Vanamagan movie review: Definitely worth a watch!

Director: Vijay

Cast: Jayam Ravi, Sayyeshaa, Prakash Raj and Thambi Ramaiah

Young Kavya (Sayyeshaa) is a multimillionaire and is brought up by her guardian and father’s friend Rajashekar (Prakash Raj) as the former’s parents are dead in an accident. Rajashekar’s only aim is to expand the Kavya group of industries. Lone Kavya grows up as a brat and does not care much about human emotions and their needs.

Kavya along with a group of friends visit the Andamans to usher the New Year. On their way in deep woods, her car hits upon something and to their shock they find a tribal (Jayam Ravi) with a head injury. Kavya and co somehow manages to bring him to the city and admit him at a hospital. Though her friends vanish from the scene, Kavya is kind with him and names him Vaasi (derived from Kaattuvaasi). Vaasi turns weird as he encounters with technology and urban life. With Kavya’s love and affection, Vaasi slowly adapts himself to the new way of life but always has a ‘lost look’ on his face. Kavya develops a soft spot for Vaasi.

When Rajashekar returns from his tour, he is surprised seeing Vaasi at Kavya’s place and asks her not to entertain him anymore. And things get worse when Rajashekar’s son (Varun) forces Kavya to marry him.

In a fit of anger, Vaasi beats him severely for misbehaving with Kavya.  Rajashekar informs the police who in turn arrests Vaasi and takes him back to the Andamans.  How Kavya goes missing from home in search of Vaasi and saves the tribes from the greedy corporates who wants to displace them forms the rest.

Right from the beginning, it becomes obvious that Jayam Ravi as a tribal man has put his heart and soul to the role. Ravi does not have any dialogues in the movie. But, with perfect body language and fitting facial expressions, he is a treat to watch. Thanks to national award winning makeup man Pattanam Rashid for bringing alive a tribe on Ravi’s looks.

Debut girl Sayyeshaa looks ravishing and she steals the show with her effortless performance. She dances like a dream and her lip-sync is flawless. Credit goes to director Vijay for giving her a meaty role and extracting the best and Ravi for allowing his heroine a solid screen space. Thambi Ramaiah once again proves his versatility in a comical role. Prakash Raj and Varun are adequate. What’s the purpose Thalaivasal Vijay’s character in the film is unclear.  The film drags a bit in the second half.

Vanamagan has the trademark style of Vijay stamped on it throughout.  His films have clean comedy blended with human emotions and love with a positive approach. Though an experimental genre, he still was able to satisfy mainstream as well as serious cinema lovers. Harris Jayaraj’s music (50th film) and Tirru’s splendid visuals goes well with the mood of the tone with which the film is set. A film worth a watch!