Varnyathil Aashanka is a testimony to how one character, or one actor, introduced at the right time can change the texture and the course of a film.
Dayanandan, the character by Suraj Venjaramoodu, is introduced to us almost one hour into the proceedings.
Until then, we trudge through the mildly interesting lives of four small-time crooks, and their attempts to drag themselves out of the pits that they have fallen into.
Out of the four, Pratheesh (Shine Tom Chacko) is just fresh from his first pick-pocketing attempt, a failed one at that, forced by his circumstances. Kouta Shivan (Kunchakko Boban) and Gilbert (Manikandan) are connected by a motorcycle, which one of them lifted from a priest.
They all come together at Wilson (Chemban Vinod)’s house, where the small-timers hit upon the idea of carrying out a big heist.
Till that point, the script does not pull you in enough to make you care for these characters. Yes, they do make you laugh once in a while. But, that’s it. Nothing more.
Turning point
And, then comes along the character of Dayanandan, a bar-tender who has lost his job after the bar closures, and who is surviving only because of his wife’s meagre salary. When his path crosses with those of the crooks, the movie begins to engage you. Credits for this in no small measure should go to Suraj Venjaramoodu, who makes ample use of his histrionic skills, acting as the glue that was missing till then.
Director Sidharth Bharathan had displayed his hold over the medium in his previous film Chandrettan Evideya. He continues in a similar vein here too, but with more characters and more side plots, with the humour spread out at regular intervals. He loses the grip though at a few places, especially in tying this plot to political violence and at that slightly contrived climax. It seems the scriptwriter had a confusion in how to sign off, after the earlier highs.
Varnyathil Aashanka is a rewarding watch in parts. It could have been more.
S.R. Praveen