Review: Vaazha - Unstable yet Reasonable

 

Movie: Vaazha
Rating: 2.75/5

Cast: Siju Sunny, Amith Mohan Rajeswari,  Joemon Jyothir, Anurag OB, Safwan, Basil Joseph and Others

Director: Vipin Das

Produced By: WBTS Productions, Imagin Cinemas, Signature Studios, Icon Studios

Streaming On: Disney+ Hotstar

Story:

Ajo (Siju Sunny), Vishnu (Amith Mohan Rajeswari), Moosa (Joemon Jyothir), Abdul Kalam (Anuraj OB), and Vivek (Saaf) are backbenchers since the first grade, and they maintain a close friendship over the years. They do not study well or have any extraordinary skill in any field and always get involved in some kind of trouble, bringing shame to their parents. The film's story is all about how these five friends get the taste of life and learn from their mistakes

Performances:

Siju, Joemon, and Anuraj provide commendable performances, while Amith's contribution is also satisfactory. Saaf's performance is acceptable; however, the senior actors, including Jagadish, Kottayam Nazeer, and Azees Nedumangad, excel in their roles, significantly enhancing both their characters and the overall quality of the film.

What worked for the film:

Written by Vipin Das and directed by Anand Menen, Vaazha predominantly draws upon nostalgia and the expected responses that such boys, among the "billion" they reference, would exhibit in comparable circumstances, as well as their camaraderie. This method proves effective during the early portion of the first half, and the occasional humor exchanged between the main characters is also well-received. The entire thread of parents standing up for their children in the second half and the way the director strongly showcases the bonding between them and a few emotional breakdown moments along with a perfect climax worked well for the film. Also, Basil Joseph's cameo in the second half provides a hilarious experience along with touching the essence of the film's storyline in the ending scene.

What did not work for the film:

Though the team of Vaazha has attempted to infuse the script with elements that evoke déjà vu, humor, and a blend of sentimentality and drama, the script ultimately falls short, remaining superficial in some crucial parts. For example, in a pivotal moment of the second half, Vishnu, after a confrontation with his father regarding one of his decisions, experiences a breakdown and leaps from a building. Nevertheless, the film fails to adequately clarify the reasons behind this extreme action, especially considering his history of encountering difficulties. Also, the film never tries to suggest that the actions of the lead characters, i.e., the five friends, are not correct with a strong effect, and it always shows them getting scolded by parents or teachers/officials, which does not provide the required effect.  

Vaazha Review and Verdict:

Vaazha is an adequate coming-of-age comedy drama. Although the film struggles with repetition and occasional inconsistency in writing, it finds the right tone in the second half and delivers effectively as it approaches the climax.