Seema Sharath

Anoop Sathyan's directorial debut "Varane Avasyamund" is a visual treat for family audience for many a reasons. The star-studded cast lead by veteran Suresh Gopi and the ever beautiful Sobhana , Kalyani Priyadarshan's entry into the malayalam film industry as a girl next door and Dulquer Salmaan's first production venture, all makes it a must watch. Sobhana is brilliant on screen as always with the detailing and subtlelities and she never went overboard with her emotions. She is a single mother, who find a job in Chennai and keeps a zing and zest in life despite having gone through a failed marriage and rejection from her lover. She still keeps her romantic mind afresh and finds reasons to be happy and to keep other's happy. Suresh Gopi's Major Unnikrishnan was a major surprise in the movie. The mannerisms of a desolate army veteran who is struggling to gel into civilian life, his fear of mingling with ladies and his secret crush for Shobana and the way he expresses it all make him all the more endearing and one can't stop asking,, Where this man was all these years? Major Unnikrishnan had a serious issue over his anger management and his associtaion with the Psyhciatrist played by Johny Antony has given us many lighter moments. The combination scenes of SG and Johny Antony were hilarious. Dulquer has curbed his on screen presence to a carefree youngster fondly called Fraud by everyone who lands up in trouble and escapes the wrath of everyone through his endearing behaviour. The past of Bibeesh P and the bonding with his little brother and the reason for him insisting for helmet while riding two wheeler all makes his role a memorable one. Urvashi's cameo as the Dentist mom who always thought that her son was like her only makes everyone emotional for a moment. She has definitely stolen the lime light. The movie is all about indepndence and respecting everyone's space and choices. Neena's romantic character was never a bottleneck for Nikhitha for loving her mom, but she chooses for an arranged marriage for herself watching her mom's failed married life. Neena too is never an imposing mom even when she corrects Nikhita not to be too materialistic while choosing one's life partner. Every character has a back story to tell, which inevitable connects them each other and we see everyone helping out each other and evolving learning from mistakes and doesnt want to interrupt the flow of other's life. We see a rare camaraderie and bonding among the people in the apartment complex, be it the landlord who puts kolam infront of every one's house or the gate9 keeper who shares his food with the Major. Albiet many cliches, the plot is not boring as Anoop rolls up many interesting moments, be it the rare kind of bonding between Akashavani, the role played by KPAC Lalitha and the boys or the cook taking prawns curry from Neena's kitchen to the neighbours saying that the eggs for their cake were taken from the former's fridge. Despite its predictablity the story telling stylekeeps one glued to the screens for the entire 1.45 minutes. The feel good element was there throughout the movie and we often keep fascinating and fancying about the apartment life in Chennai although we know that it not all that rosy as portrayed. Overall a good family entertainer of the celebrated Anthikkad genre.