User reviews

The movie started slow but the wait was fruitful. When the movie started, I thought its a horror movie but then the last 30 minutes just overshadowed the flaws. Enjoyed the change in character of Fahad Fazil. This movie showed that one shouldn't be quiet and women instincts should be considered to avoid any situation like this.

When this film is reviewed, there are certain mandatory guidelines that should be followed before breaking down the pros and cons of the movie. The first one is that it is a freaking Amal Neerad movie. Forget your fast paced thriller scenes. Forget clichéd wide shots. Forget plot advancements. Forget TIME. Amal demands your patience. His films has an extensive use of slo mo shots. So much that it can actually extend the film by 20-30 minutes. These might be things that you would criticize about his movies. It could also be pros of the movie. But either way Amal creates every single one of his movies this way and Varathan is no different. It steers clear of some of Amal's stereotypical themes. It's actually a step high of CIA and a step down from Iyobinte Pusthakam.

Varathan on the outside, is a clear cut thriller film. It could be categorized as a drama/action/thriller film. The genres that has undergone mixing are great ones and that is in itself a great pro. Amal Neerad has commanded attention from the very first shot. Something many directors find it hard. Varathan succeeds on so many levels. It's perhaps a unique find in malayalam mainstream cinema. It's a breath of fresh air. The plot is lazy. That's usually the case for an Amal Neerad film. Style over substance. Varathan is that with the exception of the first hour and a half. The first half is so damn thrilling that you would wonder whether it's a Amal movie or not. The second half's 30 minutes into the finish prove to us that it is indeed an Amal Neerad film. The performances were pretty good. All of them. Some tonal inconsistencies in the first half. Incorporating songs just for the sake of it and some glaring holes about the philosophy of violence in this film. But well, it's an Amal Neerad Movie.

Fahadh, Aiswarya and probably every one of the supporting cast gave a splendid, convincing performance. The only thing that i had a clear cut problem was the action scenes. I completely understand Amal's style. But the fight scenes could have been a little bit better. A LOT better, actually.

Varathan is an adaptation of the 1971 film Straw Dogs. In terms of similarity in making, both of them are vastly different. But the ideas, the themes that arise are pretty much the same. A great adaptation in short.

Varathan is a treat for all of those who adore film in it's raw form. Amal Neerad makes sure that you're hooked and if you ain't he's got a big title card at the end that says 'AN AMAL NEERAD FILM'. I'm sure everybody will be hooked to that.

A great thriller for the weekend. And outstanding acting by fahad. Great keep going mollywood

This makes you see how hypocritically minded our society is. You might think like this is just a movie, but the truth is not far away. The reality is, regardless of the literacy and our hyped moral status, the majority of the people in our society are actually narrow minded ...and cannot accept any world other than theirs... This is in a way another angle of what happened to Madhu, the adhivasi who got killed coz he was suspected of thievery.

Although this movie was not much fun/enjoyable, I hope it helps people to understand the reality.

Just one word - Brilliant. Varathan is a well directed absolute drama_thriller from Amal Neerad. Everything about the movie is good, right from casting, cinematography, music to the surprise element in store. Buy a ticket for this movie without a doubt in mind. You will enjoy it. My rating - 10/10

P.S- Just can't get enough of Fahad Faasil in Amal Neerad movies.

Yes, the core theme of 'Varathan' is heavily inspired by the 1971 home-invasion thriller 'Straw Dogs'. But what makes it worth a viewing is the way master-director Amal Neerad has incorporated all necessary elements to essentially 'Malayali-fy' it. The film opens in Dubai and moves quickly to an estate in Vagamon, Kerala. Having actors like Fahadh Fazil and Aishwarya Lekshmi portraying key characters (Abin and Priya) only elevates an already-intriguing plotline (especially for those who haven't seen 'Straw Dogs').

The new environs aren't the friendliest, to say the least, and it is Priya who notices this first. She is terrified at the fact that her former classmates are lusting after her even when she's a married woman. The tactics employed by Pappaali Josy (Sharafudheen) and his cronies to taunt Priya are ones that give women sleepless nights. Aishwarya Lekshmi plays the helpless (but wanting-to-give-it-back-to-em locals) woman to the T. Fahadh lends much-needed composure to the character of Abin, until he has no choice but to lay the baddies to waste.

The film is a slow-burn thriller with a payoff that boasts ample doses of masala. The quintessential 'break-point' arrives around the 90/100 min mark, and when it does, one or two retaliation strategies used by Abin, manage to leave the viewer reasonably pumped up. The music and background score (by Sushin Shyam) do add to the eerie feel of the film. Amal Neerad's directorial skills are also ably complemented by the subtle frames chosen by cinematographer Littil Swayamp. If only had Amal done away with some of his regular cinematic tropes (such as the excessive use of slow-motion, his choice to include a badly choreographed muddy rain fight as opposed to slower yet more effective, hard-hitting methods to inflict pain on the antagonists, and not giving the female protagonist enough masala moments as the male), 'Varathan' would have turned out to be a more thrilling cinematic experience.

