The film posters and the wig(for Simran) and the costumes are in place but the whole thing looks and feels like it was done on a set, without much effort going into recreating that time period. Like, for instance, the segment that is set in the 60s. The finer details - whether its in the supporting characters or the period sets or the story transitions itself - are a little flimsy.
But the facade starts to crack if we dig just a little bit deeper. It is engaging, emotional and effective and succeeds in creating an interesting protagonist and charting an interesting course for his life. There is some nice symmetry(like the way Surya and Divya travel far to woo their respective beaus) between the two romances but Gautham does well to not overstress it. The Surya-Divya romance doesn't quite have the same impact but that is as much due to the inevitable comparison with the Sameera track as it is due to the widely different circumstances. Surya's dogged pursuit of Sameera paves the way for a romance that is both cute and convincing and Surya's reaction to its end is one of the genuinely touching moments in the movie. Surya and Simran, inspite of not having a lot of screen time, create a screen couple whose love for each other has only grown over the years. The film's other key relationships are also portayed well. By choosing this approach, Gautham manages to convey a message but avert the problem of the film turning into a documentary. It's his dad who inspires him to choose his career its his dad who pushes him to grow his romance its his dad who helps him recover from a big personal tragedy and its his dad who supports him when he finally realizes his life's goals. But we get to see the pivotal role his father plays in all stages of his life. Though the film begins and ends with Surya, the father, it is Surya, the son, who is at the forefront of the film and it's the twists and turns in his life that we are witnesses to. But while Cheran's film had the dad as the central figure, Vaaranam Aayiram illustrates a father's importance by keeping him in the background. The film is an ode to the Dad and in that goal it is similar to Thavamaai Thavamirundhu. His life from then takes several unexpected turns but his dad is always there to guide him through them.
With his dad's backing, he travels to San Francisco to get the woman of his dreams. During the same time he meets Meghna(Sameera Reddy), who is all set to pursue higher studies in the US and vows that he would wed her. Surya, while in college, realizes that it is high time he repays all that his father has done for him and finds himself a nice job. Krishnan(Surya), who married his college sweetheart Malini(Simran), is now the proud father of a son Surya(Surya) and a daughter. Gautham's familiar style dilutes the movie's emotional impact somewhat but it is an honest, heartfelt story that would've probably made his father happy.
Vaaranam Aayiram, a self-confessed tribute from director Gautham Vasudev Menon(the middle name was added to his name after his father passed away) to his dad, showcases a man whose life could be used as an example to alter the aforementioned proverb to say ' Behind every successful man is his father'.