s first wife, early in “Reagan,” the new biopic starring Dennis Quaid.

Well, after watching two more hours of this story, an adoring look back at the man who served two terms as our 40th president, we can report that there is definitely one thing worse: An actor without a movie.

Let’s not blame the star, though. Quaid, who has played more than one president, has certainly got the charismatic grin, the pomaded hair and especially that distinctive, folksy voice down — close your eyes, and it sounds VERY familiar. If he were to appear on “Saturday Night Live” in the role, it would feel like a casting coup akin to Larry David as Bernie Sanders.

But this is not an “SNL” skit, despite the fact that Jon Voight appears throughout with a heavy Russian accent as a KGB spy, but we’ll get to that. This is a 135-minute film that demands a lot more depth. And, so, to co-opt a political phrase from Bill Clinton, whom Quaid also has played: It’s the script, stupid.

Lovingly directed by Sean McNamara with a screenplay by Howard Klausner, “Reagan” begins with a chilling event (and a parallel to a recent one): the assassination attempt on Reagan in Washington in March 1981, only two months after he became president.

There are those who say Reagan cemented his relationship with the public by surviving that attempt; he famously told wife Nancy from his bed: “Honey, I forgot to duck.” In any case, the filmmakers use the event to set up their story, and will return to it later on, chronologically.

But their early point is that Reagan came away from the scare with a divine plan. “My mother used to say that everything in life happens for a reason, even the most disheartening setbacks,” he says. And as he will tell Tip O’Neill, the House speaker, everything from then on will be part of that divine plan.

The yet broader point here is that Reagan, according to this film, was basically solely responsible for the eventual downfall of the Soviet Union, because he showed the people of the world what freedom meant. “I knew that he was the one,” says Viktor Petrovich, the retired spy played by Voight as a narrator figure throughout — meaning the one who would bring it all down. The script is based on Paul Kengor’s “The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism,” and Kengor has said Viktor is based on a number of KGB agents and analysts who tracked Reagan for years.

That point is made early and often. The rest is a history reel, with lots of glorious, loving lighting around our star. We go back to his younger years, learning about his mother and what she taught him about faith, and then his Hollywood years as an actor, Screen Actors Guild president (and a Democrat) before fully committing to politics, and the GOP.

We also see a newly divorced Reagan meet a winsome Nancy Davis, who will become his second wife, loving partner and constant companion. Like Quaid, Penelope Ann Miller is a perfectly fine actor who has little nuance to work with here. Together, they embark on the path to political stardom, starting with the California governorship. When they arrive at a neighbor’s home to campaign, the housewife at the door hears Reagan's “RR” initials and thinks he's Roy Rogers.

But a decade and change later, Reagan is sworn in as president, beginning his eight years in office. “It became my obsession to understand what was beneath the facade,” says Voight’s Petrovich, explaining why Reagan was so consequential.

Maybe, then, he could let us know?

Because when this movie ends, with the president’s death in 2004 a decade after announcing he had Alzheimer’s disease, we don’t know a lot more than when we began about a figure so influential in American politics.

Sure, we get all the great hits. ”Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” we see him say in 1987 in Berlin, a scene with much buildup.

And it’s fun to see the famous debate lines, like “There you go again,” to Jimmy Carter in 1980, and of course his famously deft deflection of the age issue in 1984, with Walter Mondale. “I will not make age an issue of this campaign,” the 73-year-old president told his questioner. “I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent’s youth and inexperience.”

The line, which made Mondale himself laugh, got Reagan back on track in the race. The movie, not so much.

“History is never about when, why, how — it always comes down to ‘who,’” says Voight’s Petrovich. However historians feel about that, we would have gladly taken a more incisive look at when, why, how or anything else that would give us real insight, instead of an extended and glowing commercial, into who this man really was.

“Reagan,” a Showbiz Direct release, has been rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association “for violent content and smoking.” Running time: 135 minutes. One and a half stars out of four.

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‘Separated’ Review: Errol Morris Doc About the Trump Administration’s Child Separation Policy Is a Furious Call to Action

Christian blauvelt.

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The cruelty is the point.

How is it that — following the 2020 election at least — there weren’t congressional hearings, the appointment of a special prosecutor, and charges filed, related to the policy? It ostensibly ended in the summer of 2018 after massive public outcry, but over 1,000 children remain in U.S. custody, still un-reunited with their parents. That is an abandonment of governance almost as damning of the Biden administration as of the Trump administration that actually carried out the policy.

