Vaaranam Aayiram - Movie Trivia

My mother told me that she has not watched Vaaranam Aayiram yet – a movie that was released in November 2008; a good 12 years before. With a run time of 169 minutes, it was almost evening when it got over. And I realised that the movie has aged quite well. The songs still bring a smile and the drama continues to be relatable.

 

While a lot is already said about the movie, I don’t think it would be a good idea to write a review. For those who have not yet watched, it’s a memoir of a son about his daddy, as he addresses him. Major Surya (actor Suriya) who is in a rescue mission gets to know that his daddy has just passed away. So, he sits with his crew who are in a helicopter to rescue a journalist whose surname is, no brownies for guessing, Ms. Dutta. His eyes are teary as the memories stream in his mind like a perfect phantasmagoria.

 

Vaaranam Aayiram is nostalgic, relatable and realistic – a perfect ode to all the fathers who did nothing but just stood by their children’s choices. And when they failed, they just threw some ideas and gave a simple nudge encouraging them to make the right choice!

 

And here are a few hidden details or rather facts which many of us would have missed when we watched for the first time:

 

·       The voice of Surya when he sings general movie songs is rendered by director Gautham Vasudev Menon himself. When the title card rolls, we could hear him singing with his family and friends. He continues to sing many songs in the movie including the unforgettable (well, more so because of this movie), en iniya pon nilave.

 

·       It’s a love at first sight with Malini (Simran) for Krishnan (father of Surya and actor Suriya himself). He gets to know her name from college library records. Guess who is the librarian? VTV Ganesh. He is the first person to let Malini know that Krishnan loves her, in his trademark voice!

 

·       Sitting in the living room, Surya strums a random song in his guitar and hums with gibberish words. His sister tells that the tune is cool and from which movie it is. He says that tune is fresh indeed and would take at least 10-15 years before it comes in any movie. I guess this event in their life would have happened in late 90s. And that tune is the famous nilave velli-velli nilave in Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu.

 

Random trivia - Did you know that Gautham Vasudev Menon was one of the background dancers in the song?

 

·       Surya goes to San Francisco to woe his lady love, Meghna (Sameera Reddy). She is quite surprised and later remarks that it is okay to go to a nearby city, state or even Kerala to pursue love. But to go all the way to USA is just unbelievable. Considering Chinmayi has dubbed for Sameera Reddy, I couldn’t stop myself from wondering if Gautham Vasudev Menon already had the script of Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya ready.

 

·       When Surya introduces the character of Priya (Divya Spandana), we see that he is standing by the gate, in the typical Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya way. Priya is his sister’s best friend just like what we get to see in Achcham yenbadhu madamaiyada.

 

·       In the climax, the man covering his face who lets Major Surya know about the whereabouts of the journalist and the terrorists is none other than the director, Gautham Vasudev Menon, himself.

 

Did I miss any further hidden details? Do let me know 😊