The premise of Vaazha is hidden in its tagline – Biopic Of A Billion Boys. This basically means that the events that are showcased in the film can easily be extended to boys of the country, wherein you character here could be replaced by a real-life personality, and its outcome won’t change in the overall scheme of things. The story does take you on a nostalgic ride by showcasing the antics of the characters, most of whom belong to the third category of losers with the first two being studious and above average ones in life. The writing isn’t novel as such but it still has its heart in the right place wherein you will find yourself equating your journey to, and relating to any of the characters which may basically be you at some point in your life. This, even as the writing chooses to introduce a layer of commentary with respect to the toxic parenting amidst the peer pressure that the parents are often exposed to leading them to transfer their share of pressure on their children. And this essentially forms the crux of the screenplay that stands at a tender runtime of a shade above 2 hours.

I quite liked the opening sequence of the film that did equate the banana plantation providing raw bananas that represent the raw and unpolished characters in the film. And just like the raw fruit is indigestible to the stomach, these characters are indigestible to the society while often being compared to the ripe fruit in the edible form. Amidst this, you also see a game of one-upmanship between the parents who try and steal the banana sapling in order to push it to grow in their compound, which essentially is the crux of them putting pressure on their children to achieve in life. But very early on in the film, you are introduced to the characters and their traits that suggest that things may not necessarily go as planned for the parents.

The proceedings in the first hour might seem to be fragmented and straight out of an instagram reel but luckily the writing does provide several bouts of humour to make you chuckle with laughter. The events are relatable and definitely make for a rather enjoyable watch while transporting you on a quiet little trip down memory lane. Here I must add that there were a few issues wherein the gags were repetitive and could have been better staged but the entertainment quotient is still pretty high and prompts you to break in a fit of laughter every now and then. Amidst the chaos, you are also acquainted to the characters and their traits while deftly indulging in their love angles before an ultimate goof-up. But the fragmented events have one little thread that ties the narrative together – the commentary of parenting amidst the rise of adulthood amongst the boys. As a result, the sequence involving a police officer arresting the characters only to narrate his backstory leads to a hilarious interval block that had me in splits.

The tone of the drama slightly drifts towards being slightly serious even as the characters enter adulthood that brings with it, its share of complications. This extends to the parents as well who are shown to succumb to the ways of the society, even as a few of them unleash a scathing attack on their children, something that leads to certain implications in their lives. The writing doesn’t vilify either of the parties even while presenting an uneven picture with regard to the ambitions of the characters. However, I did have an issue with the sudden transformation of a few characters which takes place without a solid buildup. The transformation ought to have been a lot more organic in its approach, although the writers get the drama back on track by an implied vicious circle that continues to torment the characters thereby leaving a whole new slate for its second part. Overall, the screenplay might seem uneven but it definitely has its heart in the right place and makes for a wonderful watch.