Morris recognizes an essential truth from the start: Much of the American public, and certainly the U.S. government, seems to have “moved on” from this injustice, turning their attention to the parade of crises that have occurred since. It’s necessary then for a total refresher. He starts “Separated,” based on NBC News reporter Jacob Soboroff’s book of the same name, from the very beginning: how the policy came to be, who was steering it, and how it affected thousands of children, ripped from their parents’ arms as the families were caught illegally entering the U.S. at its southern border. The idea was to deter the waves of migrants fleeing Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, countries consumed with gang violence: Come to the U.S. illegally, and you may never see your children again. And they may end up in cages.

Instead, Morris dramatizes the kind of dangers that so many migrants face when fleeing Central America. Working not with reenactments as much as poetic narrative composites of what any number of migrants might experience on their journey, Morris focuses on a young mother (Gabriela Cartol) and her son (Diego Armando Lara Lagunes) as they pack the belongings they want to take with them, then set out on foot over rough terrain. They sneak aboard a freight train to carry them north. The boy almost drowns when they swim across a river. And finally, they’re apprehended by ICE agents after they’ve crossed the U.S. border. Then, they’re separated.

The head of the ORR who carried out this policy, Scott Lloyd, is interviewed on-camera by Morris and comes across like a dullard. But Morris spends significant time showing how such a dehumanizing policy came about: By imagining emails, all in the public record and an FOIA request away, being written by Lloyd and others as they’re trying to formulate this policy. These are antiseptic animated recreations totally at odds with the urgent humanity of the mother-son journey Morris has dramatized. The emails bear a tone of office-like formality, with the distinct impersonality of corporate-speak. It’s all about the senders and recipients “getting aligned” on the policy and issuing “quick clarifications” and correcting misunderstandings in a way where no one person bears responsibility for everything. It’s human suffering masked with red tape, and indifference so profound that the separated kids being reduced to numbers on a spreadsheet is even still too much. One accusation against Lloyd in the film alleges he suggested not even keeping those spreadsheets of the kids, thus possibly deliberately losing track of what kids belong to what parents, at all. ( Lloyd has long since denied that claim. )

With its punchy 93-minute running time, “Separated” seems calculated on Morris’s part to break through in an attention economy where attention spans keep getting shorter and shorter and outrage about one thing only lasts until there’s the next thing to be outraged about. There’s probably a deeper version of this movie that could have been made, one that really addresses the life cycle of the public’s empathy. One that even holds a critical lens up to, say, MSNBC, which has offered airtime to ex-Trump officials such as Olivia Troye and Stephanie Grisham, now apparently on the right side of history because they’ve spoken out against the former president. But when kids were in cages, they did not resign their posts.

That’s not what “Separated” is. And maybe that would be asking too much. When Trump held up his squiggle signature and ended the separation policy in July 2018, that was the end of it for many. Morris and Soboroff remind us very clearly of what it would take to bring the policy back: simply another stroke of that pen.

“Separated” world premiered at the 2024 Venice Film Festival . It is currently seeking U.S. distribution.

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Review: In the sluggish space psychodrama ‘Slingshot,’ no one can hear you snooze

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In “Slingshot,” a space-travel thriller directed by Mikael Håfström, the title refers to a risky flight maneuver involving orbital mechanics. Astronauts journeying a billion and a half miles to one of Saturn’s moons , Titan, will need a whip-around gravity assist — the “slingshot” in question — from Jupiter’s orbital velocity in order to make it all the way. Why are they going to Titan? It’s the only other celestial body that has liquid on its surface, methane that they intend to harvest for clean energy to combat climate change on Earth.

But despite the seemingly action-oriented premise, this psychological character study starring Casey Affleck is a slog. The film isn’t about the slingshot or the methane gas — or even climate change — but about the challenges of the journey itself. In order to endure the years-long trip, the crew needs to “hibernate” in three-month-long chunks, their sleep aided by heavy doses of drugs, which cause disorientation and confusion every time they wake up to perform some task.

