Joju George-starrer ‘Varavu’ has finally hit the theatres. Directed by veteran filmmaker Shaji Kailas, the action drama was released on July 16, 2026. Soon after the first shows, viewers took to X (formerly Twitter) to share their opinions.Early response was divided. While a section of the audience appreciated the film’s action sequences, visuals and lead performances, many others felt that the revenge drama followed an old formula.
Some viewers called the film outdated
An X user was very critical of the film and questioned its writing and execution. The post read, “#Varavu is a revenge drama that might have worked 25 years ago, but feels outdated in every sense today. The screenplay is predictable from start to finish, the emotional beats never land, and the film struggles to stay engaging.
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The review further read, “#ShajiKailas delivers one of his oldest works, relying on old-school filmmaking tropes that feel completely disconnected from contemporary audiences. The action is noisy, the storytelling is stale, and there’s hardly a single new idea to be found.
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The action, visuals and performances will receive appreciation
Not all reactions are negative. Other viewers praised the film’s presentation and action while expressing hope for a stronger second half.A user shared, “#Varavu First Half Review. Signature Shaji Kailas style and making. Nice action choreography. Visuals are refreshing. Mass Avatar of JoJu George. Murali Gopi is Nice and menacing. 90s Style Simple Revenge story. Need a Strong Second Half.” Good.”
Many reviews criticized the screenplay
Another detailed review on X said, “#Varavu Review- An intense action thriller that sticks to the past. #ShajiKailas is back with an action thriller starring Joju George in the lead. Clearly taking inspiration from the success of Pani, Shaji Kailas and writer AK Sajan have tried to recreate a similar style of intense action drama. Kottayam, without capturing the intensity or quality of makes them work.“The review added, “#JojuGeorge delivers with his trademark screen presence and action sequences, but beyond that, the film offers very little to keep the audience engaged. A weak plot, an underwhelming screenplay, and a predictable narrative prevent Varavu from finding its footing. With little emotional impact and no real narrative payoff, Varavu turns out to be a forgettable action film that is easy to skip.Another viewer posted, “#Varavu ~ An old revenge drama with a completely predictable script and almost no emotional impact. Joju George and Murali Gopy deliver accomplished performances, but they can’t save a film that feels stuck in a filmmaking style from decades ago. The action is more forceful than purposeful, and the story offers nothing new.
About the movie:
‘Varavu’ is directed by Shaji Kailas and has Joju George in the lead role. The supporting cast includes Murali Gopy, Arjun Ashokan, Sukanya, Baiju Santhosh, Deepak Parambol, Baburaj, Vani Viswanath, and Saniya Iyappan.