# Avarachan and Sons review: Biju Menon carries a thinly written family drama

Published 2026-10-02T13:22:08Z

> Thamby's Malayalam family drama Avarachan and Sons, starring Biju Menon as a hard-drinking widower whose sons must rein him in, is now in theatres, and reviews praise Menon but fault the weak writing and flat humour.

Biju Menon's new Malayalam family drama Avarachan and Sons, directed by Thamby, is now running in theatres. The early reviews mostly agree on one thing: the lead actor is the main reason to buy a ticket. Critics found the writing thin, the humour patchy and the emotional moments weaker than the premise promised.

Menon plays Avarachan, a widower who drinks, picks fights and treats life as one long holiday. Meanwhile his two grown-up sons, played by Sreenath Bhasi and Ganapathi S Poduval, keep the household running. After a violent clash with local troublemakers, the family sends him away from their coastal home to the hills, where his sister, played by Pauly Valsan, lives. The story flips the familiar template, so here the children have to discipline a reckless parent.

Reviewers felt the script never makes the most of that idea. The bond between father and sons should be the heart of the film, but it reportedly works in only a handful of scenes. A stretch at a de-addiction centre, meant as a turning point, is said to feel forced, and an age-gap romance woven into the story comes across as half-formed. The comedy misses more often than it hits, with only the odd one-liner landing.

Vinay Forrt's character reportedly livens things up later in the film. One review, however, strongly objected to a subplot involving his character and Grace Antony's, saying it turns stalking and acid attacks into punchlines. That same review rated the film 1.5 stars and judged it harshly against Kumbalangi Nights.

Opinion on Menon himself is mixed. One verdict credits his relaxed charm and screen presence with keeping the film watchable. Another calls him solid but says he rarely rises above the weak material. Grace Antony is reportedly the standout in the cast, while the rest of the supporting players are said to be stuck in underwritten roles.

## Related titles
- [Avaraachan &  Sons](https://clapnumber.com/movies/avaraachan-sons)

## Related people
- [Biju Menon](https://clapnumber.com/celebrities/biju-menon)

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Retrieved: 2026-10-02