John (Affleck), an ambitious pilot who made it through a rigorous selection process for this dangerous mission, spends most of his time on board trying and failing to shake off dreamy visions of a former lover, Zoe (Emily Beecham), one of the designers of the cutting-edge spacecraft. Every time he goes to sleep, he dreams of Zoe rolling around in bedsheets, and every time he wakes up, he’s fighting through brain fog in order to discern what’s real and what’s not, or fighting with his colleagues about their orders.

The situation with his crewmates, Capt. Franks (Laurence Fishburne) and scientist Nash (Tomer Capone), becomes increasingly untenable as their mental health devolves over many taxing hibernation cycles. When the ship is mysteriously damaged, perhaps from structural stress, Franks is determined to finish the mission, while Nash wants to turn back. John is caught in the middle. Despite this central tension, “Slingshot” is an undeniably sleepy film, in which a groggy Affleck stumbles around a spaceship for most of the running time.

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As Nash sows the seeds of mutiny, Franks attempts to violently wrest back control, using both physical force and mental manipulation. Ultimately, it plays out a bit like “Gaslight” in space, with Fishburne playing Charles Boyer to Affleck’s Ingrid Bergman. Screenwriters R. Scott Adams and Nathan Parker don’t bother digging into the available themes and instead throw twist after twist into the script just to keep things from getting too somnambulant.

The desire to know what’s real and what’s not sustains enough mild interest to keep us engaged, but the continual flashbacks to a syrupy and unconvincing romance, in which John and Zoe lie on the floor talking about moths, have a devastating effect on the momentum. The terrific Beecham is saddled with a dismal hairdo and an even more dismal role, her character simply an object of wan yearning for the drowsy John. Affleck seems lethargic even in flashback, and is entirely implausible as a hot-shot pilot in his late 30s. He sleepwalks through this film in more ways than one.

Håfström’s direction is equally sluggish. While there’s some pretty lighting in the hibernation pods, the creative choices made around John’s hallucinations are predictable and pat. There’s just simply nothing to hook into aside from Fishburne’s performance, which is the only captivating element of the film, and even that is derivative of his iconic Morpheus from “The Matrix.” Despite its many twists and turns, “Slingshot” shows no signs of life.

Katie Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.

'Slingshot'

Rating: R, for language and some violence/bloody images Running time: 1 hour, 49 minutes Playing: In wide release Friday, Aug. 30

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‘Slingshot’ Review: In Space, No One Can Hear You Yawn

Just because this Casey Affleck-led thriller sticks the landing doesn’t mean the journey is worth your time

This summer we’ve celebrated the 45th anniversary of “Alien” and the 15th anniversary of “Moon,” two of the greatest stuck-in-space films ever made. We’ve also been watching a related plot play out in reality, as Boeing’s ill-fated Starliner has left astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore idling at the International Space Station.

So perhaps at another time, Mikael Håfström’s “Slingshot” would get a pass for effort, if nothing else.

This is, admittedly, a challenging genre. But given its provocative potential (and Håfström’s repeated references to Stanley Kubrick’s all-time interstellar icon, “2001: A Space Odyssey”), a halfhearted take feels particularly disappointing.

The film’s listless energy begins with John (Casey Affleck), an astronaut years into his mission to Titan, Saturn’s largest moon. For someone trapped in a metal capsule, John initially appears to be doing ok. But when his ground commander (David Morrissey) checks in “to stress the importance of your psych evaluation,” we’ve got a pretty clear idea where things are headed.

There are only two other people aboard the Odyssey: John’s colleague Nash (Tomer Capone) and their captain, Franks (Laurence Fishburne). So it’s a little odd that John and Nash are continually required to cycle in and out of a drug-induced hypersleep. Stranger still, they wake up each time feeling increasingly confused and paranoid. Although … is it paranoia if you might be right?

For starters, when the capsule is damaged and a panicked Nash notes the dangers in continuing their mission, Franks shuts him down with suspicious speed. As Nash pushes for an insurrection and Franks prepares to fight back, a disoriented John is stuck in the middle, unsure of who he should trust.

It’s no wonder, then, that each time he goes back to “sleep,” he returns to the comfort of pre-launch memories. Mostly, he thinks about his girlfriend Zoe (Emily Beecham), who also works for the space program. He warned her early on that he didn’t have time for a relationship, as he was hoping to be chosen for this mission. But when they fell in love, he surprised himself by the depth of their connection. We, unfortunately, are less convinced. These flashbacks are both underdeveloped and overlong, which only emphasizes how little chemistry there is between Affleck and Beecham. She seems uncomfortable, and he just seems bored.

