A critic from The Hindu wrote that "Merits apart, Varnam boasts of a strong storyline. It is the screenplay that lacks punch". Dinamalar praised the cinematography and the music. A critic from The New Indian Express wrote that "Meticulously crafted, deftly narrated and intriguing, 'Varnam' is a definite watch". A critic from Deccan Chronicle gave the film a rating of three out of five stars and wrote that "Varnam is worth a watch". A critic from Sify gave the film a rating of two out of five stars and wrote that "The film may prove a tad slow to those who are used to fast paced action films or too realistic for those in love with glossy romantic love stories". A critic from Behindwoods wrote that "Obviously, entertainment is not the objective of the film; it tries to convey a message and it must get across to those who are open to such efforts".
