The movie follows the journey of a group of schoolboys as they grow up together, engaging in typical schoolboy and teenage antics.
Published Aug 19, 2024 | 11:12 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 19, 2024 | 11:12 AM
'Vaazha' is an entertaining film that addresses toxic parenting. (X)
The tagline of the latest Malayalam outing Vaazha, “A biopic of billion boys”, hints at its theme. In Malayalam, “Vazha” means plantain trees. To help non-Malayalees understand the significance, let’s decode the title and explore its relevance to the film.
In Kerala, parents often use an old saying: “If I had planted plantain trees instead of raising you, I would have made a profit.” Over time, this expression led to people being called a “Vazha“.
The movie centres on a group of boys who are backbenchers in school. It follows their journey as they grow up together, engaging in typical schoolboy and teenage antics.
The film’s strong relatability has contributed to its overwhelming success in theatres
Ajo (Sijo Sunny), Moosa (Joemon Jyothir), and Vishnu (Amith Mohan Rajeshwari) have been close friends since childhood. They attended the same school and college.
While they aren’t portrayed as troublemakers, they often find themselves in situations that cause problems for their parents.
The school scenes in Vaazha may feel familiar to audiences, as Girish AD’s Thanneer Mathan Dinangal (2019) also focused on the school lives of its characters. Vaazha features similar, realistic scenes that resonate particularly with male viewers.
The Anand Menen film celebrates boyhood. (X)
Writer Vipin Das—who recently directed Guruvayoor Ambala Nadayil (2024)—describes it as a story about boys, even calling it the male counterpart to his earlier film, Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey (2022), which explored a woman’s perspective.
The three boys make new friends in school and join an engineering college following their parents’ wishes.
The film touches on a common theme in Indian families where children often pursue education based on their parents’ desires. During the 2000s, it was a trend for students to choose either engineering or medicine— a path even some filmmakers and actors followed.
The movie doesn’t reference these trends directly. Instead, it presents a simple plot focused on the lives of the main characters and their parents.
It explores how parents push their children into professional courses, leading to poor academic performance. The film delves into the events that shape their lives and whether these boys ultimately succeed.
The success of Vaazha lies in its emotionally rich script. As I mentioned, the events depicted resonate with many men in their 30s. It portrays everyday incidents from classroom interactions to school and college conflicts with authenticity.
Director Anand Menen has invested time crafting his second film, as seen in the well-executed comedy scenes that elicit loud laughter in theatres.
The film also features intense moments, particularly regarding the roles of the parents.
Vishnu’s relationship with his parents highlights toxic parenting, with his father, portrayed by Kottayam Nazeer, being a standout character.
Ajo’s strained relationship with his father, marked by frequent conflicts over his academic failures, is also a significant aspect of the film.
Vaazha’s core revolves around toxic parenting and how pa
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The film features strong performances from most of the cast. Sijo Sunny, Joemon Jyothir, and Amith Mohan Rajeshwari deliver standout portrayals as the three main characters, while Anuraj OB and Anshid Anu also shine in their supporting roles.
The brilliant performances of these young actors have attracted the movie’s target audience. Many of them are well-known through their YouTube videos and Instagram reels, which has contributed to their appeal.
‘Vaazha’ is directed by Anand Menen. (X)
Additionally, Hashir, a social media content creator, plays a notable role in Vaazha.
Senior actors Jagadish, Kottayam Nazeer, Noby Varghese, and Azeez Nedumangad do justice to their roles.
Kottayam Nazeer and Azeez Nedumangad in particular, excel as strict fathers, while Noby Varghese takes on a more subtle role, marking a departure from his usual comedic parts.
The film has music by Rajat Prakash, Electronic Kili, and Parvatish Pradeep, which sets the tone effectively.
Aravind Puthussery’s cinematography also contributes to its dynamic, fast-paced shots.
Ultimately, Vaazha is an entertaining film that addresses toxic parenting. Its relatable, comedic portrayal of events resonates with its audience.
(Edited by S Subhakeerthana)
