Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya- Review

Vinnaithandi Varuvaya, the much expected and much-hyped movie of Gautam Vasudev Menon with Simbhu & Trisha in the lead is released today.The songs already hit the chartbusters with A.R.Rahman’s Magical Music which helped create anticipation for the movie. I watched FDFS (First Day First Show) today at Maayajaal 9 am show. It’s not only the music that induced me to watch the film FDFS, but it’s the director’s depiction of romance on screen right from his debut Minnale which I watched 3 times in theatres by bunking the college for first time. Even in action films like Kaakka Kaakka and Vettayadu Vilaiyadu and family drama like Vaaranam Aayiram, the romantic scenes are refreshing with cute & chirpy dialogues. Since it’s a full-fledged romantic movie I never wanna miss FDFS and this time I bunked office for the first time.

The movie is all about Karthik, an aspiring film maker and Jassi, a program Analyst working in Polaris. It starts in Jassi’s wedding at a Church where Karthik narrates his flashback. We simply forget Simbhu and Tisha and can see only karthik and Jassi romancing. He falls in Love with the ravishing Jassi at the first sight so similar to Surya’s Love at First Sight for Meghna in the directors previous movie Vaaranam Aayiram. He almost imitates Surya in most of the shots. He comes to know that she’s a year elder than him but still he proposes Jassi without knowing anything about her and she refuses it. She goes to Alleppy to spend a week vacation with her grandma. Soon Karthik follows her to Alleppy to say sorry to her.  This time the director himself has added a dialogue referring to VA. Seems Gautham is still in VA hangover. Meanwhile he befriends Ganesh, a cinematographer and tries to join as an assistant to director K.S.Ravikumar with his reference. Ganesh supports his love and accompanies him to Kerala. Karthik asks Jassi to forgive for his behaviour and wants to be a friend with her. Jassi likes the way he proposed and also the way he said sorry. She likes his courage and befriends him like Meghna of VA. She starts loving him but denies to accept it since his parents are staunch Christians  and will never allow to marry a Hindu guy. But she wants to be with him just as a friend. Their parents come to know about their affair and Jassi’s parents arrange for her marriage while Karthik’s parents shift their house to another area. Jassi leave for Kerala for her marriage. Karthik goes to Kerala with Ganesh and narrates the story to us till this part.

The story has the twist in its 2nd half which is the highlight of the movie. Unlike other Gautam movies, the 2nd half is pretty interesting despite its slow pace. I don’t want to disclose the twist. It has a very good feel of romance. I bet that it would rekindle your Love in the present and in the past and it would take a long time to come out of the impact.

Both Simbu and Trisha have given their best performances till date. Both of them share a good chemistry. Trisha sheds her glam doll role and steals our heart as Jassi. Simbhu sans his finger mannerisms, punch dialogues, double triple meaning sleazy dialogues makes a strong impression as Karthik. To say in Thamizh, adakki vaasichirukkaar. He’s simply mindblowing when he describes the girl in his heart. Apart from the lead couple it’s Ganesh who comes throughout the movie without breaking the flow of the movie. Thanks to Mr.Menon for not casting a popular comedian for that role which would be a compromise for C Center audience. K.S.Ravikumar comes now and then as director and makes us laugh st times. Bob Anthony, the yesteryear villain does a neat job as Trisha’s stubborn father. His brother looks like a pucca rowdy with Gautham’s rugged voice. We can’t believe it’s Trisha’s brother. Very bad choice. Her mother- Ayyo Paavam!!! Kitty and Uma padmanabhan are just okay as Simbhu’s parents. Why they were not shown in the 2nd half? His sister doesn’t make any mark. Simbhu’s voice modulation could have been better.

Music- The greatest asset of the movie right from the beginning till the end with excellent background score. I don’t like all the songs since they are lyrically-challenged. I thought Thamarai had less job to do with 6-7 lines per song with repetitive verses. But it’s so much related to the movie. Esp Kannukkul Kannai & Mannippaya. The bitter truth is the lyrics are dominated by Rahman’s Music unlike Harris’ who gives importance to lyrics in some songs. The picturisation of Hosannah, Omana Penne and Kannukkul Kannai are visual delight but I didn’t like my favourite Mannippaya on screen. It lacks the feel that Shreya Ghoshal has in her voice. It was picturized as a happy duet instead of the melancholic lyrics. It should have come after their separation. Similarly the picturization of Aaromale is also not so apt as far as the lyrics are concerned.

Manoj Paramahamsa is the eye of the director. The locales of Alappuzha, Malta Island, and Sinbhu-Trisha’s house are treat to watch. We can feel the story is happening in our next home. He’s done a fabulous job post Eeram.

A special mention to singer Chinmayi who has done a wonderful job by lending her voice to Trisha with exact Tamil and Malayalam accents. The way she says Karthik is sooooo lovely and romantic. Does she have a BF named Karthik? Great job Chins! Also to Nalini Sriram for giving decent and elegant costumes to Trisha and making her looking gorgeous. (Esp the first blue saree till the red saree in the climax). Simbhu too looks so smart with his casual shirts.

On a whole, the movie is a must-watch. If you watch movies for time-pass and expect action, masala, item numbers, it’s not your cuppa. It’s not for those who see movies, it for those who feel movies. After Alaipayuthe, I loved this as a full and full romantic movie without any action, comedy sequences (almost after a decade). Don’t miss it if u love LOVE!

My Rating : 4/5