After a successful run with Karuppu earlier this year, Suriya is back in theatres, this time with the family drama, Vishwanath and Sons. Helmed by Venky Atluri, the film, which marks Suriya 46th, also stars Mamitha Baiju, Radikaa Sarathkumar, and Raveena Tandon, among others.
The film features Suriya as an olympic rifle shooter who has a son born of surrogacy. When the child needs a bone marrow transplant, the surrogate mother, played by Mamitha Baiju, is the apt donor. However, Suriya's Sanjay Vishwanath and Mamitha's Maddy, twenty years apart, find themselves caught in a romance that is difficult to navigate.
Even as the film's first show has come to an end in a few states across India, fans and moviegoers have begun sharing their reviews online. Off the lot, a lot of audiences have labelled the film as "made for Telugu audiences." The Telugu movie buffs too seem to like the film more than their Tamil counterparts. Some have appreciated the films lightheartedness and wholesomeness while also pointing out some flaws.
An X user called the film "Simple, lightweight and happy with lots of importance to the happy part." However, he also had one expectation. "Would've loved more emotional depth on the core than the formulaic subplot in the 2nd half." He also praised Suriya and Mamitha.
Another user particularly criticised the second half of the film, writing, "This feels tailor-made for Telugu families. Not sure about Tamil sensibilities, though. They completely butchered the concept of surrogacy and set a dangerous precedent." The user also wrote more about why the film didn't work for them.
Another positive review read that Vishwanath and Sons is "not a perfect film," but, "A warm, character-driven family drama that gives Suriya a refreshing space to step away from his usual larger-than-life image. Venky Atluri keeps the writing rooted in relationships, with Suriya and Mamitha Baiju bringing genuine warmth to an unconventional romance."
Comparing Venky Atluri's previous work, Lucky Bhaskar, a user expressed his disappointment, rather harshly describing the film as a "disaster".
One moviegoer pointed out the film's writing and wrote, "All the Nolans of TFI should take notes. How to write female characters with depth, dignity, and emotional intelligence. How to make them feel like PEOPLE, not just plot devices."
On particular portions that could have been trimmed for a tighter film, one netizen wrote, "Overstuffed second half. Atluri should have scrapped the whole ooty episode and focused on Suriya and Mamitha's track. The resolution feels rushed because of this." And yet, the user shared that they liked the film because "Suriya carried it."