Last updated: 11 January 2023

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Film: Varisu (Tamil)/ Vaarasudu (Telugu), translates to ‘Heir’

Directed by: Vamshi Paidipally (of Maharshi, Oopiri / Thozha fame)

Cast: Vijay, Rashmika Mandanna, R. Sarathkumar, Jayasudha, Srikanth Meka, Shaam, Sangeetha Krish, Prakash Raj, Prabhu, Yogi Babu, SJ Suryah (cameo)

Highlights: Vijay’s performance, his terrific screen presence and dance moves, emotional scenes between Vijay and Jayasudha in the first half and between Vijay and Sarathkumar in the second half, laudable production design, catchy songs by S. Thaman

Lowlights: familiar story (several scenes in Varisu have been done to death in past Telugu films like Gowtam SSC, Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, Nannaku Prematho, etc), poor screenplay with stretched and boring sequences, too predictable

Cinemania rating: ★★½☆☆

Detailed Review

Plot: Vijay is the estranged third son of a very successful mining baron. When the family and business breaks apart, Vijay returns to the house and reunites with his parents, however his brothers drift away from the family as they are jealous of Vijay and business rivals see this as an opportunity to destroy the family business. The rest of the story is about whether or not Vijay will succeed in reuniting the family and resurrecting the family business.

Performances: Vijay delivers a good performance as Vijay (that’s the name of his character too). He is emotional in front of his mom and dad, romances and dances with Rashmika Mandanna, does comedy with Yogi Babu, launches a start-up worth ₹250 crores, solves domestic and corporate disputes and at the same time also sends bad guys flying in the air – there is absolutely nothing he can’t do.

Apart from Jayasudha and Sarathkumar, everyone else in the film including the brothers Srikantha Meka and Shaam, and the antagonist Prakash Raj are underutilised. Rashmika Mandanna’s role is the most ridiculous one in the film – she appears just to dance with Vijay in the songs and make her presence felt in family get-togethers, and then goes missing in the rest of the film. S J Suryah impresses in a brief cameo.

Technical departments: Cinematography by Karthik Palani is impressive. The production design is excellent and each frame – indoors & outdoors – is visually appealing. S Thaman’s songs are good but his background score in fight scene where Vijay visits the factory for the first time is bears resemblance to Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo fight scene where Allu Arjun thrashes Brahmaji’s henchmen.

Every scene in Varisu reminds of past Telugu movies like Gowtam SSC, Nannaku Prematho, Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, Srimanthudu where there are problems inside and outside the family and the hero fixes everything.

Vijay gave his best but Vamshi Paidipally’s screenplay is pedestrian and predictable – you know where there will be fight, you know when there will be a song (when Rashmika Mandanna appears) and you know when there will be an emotional scene (when Jayasudha or Sarathkumar appear).

In summary, Varisu is a mediocre film, lacks originality, isn’t entertaining and is strictly for Vijay fans.

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