Vijay’s Varisu review: A full-on commercial entertainer with Vijay’s impeccable comedy timing

Director Vamshi Paidipally’s Varisu is a fairly engaging entertainer that works primarily because of its altruistic ideas and its humour content.

The film is a proper commercial entertainer which banks big on its family sentiments and humour.

The plot

A business tycoon, Rajendran (Sarathkumar) is on a mission to appoint the heir to his empire. He has three sons: Jai (Srikanth), Ajay (Shaam) and Vijay (Vijay). He intends to make one of them his successor.

While the first two are interested in occupying the top position, the third one has no interest whatsoever in heading the business empire. He has his plans and comes up with an app to provide hot, healthy, delicious food for travellers.

Disappointed with Vijay’s lack of interest in competing with his brothers for the top position, Rajendran expels him from home.

Seven years later, the man still hasn’t been able to decide whom to name his successor. To make matters worse, he gets to know that his time is running out as he has pancreatic cancer.

As if this wasn’t enough, his arch-rival Jeya Prakash (Prakash Raj), who has been looking to dislodge him from the top position in the mining industry for a long time, is now beginning to employ devious ways to charm his self-centred sons Jai and Ajay and draw them over to his side.

It is at this time that Vijay returns home. What happens then is what the film is all about.

Vamshi capitalises on Vijay’s comedy timing

We’ve all watched enough commercial entertainers to know who will emerge victorious by the time Varisu ends, even before it starts.

So, what is of interest to audiences in a commercial entertainer is not who will emerge victorious but how the hero goes about accomplishing his mission.

Director Vamshi Paidipally seems to have understood this fact well and worked out a script that meets this expectation. Yes, there is hero worship in this film, too. Thankfully, it is minimal in nature.

#VarisuTrailer is all yours.. ❤️

https://t.co/lDHdBSqniL#Thalapathy @actorvijay sir @directorvamshi @MusicThaman @iamRashmika @karthikpalanidp @Cinemainmygenes @Lyricist_Vivek @rgvhari @ahishor @scolourpencils @vaishnavi141081 @Yugandhart_ @7screenstudio @TSeries https://t.co/XEzkvN9dQs

— Vamshi Paidipally (@directorvamshi) January 4, 2023

Vamshi seems to have capitalised on Vijay’s comedy sense and his impeccable timing to create sequences that are funny instead of serious in nature.

Unlike the scenes where the hero clenches his fist and grinds his teeth before delivering punch lines, we have Vijay comically yet intelligently outwitting his competitors. Well, this comes across as a refreshing change.

This doesn’t mean there aren’t punchlines. There are. It’s just that it is a lot more enjoyable this way.

Vijay is out of sorts on quite a few occasions during some of the serious moments in the film. However, he makes up for it by scoring handsomely in the comedy sequences.

Rest of actors do add value

Yogi Babu, who plays a servant in the film, combines well with Vijay to make sure the comedy works.

Rashmika Mandanna has a little role to play but she makes sure that her presence is felt through her performance. Her graceful dance with Vijay for the fast-paced number “Ranjithame” deserves special mention.

Shaam, who acted as a hero in several superhit films, reminds us of his glorious past with his performance in this one.

Sarathkumar, Srikanth and Jayasudha, too, come up with neat performances that add value to Varisu.

Thaman’s music, both songs and background score, is just outstanding.

Karthik Palani’s visuals are just captivating in nature.

Anna @actorvijay Anna ❤️

I cried From the Heart Watching all the Emotional Scenes dear anna ❤️ Tears Are Precious 🥹#Varisu Movie Is My family Anna It’s Close To My heart ❤️ Thanks For Giving me This biggest Opportunity dear Anna Love U 🎛️🎧🥁#BlockbusterVarisu FROM TOM 😊 pic.twitter.com/QgZdOdGR9G

— thaman S (@MusicThaman) January 10, 2023

Verdict

In all, Varisu is a full-on commercial entertainer that highlights the bond between a son and his parents, and the significance of a family.

It underlines the fact that no family is perfect but then, family is all that one has got!