Varathan is a good watch.

An intriguing thriller that follows you even after curtains fall

By Mythily Ramachandran

Malayalam director Amal Neerad holds a mirror to a society ridden by male chauvinism and voyeurism in ‘Varathan.’
Backed by excellent performances, stunning visuals and music complementing the narrative, ‘Varathan’ becomes an intriguing thriller that stalk you home.

The story opens in Dubai. Abin and Priya, a young married couple very much in love go through a disappointment phase-with two unfortunate happenings- in their lives.

When Priya suggests that they return to Kerala, Abin agrees. So they arrive at her father’s ancestral property amidst the hills of Idukki. 

Their joy and solitude is soon threatened and Priya realizes that her childhood home of happy memories is unsafe for her as a woman.
In fact you get an inkling of the attitude of the local villagers the moment they enter the small town and stop at a roadside store for tea. The discomfiting stares of the men sitting outside, is something any woman will connect to. Priya points out to Abin the old man among them known for his roving eye.

The fear of being watched creeps into Priya’s mind-when in the midst of her baking she turns around to face a stranger peering through the window; the shadow of a man looking into their bedroom door; that notion of being observed Priya’s feels while undressing in her bathroom. 

Neerad gradually builds it along with cinematographer Little Swayamp-the camera close at heels of Priya and taking in her activities like the stalkers outside. Adding to it is Sushin Shyam’s background music ushering in the traumatic feeling and giving a shiver to your body.

Women have that inborn instinct to understand when the glances and gazes are just not right and like Priya they often find it hard to convince others around of the threat. 

Priya is irritated with Abin for being naïve about the intentions of Josy (Sharafudden)-a school mate who had a crush for her. Josy still lusts for her. Giving him company are his two friends and from the field that Priya’s family has let out to them-a convenient vantage point-they intrude into her life. What seemed like a worm crawling on the skin grows into a monster to unstable Priya’s and Abin’s lives.   

And, when Priya packs bags telling Abin that she does not feel safe in under him, Abin’s manliness is questioned. She remembers her father who provided the safety umbrella for his family. Abin breaking down in the courtyard, that was a brilliant performance from Fahd Faasil, one of the many the versatile actor delivers. 

Turning cinematic and giving Abin an opportunity to be the man Priya wanted, ‘Varathan’ soon becomes the story of the hero. Fahad Faasil fans are in for a treat. Abin’s lone battle with a group of men with guns and knives is well choreographed as he intelligently strikes at them using resources at hand. 

The film’s strong points lie in the onscreen chemistry between Fahad and Aishwarya Lekshmi-Lekshmi holding her own pretty well opposite Faasil. Writers Suhas and Sharfu’s characters are so real-as a woman you see their likes around.  Abin’s character graph-how he evolves from a suave Corporate worker in love with his wife to resort to violence when his woman is threatened. Abin who would not even hurt a cockroach does not hesitate to squash a cockroach in the last scene.

It’s a jaw dropping role from actor  Sharafuddeen. He is terrific and not the Sharafudeen of ‘Premam’ ‘Pretham’ and ‘Aadhi.’

Priya’s traumatic scene has been shot neatly-without exaggerating, we learn of her mishap through scenes that follow. Lekshmi brings out Priya’s anguish and anger perfectly. 

‘Varathan’ lays bare the hypocrisy of men. Some claim to be moral police on one hand and worry about our so called culture losing way to modern clothes and behavior, it’s these very men who are a threat to women. But when it concerns their own sisters and daughters, they can be monsters.
‘Varathan’ is a good watch.

Mayanadhi- This mystic river directed by Aashiq Abu carries a beautifully made romantic thriller

‘Mayaanadhi,’ written by scenarists duo Syam Pushkaran  and Dileesh Nair is directed by Aashiq Abu. Cradled inside this crime thriller is a romantic drama. Many love stories have been narrated. ‘Mayaanadhi’ is a compelling watch with its exquisite writing and top notch performances of all the actors, I repeat all. 

Mathan (Tovino Thomas) a driver for a gang that deals with counterfeit currency is on the run after he accidentally kills a policeman. Close at Mathan’s  heels are a team of three policemen from Tamil Nadu. He decides to escape to Dubai but before that he meets up with Appu, (Aishwarya Lexmi) the woman he loves immensely.

Mathan’s idea of a dream life is sharing it with his beloved Appu in a beautiful home and with pups for company. That’s our first introduction to him. We only hear him talking. Whetting our appetite further is his friend’s reply-‘You are always talking about the future.’ Mathan replies-‘Because I screwed my past and the present.’

There is no hurry in the story telling. Little by little we peek into their past while observing them in the present.
Mathan arrives in Kochi to meet Appu, an aspiring actress juggling between auditions for that big break and doing ad films on the side. Appu is at a roadside eatery waiting for her order. Hungry and irritated with his presence, Appu retorts with a tight slap on his face when he asks her-“Is there hope in our relationship?

Bringing in characters from the fringe of their lives, the canvas becomes an interesting watch. Appu’s widowed mother who still believes in their rich past reveals her snob attitude during a family wedding, when she pushes Appu into emceeing the event-insisting that she speak in English; the chechi (elder sister) who shares accommodation with Appu and always has something to lament over; Sameera, Appu’s friend, a glamorous star who passes on the gown she wore for an event to Appu; the counselor friend (Darshana Rajendran) helping Sameera deal with depression.

Every character is finely crafted and the actors with their spontaneous performance bring them alive onscreen and convincingly.

Mathan, an engineering college drop-out, he began making money as an admission broker and later joined a gang. Belying his tough exterior, Mathan is a little boy at heart who craves for Appu’s love. And when on the run, he seeks refuge under his old boss, who is not happy as he has turned over a new leaf.

Tovino Thomas is splendid. He infuses Mathan with a child like charm. Not one to lag behind, Aishwarya Lexmi matches him for every step. Their onscreen chemistry roars. The emotions are profound. Aishwarya Lexmi deftly conveys Appu’s insecurity and her confidence too with a finesse seldom seen in newcomers.

Tamil actors, Ilavarasu as the Tamil Nadu police officer is at his best. Harish, who has been mostly playing negative characters that are loud and dagger- happy is a junior police officer here. His subtle performance is commendable. Look out for Lijo Pellisery, Soubin Shahir and Basil Joseph in amusing cameos.  

Several moments stay with you. The scene with the three friends, Appu, Darshana and Sameera bonding over wine is one. Darshana’s rendering of ‘Bavra Mann’ (a song from Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi) is a beautiful poetry under the night sky.