Film: Amaran
Direction: Rajkumar Periasamy
Cast: Sivakarthikeyan, Sai Pallavi, Rahul Bose, Bhuvan Arora


Films with military background usually have a predictable ending. What stands unique is what is being depicted between the start and climax of the movie. Amaran, a biopic on Major Mukund Varadarajan starring Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi, perfectly captures the life of an Army officer and how much his family has to undergo through the turmoil of a risky career.

 
Rajkumar Periasamy-directorial starts with a striking line from Indhu Rebecca Varghese, Major Mukund’s wife, played with palpable emotion by Sai Pallavi: “I am in a forever long-distance relationship with my love.” From this opening moment, we are introduced to Major Mukund’s world in Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir, and the diverse members of his unit, the 44 Rashtriya Rifles, who hail from every corner of India.

From the military environs, we are taken to a college life showing how Indhu met Mukund. Sai Pallavi steals the show with her chirpiness and the ‘butterflies in the stomach’ kind of love, and her mix of Malayalam and Tamil paint the romance another shade of cuteness. It takes no time for the audience to fall in love with this cute couple.

 
When Mukund’s responsibility takes him across the country, and in volatile Jammu and Kashmir, Indhu holds tight onto her love, fighting odds with her family and braving the concerns of his parents as well.

 
Adapted from the book India’s Most Fearless: True Stories of Modern Military Heroes by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh, Amaran is more than just a biographical narrative. Periasamy’s tight storytelling and his control over the film’s pacing elevate it from a conventional war drama to a touching portrayal of love, family, and the burdens of duty. Choreographed by duo Anbariv, the action sequences are meticulously crafted, gripping without being over-the-top, while the emotional scenes between Mukund and Indhu anchor the film, making their relationship the true heart of the story.

Amid the emotional journey of the couple, the film also neatly portrays the insurgency, radicalisation of youth and terror menace that the people of Valley face day by day. With an unbiased portrayal of the Valley, the movie leaves it to viewers to take stands.

 
Amaran is also a movie that shows audience the struggles that the families of our army personnel go through. Every morning, they wake up fearing the worst. But it doesn’t glorify heroism and rely mostly on the emotional connections between the people, be it between Mukund and his team, or between Mukund and his wife or between Mukund and his parents.

 
When Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Palalvi seamlessly blend into Major Mukund Varadarajan and Indhu Rebecca Varghese, they are ably supported by cast such as Bhuvan Arora, who plays the role of Sepoy Vikram Singh, Rahul Bose, Geetha Kailasam, Lallu and Shreekumar.

Composer GV Prakash’s music and background score elevate the mood of the film and pitches us directly into the moment. The topography of Kashmir and the battle sequences add to the experience of the film, thanks to cinematographer CH Sai.

Amaran is a beautiful, emotional and intriguing ode to Major Mukund Varadarajan and army personnel like him. Barring some fast switching between narrations, the film has all the elements to lighten up your day.