If you skipped Varavu during its theatrical run, you’re about to get a second chance. Joju George’s Malayalam action thriller is heading to ZEE5 starting September 11, bringing Shaji Kailas’s signature gritty style to the small screen after a run in cinemas that drew fairly mixed reactions.
When and Where to Watch
Varavu begins streaming on ZEE5 from September 11, arriving close to two months after it first hit theatres, which lines up with the typical window Malayalam films tend to follow before making their way to OTT. ZEE5 has locked in exclusive streaming rights for the film, so this won’t be available on any other platform at launch. Anyone with a ZEE5 subscription will be able to watch it as soon as it goes live.
Worth noting too, this marks the first time Shaji Kailas and Joju George have worked together. Kailas has long been considered one of Malayalam cinema’s reliable hitmakers, so a first collaboration with an actor known for bringing real intensity to his roles was always going to draw attention. The film is written by A K Sajan.
What’s the Story?
Varavu didn’t have the smoothest path to release either. Its theatrical debut got pushed back twice, first from May, before it finally opened in cinemas on July 16. The story follows Polachan, played by Joju George, a wealthy planter who returns to his native village in Kerala after getting out of prison. Driven by old grudges against his rivals, Polachan sets out on a revenge mission, while also quietly plotting for his younger brother Willy, who has been missing for four years, to take the fall for what he’s planning.
At its core, this is a story about buried family conflict finally surfacing after years of silence, one that ends up exposing corruption and long standing power struggles within a small town. It’s the kind of setup Kailas has built a career around, family loyalty colliding with old scores and small town politics.
The Cast
Joju George leads as Polachan, with Arjun Ashokan playing his brother Willy. Vani Viswanath and Murali Gopy take on key supporting roles, and the rest of the cast includes Saniya Iyappan, Vincy Aloshious, Sukanya, Baburaj, Deepak Parambol, Azees Nedumangad, Abhimanyu Thilakan and Bobby Kurian. It’s a fairly packed ensemble, which fits a story built around a small town’s tangled web of relationships and rivalries.
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What to Expect
Reviews for Varavu came in fairly split. A number of critics called out Murali Gopy specifically for a controlled, quietly intense performance that stood out from the rest of the film.
Not everyone was convinced across the board though, with some feeling that Kailas’s attempt to modernize his usual visual style ended up feeling more dated than fresh. If you want a fuller breakdown of how the film actually plays out, this review of Varavu makes the case that Joju George deserved better material than what he got, even while carrying the film largely on his own.
That mixed reception probably sets realistic expectations heading into the OTT release. If you’re already a fan of Shaji Kailas’s brand of filmmaking or you enjoy watching Joju George bring his usual intensity to a role, there’s likely enough here to keep you engaged. If you’re hoping for something more inventive or a fresh take on the revenge drama format, you might walk away a little underwhelmed.
Either way, Varavu is now just days away from making its digital debut, streaming on ZEE5 from September 11.