In its current form, 'Varathan' is memorable while it lasts but the finale feels a little rushed and as I mentioned above, the punishment meted out to the baddies felt insufficient. Enjoy it for its realistic performances, brilliant camerawork, and splendid storytelling.

A movie everyone waited for a long time. ABI, the character portrayed by Fahad is something everyone wish to be. Atleast Once in life YOU would've experienced what the movie showcases. He did what everyone wants to DO when PRIVACY of his life gets threatened. Priya, played by Aishwarya is amazing at the moments when it needed in building the emotions. . . Amal Neerad has proven that he is a DIRECTOR whom can make movies relevant to the current perceptions (never ending) of our society. (GOOD JOB) . Script of the movie is a QUESTIONING to our HYPOCRYTIC society who surveils on everything we DO. . Littil swayamp being behind the lens has once again proven that he is amazing. When it comes to those thrilling last sequences, without brilliant cinematographer movie would've gone to zero. (Great work) . . Worth watching if you love Thrillers.

Positives:

1. BGM: Sushin Shyam create a good BGM score 2. Cinematography & Color Tone: First half was slightly lag but the Littil Swayamp frames cover the laggines 3. Amal Neerad;s narration & making style 4. Fahad Faazil & Aishwarya combination scene was pretty good 5. Sharafudheen,Vijilesh Karayad, Arjun Ashokan characters. they give outstanding and surprise performance 6. Climax: One of the main highlight is climax, action scenes & BGM in climax was pretty good

Negatives:

1. Slightly laaging in first half 2. Need more scary atmosphere in first half

What you would expect from an amal neerad film... A slow but goof 1st half which is a build up... To an absolutely thrilling second half.... Edge of your seat thriller for the last 30 min of the film!! Easily fahad's best perfomance so far in his career.... Just go n watch!! And good luck finding critics... If there is any!

Varathan is a thriller-action drama movie directed by Amal Neerad starring Fahadh Faasil, Aishwarya Lekshmi, Sharafudheen, Dileesh Pothan and various other talented faces and it tells the story of Abin and Priya, a couple settled in Dubai who after going through some hurdles in their personal and professional lives decides to move to Priya's father's estate back in Kerala. But things are not so friendly over there and the couple is faced with men who crave for a woman's body and a society of people who mock at a man and woman together. Varathan is truly an entertaining movie, but it has it share of problems. However let us start with the good stuff first. Firstly, the cinematography is jaw-dropping. Littil Swayamp has done it once in Parava and has done it again in Varathan and he is proving he is one of the most talented people in the industry. The camera shots and setting are presented beautifully and there is some amazing stuff to be seen towards the end of the movie. Secondly, the acting. Fahadh Faasil knocks it out of the park once again as Abin, which we should be expecting at this point. He is one of the best in the malayalam industry. This is not in anyway the maximum of his potential as his character is one which does not have a lot of depth but its fine. Aishwarya Lekshmi gives out a genuinely good performance. Her character could have been annoying but she handles it with grace. Dileesh Pothan is fine as his character however he does not have much to do. The absolutely amazing performances of the movie belong to Sharafudeen and Vijilesh. They were fricking amazing, menacing, ruthless and genuinely annoying. The background score and action scenes are very well done and put out a good show. The bad parts of the movie are prominent. The movie falls into cliche territory, with a lot of the plot being predictable. You can see stuff happening miles before they actually happen and this is bad for any movie. This predictability makes the majority of the movie difficult to get through and thus the movie lags a lot. The plot is stretched out for so long. The director is intending to build the characters and the plot, however personally I feel as if these characters does not have much to be built about as they are caricatures of what they portray. Also a minor nitpick I have with this movie is that the songs does not really match the tone of the movie. Some of the songs break up that tone of the movie with booming EDM music which I thought were unnecessary. However, I must mention the final 15-20 minutes of the film which will shake up the theatre. The action sequences are so goddamn good! All in all, Varathan is an enjoyable thriller-action flick with some fine acting, good bgm, incredible cinematography and action sequences that will stick on your mind long after the credits roll.

A breathtaking thriller which have power-packed performances from Fahad Fazil and Aishwarya Lakshmi.The cinematography of the film is so good.

If Girirajan Kozhi was a rich, influential and would do anything cheap to get the girl in bed he eyes for, then that is Varathan for you.

This is by far the best movie of Fahad Fasil 👌 First half of the movie is a heavy thriller but as you progress through the second half, you'll be on the edge of your seats.

I don't know why Varathan has got such rave reviews. It is a movie with no sense and no heart. It's actually a piece of nothingness. What the protagonist do in the final 20 minutes is the reason for this wide publicity. Just think about that final sequences with the story. You'll know what I mean. A big clap for Littl Swayamp. His cinematography was brilliant.

