The seasoned filmmaker Vineeth Sreenivasan, no stranger to the anticipatory critiques from audiences post-release, ventures into a meta-commentary with his sixth directorial effort, ‘Varshangalkku Shesham’. The movie presents an intriguing blend of self-mockery and a return to familiar grounds, showcasing a concoction of reflective musings and heartwarming nostalgia set against the backdrop of Chennai.
The narrative of ‘Varshangalkku Shesham’ pivots around the deep-seated camaraderie of two central characters, Venu and Murali, played by Dhyan Sreenivasan and Pranav Mohanlal respectively. Venu, an aspiring filmmaker and screenwriter, along with Murali, a musician, chase their celluloid fantasies to Madras, a well-trodden path for dreamers of the 1970s. Their journey is a tapestry woven with threads of success and stumbling blocks, each phase presented with an insightful view into the hardships of the film industry.
However, a sense of irony hangs in the air as Sreenivasan tells the story of “outsiders” through the portrayals by Dhyan and Pranav, who, in reality, are deeply entrenched in the film fraternity. Though the film strives to explore the evolving dynamics of the characters’ relationship amidst the changing landscape of cinema, the impact is somewhat blunted by underdeveloped conflicts and a sketchy depiction of these pivotal moments.
Despite these fleeting narrative missteps, the film finds redemption in its latter half. As the drama recedes, comedy takes the spotlight, unveiling Vineeth Sreenivasan’s flair for humor. It is in these segments that the film truly shines. Nivin Pauly, alongside Basil Joseph, delights the audience with a portrayal of Nithin Molly, a self-absorbed actor desperate for a hit. His performance gleefully engages with the satirical, to the point of parodying the very pitfalls that have befallen him on social media. Excluding some subpar depictions of celebrity-fan engagement, his scenes inject the storyline with rollicking amusement. Dhyan’s emotive prowess complements this, both actors receiving a recalibration of their careers courtesy of Vineeth’s directing.
The film is peppered with nods to industry insiders and homages to vintage films, acting as a lovingly crafted tribute to those who preserved their artistic sanctity. Yet, the conveyance of its core themes—rekindling friendships, chasing dreams, and honoring commitment to one’s craft—would have benefitted from more robust scriptwriting. Amrit Ramnath, the youthful composer of the film’s score, employs lush strings to underline the film’s emotions, efforts that resonate only so much due to the narrative’s limited depth in conflict.
A critical eye might spot the less-than-convincing prosthetics meant to age the characters. Dhyan Sreenivasan’s transformation is plausible, yet the makeup artistry for the remainder falls short. As for the female leads, Kalyani Priyadarshan and Neeta Pillai, their roles sadly allow little room for notable performance.
Ultimately, ‘Varshangalkku Shesham’ emerges as a commemoration of cinema and the enduring nature of friendship that could have been at risk of faltering, if not for the threads of humor that enliven it. The film, now screening in theaters, manages to hold up its storyline with effective comedy, ensuring that viewers leave with a mild aftertaste of nostalgia and a handful of chuckles—a testament to the timeless link between storytelling, kinship, and the unfading dream of the silver screen.
