Movie Review: An Engaging First Half, An Experimental Second Half
The movie, with a runtime of 2 hours and 19 minutes, was recently watched in theaters. After watching, the first half was so engaging and tight that it felt worthy of a four-star rating. The emotions, characters, music, songs, performances, pre-interval writing, and situational comedy were all incredibly entertaining.
Unpacking the Storyline
The basic storyline revolves around the hero, Gagan (alias Pradeep Ranganathan), an entrepreneur who plans pranks and surprise events. He rejects the love proposal of the heroine, Mithaa Baiju. The story then explores what happens next, how this one-sided love story takes various turns, and the kinds of problems it brings into his life.
First Half: Highly Entertaining & Tightly Paced
The first half of the movie proved to be remarkably strong. Its tight screenplay, compelling emotions, well-developed characters, impressive music and songs, strong performances, astute pre-interval writing, and engaging situational comedy all contributed to a highly entertaining experience. It genuinely felt as if the first half alone could warrant a high rating due to its heavy entertainment value.
Second Half: An Experimental Approach
While the emotions also worked in the second half, the approach taken might not be universally accepted or connected with by everyone. The viewer personally felt the second half went 'down' compared to the first. It's evident that the director attempted a somewhat different experiment with this portion of the film.
Performances That Shine
Despite some comments suggesting the hero isn't 'hero material' in terms of looks, Pradeep Ranganathan delivers a stellar performance. His swag and acting prowess, especially in emotional and fun scenes, are commendable, arguably outperforming even some tier-two heroes. His portrayal of emotions is highly relatable for today's youth, with the reviewer admitting to tearing up in two or three scenes due to the hero's situation. If one gets involved, liking such experimental situations, the movie will be enjoyed.
Sarath Kumar delivers a special surprise in a significant role, acting refreshingly and adding an element of fun. Mithaa Baiju, in a lengthy role, also gives a good performance.
Technical Brilliance
The writing, particularly moments that first show one thing and then reveal the true reality (especially the pre-interval prank scenes), was highly appreciated. Dharan, known from Konaseema Thanas, also performed well in a special role.
Sai Abhyankar's music is excellent, with a background score that excites the reviewer about his future work, specifically mentioning an upcoming film with Allu Arjun and Atlee. The cinematography also stands out as very good.
Areas for Improvement
The primary drawback lies in the second half. After setting up a tight first half and reaching the interval, the movie's mode completely changed with just one scene, taking an unexpected different direction. The specifics cannot be detailed without revealing major spoilers or the main plot, nor can similar plot-driven movies be named to avoid revelations. This experimental shift, which diverged from initial expectations, made the second half feel less consistent. The main negative point is simply the second half. Overall, the movie feels a bit less compelling than "Dragon" and "Love Today" solely due to the second half.
Family-Friendly Viewing?
Yes, the movie can be watched with family. There is no significant adult content. While there are some minor dialogues, they are generally not problematic or bothersome.
Final Verdict & Rating
Overall, the movie left a feeling of being a one-time watch. It possesses a certain 'feel,' especially up to the first half and in the hero's performance. The second half isn't necessarily bad, but its experimental nature means it might only appeal to a selected audience. With an excellent first half and an average second half, the overall rating, in the reviewer's opinion, is 3%.
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