Whether copied or not, I'm in love with this fantastic piece of art! Amal Neerad's movie always rises above my expectation! I haven't watched "Straw Dogs" but this movie was a visual treat like no other! According to me, good foreign movies like these need to be remade in different languages, so that people could get to watch good remakes and enjoy 2 hours!

VARATHAN is a brilliant commercial film and a really good film!

VARATHAN is layered and political and the characters have been well-etched!

VARATHAN has got excellent cinematography by Littil Swayamp. The shots and angles were very well used to evoke tension and discomfort. One or two jump-scare attempts felt deliberate though. Thank god, the yellow filter portions were very less and were in the beginning of the film. The frames were picked not for its beauty, but for its ability to convey the mood of the film.

VARATHAN has got really good writing and dialogues especially between the two lead characters. Well done Suhas and Sharfu!

VARATHAN's background score is top notch and apt in a commercial cinema point of view. But it was a bit too much for a classic cinema. Yeah I understand that the director must have wanted the film to stand tall as a commercial flick too. Great job Sushin Shyam! Though the songs were forgettable, the score held the film together.

VARATHAN is blessed with brilliant performances. Aishwarya Lekshmi excelled again after her career-changing Mayaanadhi. She was brilliant as Priya and brought all the nuances on to screen. Sharaf U Dheen was bloody brilliant! He proved that he can create magic if the script, direction everything falls in place. Arjun Ashokan, Vijilesh, Nisthar Sait, Dileesh Pothan all were excellent. Perfect casting! And Fahadh Faasil as Varathan was as usual at his best! The way he shows the various shades of Abi with ease was a treat to watch.

VARATHAN will make you feel like a VARATHAN in an unknown (yet not unusual) territory! Definitely worth your time and money!

The movie gives a undeniable vibe of straw dogs throughout and climax was absolutely stunning as the slowmotion and background score tooks it to beyond as an average movie. This is Fahad's one of the best next to kumbalangi nights and thondimudhalum. He is composed, meticulous not give a damn attitude at the end made it worth a watch.

Why this director even made this movie is the biggest question to be asked here. I watched this movie based on the reviews which majorly said that the movie's climax is awesome. Yeah it was awesome but what about the rest of the movie it was not up to the mark and that thing made the climax even less impactful as well. All of a sudden a naive looking IT Professional turns into martial art Pro just after a few lines of disgrace from his wife. It's like the movie takes millions of year to develop the last 20 mins of the movie. Watch it strictly for both the leads' honest portrayals and cinematography.

What a film, even though the first half of the film was a bit laggy it is actually making you wait for the awesomeness in the climax.Actually the climax is the main highlight of the movie. And Fahad, you guys know about that no need for me to explain, he is just lit AF. You can give him any role and its safe in his hands and Aiswarya laksmi has also done a great job from her side.Sharafudeen needs applause for what he have done in the film, from his usual comic role to a perfect villain was just WOW!!! i don't say it as a must watch but if you do watch the film doesn't dissapoint you. KEEPS YOU ENTERTAINING!!!!!

Varathan is just lies in an average range. The film would have been excellent if it has about 90min duration instead of 130 minutes.Amal neerad has slowed his brand,excellence in the half an hour climax. Fahad,aishwarya lakshmi,sharafudheen etc. are performed excellent throughout. The camera works background music deserves a clap. For small subject they had taken 130 minutes . The only problem in the movie is just duration. Otherwise it would have been a super hit....

No coincidence! It is just a improvised rip-off from STRAW DOGS which starred the brilliant actor Dustin Hoffman.

One of the best thriller in Indian filim industry.The movie is succeed in every part Direction, Cinematography,Bgm,Acting etc.Amal neerad shows the detailed description of each character in first half and edge seat thrilling sequence in second Half .Go and watch 👌👍

One of the best-made Malayalam films of 2018 takes us on a gradual and sorta dull journey of two relatable characters - wife and husband (played by Aishwarya Lekshmi and Fahadh Faasil) - who are called outsiders by the vanity- and lust-filled inhabitants of the village where one of them spent their entire childhood. Amal Neerad's Varathan can be divided into two parts: one: 90 minutes of sheer narrative storytelling where the couple move from Dubai - romancing their way through some great tracks by the talented Sushin Shyam - and trying to find solace in a small farm house that is not devoid of voyeurs who reflect the collective real-life criminals we have around us; and two: a 30-minute taut action-packed revenge montage (again powered by a scintillating score and some great shots by Littil Swayamp), triggered by basic human instinct and between humans of two different kinds that is arguably the most magnificent series of sequences ever made in modern Malayalam cinema. When you finish watching the movie - numb across your body, yearning for Faasil to make some coffee for you - you will want to watch the second part one more time. And a few more times until you have made everyone in your friends and family circle to catch it on the big screen. Varathan will take you by surprise and make you forget its shortcomings. It will make you stronger and you'll like it because the world is not a good place anymore. TN.