வாரணம் ஆயிரம்

The title started with a statutory warning stating: "Say no to drugs and smoking". I'd wondered how Surya was convinced to sport burning tobacco between his lips. However, I'm convinced now, as the director has tried to do justice in Surya's behalf. For starters, Surya had vowed, long back, not to smoke infront of the camera.

The movie starts with Krishnan, dying after vomitting blood in the bathroom. I believe the director wanted to show us the impending dangers of non-stop smoking. We are then told that, Krishnan had smoked all his life since college days. He actually dies of throat cancer. Krishnan's death is conveyed to Surya,who is on a mission to rescue a journalist kidnapped by terrorists. Yes, Surya is a Major in the National Security Guards, the elite commando force of the Indian Armed forces. When Surya is informed of his father's death, he insists on continuing with the mission, as is natural to the Armed Forces in any part of the world.

The story unfolds as Surya recollects memories of his father. Under normal circumstances, anyone going through nostalgia would remember things at random about the deceased. Surya, however, manages to recollect things in chronological order about his father. Well, blame it on Tamil audience. Movies like Aaytha Ezhuthu, Virumaandi, Hey Ram were stamped with "I-dont-understand-what-is-the-story?" accusing the director of intellectual arrogance.

First comes to the mind of Surya is, how his father trapped Malini into his life. Simran, as a college girl, looks horrific, to put it mildly. Krishnan, energetic, young is good enough for Malini to fall in love with.
The pair is blessed with a boy and a girl later. Krishnan sounds realistic and ambitious in a shot. He says, "my son will not have a life full of happiness. But, in demanding situations, I will make sure he solves his problems". How true?

Then comes Surya growing up from school to college. The real nitty-gritties of a father-son relationship creep up in this episode. Be it when Krishnan tells Surya to bring home his friends (girls, infact) rather than talking to them in the streets or when he casually asks if his son smokes, actor Surya is simply at his best.

The best part of the movie starts when Surya is in his train back to his native after graduating, well actually, after completing four years of college. Just opposite his berth, is a gorgeous girl called Meghna. Deja Vu, Surya falls in love with her, at first sight. Add to it, he proposes immediately. Weird though, the hero falls in love at first sight in all Gautham movies, not counting Kaakha Kaakha. Meghna rejects his proposal outright, as usual. Heroines in Gautham movies are always assertive, bold (atleast in a shot or two) and charming. This is what brings me to his movies. Surya learns that she has no external obligations in marrying him. The Hero-chase-Heroine episode begins, well, after some time.

In between, Surya sets things right - clears his father's debt, completes the half-built house and so on. When things have settled, he goes in pursuit of his lady love. He lands himself in San Francisco where Meghna is doing her MS. The impressed-but-not-convinced-Meghna offers him room in her student apartment. Man, tell me something I can digest.

For Surya, life with Meghna goes like an Ilayaraja song. We too feel the same till Meghna dies in the Oklahoma bomb blast. I sense something fishy here. When is the whole story happening? There is no hint of the calendar years in this movie. Our hearts skip a beat when the movie pauses for interval. Guys and Gals, never postpone personal lives. Anything might happen. Yeah? Notice a smile lights up your face.

A completely dejected Surya returns home, takes to drugs, dances on the roads. Too many things happen in the second half. Krishnan and Malini help their son get back to normal ways. Surya goes to Kashmir, saves a child from kidnappers and now realises his destiny. He returns home, builds up his arms, abs and joins the Indian Army. Divya, another gorgeous girl, who's been in love with Surya since childhood days, proposes and marries him. End of story.

You've got to be young at heart to watch the first half. You've got to be patient to watch the second half, fully. You've got to ignore Surya crying Daddy, Daddy throughout the movie.

The transition Surya goes through in the second half is not captured on visuals. We are just told. Any director who wants to portray a a character's paradigm shift in fewer visuals, ought to watch Anjathey by Myskin. Otherwise, we'll have to end up in a movie like Vaaranam Aayiram.

The director ostensibly wanted to celebrate fatherhood from a son's perspective. But, we end up seeing the son grow, stumble and grow again.

Better luck next time Gautham. For Surya, this is another feather in his cap. I loved all of Surya's hairstyles, particularly the drug addict and the guitarist (Rahman-style).
I watched Forrest Gump long back. But then, there are only 2 or 3 more storylines, world cinema is yet to come out with.

Let's wait for Chennaiyil Oru Mazhaikaalam. Dilip saab, I'm waiting for you.