Affleck’s disaffection carries through almost every scene — until the very end. For this is, as it turns out, one of those movies that relies so heavily on its final twist that the rest of the story becomes an afterthought. Affleck, Håfström (“1408”), and screenwriters R. Scott Adams (“Donner Pass”) and Nathan Parker (who co-wrote the infinitely superior “Moon”) seem so sure our minds will eventually be blown, they’re simply connecting dots until they can scribble madly across the page. Not everyone got the memo, though, so the actors often appear to be in different movies.

Affleck’s scenes tend to be long and quiet, but he’s so unemotive they mostly feel inert. A jumpy Capone (“Fauda”) and intense Fishburne work overtime to add energy, but they’re stuck in a thriller with few thrills, while Affleck and Beecham seem to be in a drama with little drama.

Similarly, Steffen Thum’s portentous score tries to build some menace, but ultimately has nowhere to go. Until, of course, that final scene, towards which we’ve been hurtling since the start. The good news is that the ending really is as strong as the filmmakers believe. And since Håfström and his crew stick their landing, those who particularly enjoy second-hand claustrophobia may find it worth the long journey. Everyone else, however, will be better served by more engaging enterprises here on Earth.

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IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack Review: Vijay Varma Starrer Is A Gripping Retelling Of The Hijack

Ic 814 the kandahar hijack review: this gripping netflix series starring vijay varma, naseeruddin shah, pankaj kapur presents the events in such a way that once you start watching, you're mentally hijacked. rating: 3.5.

IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack Review: What goes through the mind of a hijacker? What truly happens during a hijacking—inside the plane, outside the plane, among political leaders, and within intelligence agencies? Most of us know about the infamous hijacking of the Indian Airlines flight IC 814, which was taken from Kathmandu to Kandahar, but this gripping Netflix series starring Vijay Varma, Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur delves deeper, presenting the events in such a compelling way that once you start watching, you're mentally hijacked until the very end.  

IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack plot

The story is well-known—a plane hijacked on its way from Kathmandu to Delhi, ultimately landing in Kandahar. But how was the situation handled? How were the passengers saved, except for one? This series meticulously explores every aspect of the hijacking, from the harrowing experiences of the passengers to the strategic moves by agencies, making it a detailed retelling of events that kept the entire nation on edge.  

How is IC 814 The Kandahar Hijack plot

Imagine a single scene with legendary actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Arvind Swami, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, and Divyendu Bhattacharya—all in one frame. Bringing together such seasoned talents is a testament to the effort poured into making this series, and it shows. The six-episode series, with each episode lasting 30 to 40 minutes, moves at such a fast pace that you won't want to skip a moment. There's no unnecessary heroism, no exaggerated cinematic liberties—just a carefully crafted narrative that reveals the layers of each character, explains the background of every event, and uses real footage from the time to enhance authenticity. Even if you know the ending, the journey will keep you hooked, making it a perfect binge-watch.  

Performances

The series is packed with powerhouse performances. Naseeruddin Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Manoj Pahwa, Arvind Swami, Kumud Mishra, and Divyendu Bhattacharya deliver outstanding performances. Amidst this ensemble of veteran actors, Vijay Varma shines as the pilot. Vijay's strength lies in knowing when to underplay and when to showcase subtle heroism. He brings depth to his character, proving once again that his involvement signals quality content. Patralekhaa excels as the air hostess, portraying the emotional turmoil of a flight attendant caught in a hijacking with authenticity. Her character’s struggle to protect her passengers, even at the cost of her own safety, is palpable. Dia Mirza is convincing as a journalist, while Amrita Puri stands out as a sharp and determined reporter. Rajeev Thakur surprises as the hijacker, delivering a chilling performance.  

The series is helmed by Anubhav Sinha, and his experience is evident throughout. His research, dedication, and ability to bring together such an ensemble cast to tell a story that everyone already knows, yet still manages to surprise, showcase his directorial prowess. Sinha successfully crafts a taut, engaging series that keeps you at the edge of your seat.  

This series is a masterful retelling of the IC 814 hijacking, with stellar performances and expert direction. It offers insights and details that will leave you with a deeper understanding of the events, even if you thought you knew the whole story.  

Rating: 3.5

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