Adithya Varma is a 2019 Indian Tamil-language romantic drama film directed by Gireesaaya in his directorial debut and produced by Mukesh Mehta under E4 Entertainment. The film stars newcomer Dhruv Vikram and Banita Sandhu in her Tamil debut in the lead roles while Priya Anand appears in a supporting role. The film was originally directed by Bala under the title Varma (later amended to Varmaa) and shot between March and September 2018; however, in February 2019, due to creative differences, E4 Entertainment decided to re-launch it with a new cast and crew; only Dhruv and music director Radhan were retained. The new version, titled Adithya Varma, began filming in March 2019 and ended that May. It was released on 21 November 2019 worldwide, and India the next day.
Adithya Varma is a house surgeon in Mangalore, India. Despite being a brilliant student, he has severe anger management problems that earn the wrath of the dean of the college. Adithya’s aggressive nature also earns him a reputation among his juniors as a college bully. After having a brawl alongside his friend Kamal against members of the opposing team during an inter-college football match, the dean asks Adithya to either apologise or leave the college. Adithya initially chooses to leave the college, but stays back after meeting first-year student Meera (Banita Sandhu) because he experienced love at first sight.
Adithya and his friend Shiva enter a third-year classroom and announce that Adithya is in love with Meera and asserts that she is exclusive to him. Initially afraid, Meera starts adjusting herself to Adithya’s overbearing attitude. She eventually reciprocates his feelings and they develop an intimate relationship. Adithya graduates with an MBBS degree and leaves for Mussoorie to pursue a Master’s degree in Orthopedic surgery. Over the course of three years, Adithya’s and Meera’s relationship becomes stronger. Months later, Adithya visits Meera’s house, where her father sees them kissing and throws Adithya out.
Meera’s father opposes her and Adithya’s relationship due to Adithya’s brash behaviour and also because they belong to different castes. Adithya demands that Meera must make a decision within six hours otherwise he will end their relationship. Following this incident, Meera’s parents seize her phone, making her unable to contact Adithya. By the time she manages to visit Adhi’s house, he is drunk, injects morphine into himself, and becomes unconscious for two days. Meera is then forcibly married to someone from her caste. Adhi learns about the marriage from Shiva and goes to her house in protest. He is assaulted and gets arrested for making a scene. Adhi’s father ostracises him from the family home for damaging his reputation.
With Shiva’s help, Adhi finds a rented apartment and joins a private hospital as a surgeon. To cope with his emotions, he starts taking drugs, attempts one-night stands, buys a pet dog and names it after Meera and drinks alcohol; all of which are unsuccessful. Within months, he becomes a successful surgeon and a high-functioning alcoholic who is feared by the hospital’s staff members, one of the reasons being his high surgery count. Adhi’s self-destructing behaviour and refusal to move on worries Shiva and Kamal. He persuades one of his patients, Priya Menon (Priya Anand), a leading film star, to have a no-strings relationship with him, which he ends when she falls in love with him.
On a day off, Adhi unwillingly agrees to perform a life-saving surgery and collapses with dehydration. The hospital staff examine his blood samples, which show traces of alcohol and cocaine. The hospital chief files a case against Adhitya, who accepts the truth on the grounds of violating his professional ethics during an in-house court hearing, despite Shiva making arrangements to bail him out. Adhi’s medical license is cancelled for five years and he is evicted from the flat. The next morning, Shiva manages to reach Adithya to convey his grandmother’s death; he meets his father, and they reconcile. Adhi gives up his self-destructive habits soon after.
While leaving for a vacation, Adhi sees a pregnant Meera sitting in a park. Convinced that she is unhappy with her marriage, Adhi meets her after returning from his vacation. Meera reveals that she left her husband days after their marriage and continued to work in a clinic. She tells Adhi that he is the child’s father, and they reunite. The pair marries, and Meera’s father apologises for misunderstanding their love for each other.
Directed by Gireesaaya
Produced by Mukesh Mehta
Story by Sandeep Vanga
Based on Arjun Reddy by Vanga
Starring Dhruv Vikram, Banita Sandhu
Music by Soundtrack: Radhan
Score: Harshavardhan Rameshwar
Cinematography Ravi K. Chandran
Edited by Vivek Harshan
Production E4 Entertainment
Distributed by E4 Entertainment
Release date 21 November 2019
Country India
Language Tamil
