AMARAN : He did have two marriages afterall - INDHU & HIS COUNTRY

Disclaimer : SPOILER ALERT

Cinema often takes creative liberties to reach a broad audience; otherwise, it risks becoming more like a documentary, which might not connect with as many people. I don't claim to know all the ins and outs of the Indian army, so I’m not here to judge the factual accuracy of Major Mukund Varadarajan's  or the Indian Army's portrayal.

But wow—what a film! I haven’t seen a movie in years that’s both commercially viable and as realistic as this. There wasn’t a single moment that felt exaggerated or made melodramatic just to appeal to the Tamil or Indian audience. It felt like I was right there, watching Mukund’s life unfold. Knowing it’s a true story just pulls you in deeper.

Sai Pallavi’s portrayal of Indhu Rebecca Varghese left me speechless. I know there are women just as strong as her—family members of soldiers who have that same resilience. Have you seen Indhu's interviews? From playing a carefree college girl dotingly looking at her love to a woman with strength and pride who kept her promise not to cry when her husband passed, Sai nailed it. I don’t know if the real Indhu is behaved like that, but Sai made me believe she did. One unforgettable scene shows her anxiously waiting on a call while Mukund faces a life-threatening situation, finally breaking down when he says, "I’m fine." It was just heartbreaking. She’s undoubtedly one of the film’s strongest pillars. Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi's Chemistry seems organic and sweet making us fall in love with Indhu and Mukund more.

Another pillar is GV Prakash’s music. The heroic title theme appears only at key moments, never overdone or feeling “mass.” His background score and soulful songs perfectly match the tone of the film—you can tell when GV puts his heart into a film. Uyirey joins in my playlist.

And then there’s Rajkumar Periyasamy’s writing. One scene stands out where Mukund meets Indhu after a week at the OTA (Officer’s Training Academy, Chennai). He rests his head on her shoulder and says, "Vali Uyir Podhu di, Naan ipdiye paduthukkava?" Later, in a heart-wrenching parallel, Indhu sits beside Mukund's statue with their child, Arshea, and imagines him resting his head on her shoulder, saying, "Indhu… Udambellam romba valikkudhu, naan ipdiye konja neram… paduthukkava?" Then he fades, leaving their daughter to ask, “Amma… Appa-ku next leave eppo ma varum?”—leaving Indhu looking into the camera, her heart heavy with no answer. That’s beautiful writing. Many scenes, including the action sequences, carry this kind of emotional arc. Some characters don’t get much screen time or the impact that Mukund and Indhu do, but that who stands out is Mukund’s mother, Geetha Varadarajan, played by Geetha Kailasam, who is endearing and brings some warmth and humor. I felt Sepoy Vikram Singh ( portrayed by Bhuvan Arora) could’ve had a few stronger scenes to make his story and his end more impactful.

The film’s visuals are on point too. Cinematographer C.H. Sai’s work, with all those hand-held shots, gives it an immersive feel. The editing by R. Kalaivanan and the authentic set designs by Rajeevan add to the experience.

Amaran proves that content-driven films can be commercially successful if done right, and much of this success is thanks to Sivakarthikeyan Doss as Major Mukund. His journey has been inspiring—from losing his father, Jailer G. Doss, in the line of duty, to winning Kalakka Povadhu Yaaru, to dancing in Jodi No.1, and hosting shows like Super Singer and Adhu Idhu Edhu, to bagging his first feature role in 3 and becoming one of Tamil Nadu’s most bankable stars. He's known for being versatile in the commercial zone, but movies like Maaveeran and Amaran show us a new side of Sivakarthikeyan—the performer. His restrained, subtle sometimes powerful performance in Amaran anchors the film, keeping it raw and real. Whether he’s showing vulnerability, holding back pain with a smile in front of his family, or bringing power to the line “Who are we?”—he owns the role. That intense scene on the mission we talked about really stood out—when Mukund tells Indhu he’s fine, she feels relieved, but he looks around and sees his injured and fallen comrades, letting out an agonized cry. It’s like he’s not actually happy to be okay himself. That felt like a true soldier’s moment to me. His growth just feels personal having been admiring his work right from the beginning. I’m sure in the next five years, he’ll redefine his image and become one of the biggest stars.

One of my favourite films of 2024.

NOTE : Amaran is a 2024 Indian Tamil-language biographical action war film directed by Rajkumar Periasamy, produced by Raaj Kamal Films International in collaboration with Sony Pictures Films India. The movie stars Sivakarthikeyan as Major Mukund Varadarajan, with Sai Pallavi, Bhuvan Arora, and Rahul Bose in key roles. It’s adapted from India's Most Fearless: True Stories of Modern Military Heroes by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh, which includes a chapter on Major Mukund’s courageous life and service. The film blends action with a deep, respectful portrayal of Major Mukund's experiences, aiming to honor the sacrifices and resilience of India's military heroes. The collaboration of Raaj Kamal Films and Sony Pictures reflects the significance and scale of the project, bringing this real-life story to the big screen with authenticity and powerful performances.