Of late, Mollywood has been exploring the aesthetics of realistic approach. Sidharth Bharathan's Varnyathil Aashanka, which hit theaters without much hype, follows a similar pattern but tramps into a virgin terrain of realism.
Designed to simmer up as a potboiler, Sidharth Bharathan mixes the sublime and comic. In essence, the director underscores the serious aspects and soft pedals the humor in the narrative.
The story revolves around a bunch of thugs who eke out a living through misadventures. The focus is on the lives of those in the substratum, for whom making both ends meet is an arduous affair. But the pain is conveyed in a lighter, subtle manner.
The conflict is petty and bland initially, but as the plot develops, the narrative becomes captivating. The saga begins with Pratheesh (Shine Tom Chacko), a naive fraudster deciding to pickpocket. His unsuccessful bid lands him in deep trouble.
To avoid getting caught, he takes refuge at Wilson's (Chemban Vinod) abode – the place where local conmen Sivan (Kunchacko Boban) and Gilbert (Manikandan) gather to relax and reflect on their state of affairs.
The story gets plump when Sivan and Co. victimize a simpleton named Dayanandan during one of their escapades. Dayandan (Suraj Venjaramoodu) is a former bar employee, who has lost his job after the bar closure and is tired of the reproaches of his nagging wife Karthika (Rachana Narayanankutty).
Suraj Venjaramood makes merry with the character he has been assigned to and showcases a marvelous piece of performance. Kunchako Boban too doesn't fall short of wielding a tight grip on the role of a local goon. Shine Tom Chacko, Manikandan, Chemban Vinod, Rachana Narayanankutty essay their roles perfectly well.
Varnyathil Aashanka isn't a boisterous comedy that provides you a thorough laughter riot. But it lends you some occasions to cheer silently and heartily. As is with every filmmaker, Sidharth too staggers in the end and fails to give a good conclusion to the course of events. Had the ending been a bit more substantive, the film would have become a handsome treat.
Rating: 3/5
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