Chennai, India – What you’re likely to feel about Venky Atluri’s Vishwanath & Sons will largely depend on how you feel about Mamitha Baiju’s performance in it. She plays Maddy, a surrogate mother who enters the life of Sanjay Vishwanath (Suriya), a billionaire who has sworn never to marry. While the film attempts to be a family drama, it often feels like a plasticky, over-the-top affair, with flat lighting, jarring visuals, and a narrative that lacks subtlety. Yet, it’s Suriya’s relaxed charm that makes the film just about watchable.
Mamitha Baiju delivers her loudest performance yet, underlining every expression as though she’s making sure it can be seen from space. If you buy into the largeness of her performance, you might enjoy the film; if not, it becomes gratingly plasticky. The film’s first half is filled with scenes of Sanjay’s mother arm-twisting him into providing an heir, with ridiculously over-the-top visuals that emphasize wealth over interpersonal dynamics. The mansion resembles a Bauhaus airport, and the lighting feels flat and jarring, making the film feel like a jewelry advertisement or a big-budget television serial.
The writing lacks narrative smoothness, with sub-plots and characters appearing out of nowhere. The film is heavily Telugu-coded, and its over-the-top earnestness is its only saving grace. Suriya, however, makes a difference. It’s been a while since we saw him in a film where he’s allowed to relax and just be, and his comedic timing shines through in a sub-plot involving secret trips to Europe. The scenes involving Suriya and Raveena Tandon are among the film’s best, offering moments of surprising perceptiveness. Despite its tacky, corny, and overly sentimental nature, Vishwanath & Sons is just about watchable, thanks to Suriya’s effortless performance.
