Here is why we need to stop comparing Thavamai Thavamirundhu and Vaaranam Aayiram

I see a lot of people comparing these two films and saying VA is just a more upmarket version of Thavamaai Thavamirundhu. The stories are similar only in the narrative style of sons getting to know that their fathers are ill/dead. Otherwise, the stories are not similar in any way. Here is why:

Vaaranam Aayiram is a story of a normal guy from a decent, progressive, well-to-do family. The film explored themes like tragedy, redemption and self-exploration. Like throwing water on a well done painting. In fact the story of Suriya Sr and Simran is told like a fairytale romance where the hero sweeps the heroine off her feet, complete with bike rides, hugs, exaggerated song and dance. Their portion is by far the most enviable part of the story.

Suriya Jr however fails to be his dad and tragically loses the love of his life. GVM and Suriya then take the audience through one of the most inspiring portions of cinema I have seen. Till date Suriya Jr coming out of depression through discipline, exercise and self-exploration is relevant. I am certain that many folks would have used that to look forward in life after failures. Suriya Jr’s life coming back on track after his army stint and Divya re-entering it (almost like another fairytale) completes his arc beautifully. For the first time, falling in love again and moving on in life is shown as maturely as possible. This was not usual Tamil cinema(in 2008) which pedals the nonsense ‘one-or-none’ narrative. Real life is much more complicated and unpredictable.

The death of Suriya Sr and Sameera Reddy’s characters are about the only sad things to happen in the movie. Even there, the death of Suriya Sr is so well handled that we can see the family(Simran’s character mainly) almost teaching us how to take bad news gracefully.

Thavamai Thavamirundhu is almost a tragedy drama. The film explores themes like sacrifice, hardship, survival and poverty. The film picks up themes like redemption only in the fag end of the story till which everything possible continues to go wrong. The story of the father is heart-warming but unenviable. The movie also intentionally finishes on a poignant note.

The story of Cheran and Padmapriya too are no different. In fact Cheran would have shown his life almost mirroring Rajkiran’s. So even there the similarities are too much unlike Varanam aayiram where the stories are entirely different. And as bad as it might sound, the film did not really break new ground aside from establishing Rajkiran as the perennial ‘Appa’ in Tamil cinema. In fact Mirchi Senthil’s character returning was unavoidable and I was sure Cheran would do a Vikraman and show some kind of karma.

So... no. They are not the same.