Varaha Movie Review: A Relatable Journey of Youth and Unemployment on Disney+ Hotstar
The Malayalam film “Varaha,” which premiered in theaters and ran for two hours, is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar, complete with a well-done Telugu dubbed version. If you’re looking for a movie that speaks to the experiences of today’s youth, “Varaha” might be just what you need.
Unpacking the Title: What Does ‘Varaha’ Mean?
The title “Varaha” directly translates to ‘Banana Plant’. Indirectly, this title conveys a quality of growing very slowly and lazily, subtly hinting at the film’s themes.
From Theaters to Disney+ Hotstar: Varaha’s Journey
Originally released in Malayalam theaters with a runtime of two hours, “Varaha” is now available for streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. The Telugu dubbing has been well-received, making it accessible to a wider audience.
A Story Without a Plot? Varaha’s Unique Narrative
“Varaha” stands out because it doesn’t follow a traditional story structure. Instead, it focuses on depicting situations faced by contemporary youth. These include youngsters who are idle after completing their studies but are unemployed, as well as scenarios involving early marriages. The first half of the film covers the journey from childhood focused on studies, while the second half delves into the problems of unemployment. The movie essentially showcases the process of childhood friends navigating school, college problems, and then the challenges of unemployment. Additionally, a Part 2 for “Varaha” has already been announced.
Relatability and Emotional Core: Why Youth Will Connect
The film, though not extraordinary, left a positive impression. While it may disconnect the audience at times, many scenes are highly relatable and deeply connect with youth. The movie features a fun-filled first half, followed by an emotional second half. A key message conveyed is the importance of parental support for children’s well-being, similar to how the reviewer’s own parents and siblings supported them in starting their channel. The film concludes with a powerful dialogue: a person becomes a hero not by marrying the one they love, or by becoming a doctor, engineer, or collector, but when their father accepts them wholeheartedly. Viewers are encouraged to watch the last half hour of the film with their parents due to its emotional impact.
Can You Watch Varaha with Family?
For those wondering if “Varaha” is suitable for family viewing, it can mostly be watched together. However, there is one scene in the first half, reminiscent of a particular scene in the movie “Committee Kurrollu,” where it is suggested to only listen to the music during that specific moment. The rest of the film is generally appropriate.
Varaha’s Strengths: What Works Well?
One of the biggest strengths of “Varaha” is its high relatability, making viewers feel as if the events happened to them or their friends. Director Vipin Das deserves praise for his creative direction, notably for a scene involving growing a banana plant, selling its fruits, and making banana fritters. This particular sequence was highlighted as one of the most creative scenes in recent times, appearing early in the film. The emotional depth of the last half hour, especially a father’s pain for his son, felt unique and deeply moving. Performances from every actor are commendable, reaching peak levels. The comedy scenes set in school and college during the first half are well-executed. Many scenes are so relatable to today’s youth that they are bound to be cut into trending Instagram Reels. A significant positive is the film’s ability to condense various phases of life into just two hours, when it could easily have been a web series or a three-hour film. Basil Joseph makes a notable cameo appearance as a police officer. The film also boasts good cinematography and an effective background score (BGM). A unique feature praised on Hotstar is its provision of good Telugu lyrics for Malayalam songs, a feature not commonly found on other OTT platforms.
Areas for Improvement: Varaha’s Weaknesses
Despite its strengths, “Varaha” has a few drawbacks. The primary negative point is the lack of a defined story. The narrative tends to disconnect at several points throughout the film, though it often reconnects with relatable scenes. The second half has been compared to a mini-version of “3 Idiots.” A particular scene involving a “ganja girl” felt rushed or abruptly shifted from comedy to seriousness, making the characters’ reactions seem unmotivated without adequate prior context. Additionally, the film does not include elements typically expected by mass audiences.
Final Verdict: Is Varaha Worth Your Time?
While viewers might occasionally lose flow, “Varaha” largely offers entertaining, fun, and emotional scenes with good execution. It’s a film that’s worth watching at least once, especially for youth. It can be described as a decent film with fun and emotional values, albeit a bit slow in places. Based on personal opinion, “Varaha” receives a rating of 3.25/5.
