Cast: Atharvaa, Preity Mukhundhan, Kayadu Lohar, Natty Subramaniam, Thaman S, Niharika NM, Rakshan, Dravid Selvam, Sudhakar, Jonita Gandhi, Fahadh Faasil, Malavika Mohanan
Crew:
Written by Aakash Baskaran, Dravid Selvam, S. Ramana Girivasan
Cinematography by Manoj Paramahamsa, CH Sai
Edited by Pradeep E. Ragav
Music by Thaman S
Directed and Produced by Aakash Baskaran
Atharvaa being son of yesteryear actor Murali, who became hugely popular as Idhayam Murali, taking that title and making a movie around it, immediately sparked huge interest. Preity Mukundhan, Kayadu Lohar, Niharika NM, Malavaika Mohanan, Fahadh Faasil, Thaman S and many others being part of it added more curiosity to the project. The movie finally released after a long wait and let's discuss about it in detail.
Plot:
Idhayam Murali (Atharvaa) is travelling back to India from US with his friends. They talk to a stranger (Fahadh Faasil) and start narrating the love stories of Idhaya. As a school going kid, he falls in love with his teacher, Geetha (Jonitha Gandhi). Later, at plus one and plus two stage, he falls in love with Sam (Preity Mukundhan). As a man looking to expand his business post college, he falls in love with Amudha (Kayadu Lohar). But he is unable to express his feelings to anyone of them and his uncle (Natty) fixes his marriage. Can he truly find his love and be happy? Watch the movie to know more.
Analysis:
Atharvaa is more comfortable in scenes that demand restraint than him being over expressive. He tries to approach both with similar consistency but writing confuses shyness with anxiety and lack of expression. If a character is so shy that they fail to express emotions with words then that characteristic should appear throughout not selectively at few places. Even if that selective anxiousness or shyness is what writing is pointing at, it should be given time to register.
Idhayam Murali rushes so much that it wants to jump to next big moment and have characters talking or background score fill it up rather than let silences take over. Certain films and characters need that introspection, those silences and some space for them to be able to solve those problems. If every character is designed to some way or somehow advise the main lead, then what journey would be go through.
Aakash Baskaran fills up the screen with actors like Fahadh Faasil, Rakshan, Dravid, Sudhakar, Thaman, Niharika and then even adds Jonitha Gandhi, Malavika Mohanan, Raiza Wilson so that no scene or shot feels empty. But the main characters in his script doesn't seem like they are in constant need of advice. They look more than capable of handling internal conflicts. See Kayadu Lohar and Atharvaa Interval episode when no one is trying to egg them or constantly advising, we see how two characters behave and bring moments from those interactions.
The similar thing is missing with Preity Mukundhan scenes and the movie ends up being more about friends rather than the love story which forms the basic crux. Nostalic moments in the first half and the twist works. Later, we don't get answers about how the lead characte decided to look past it. Even after Interval episode, we don't see any reflection on it. More or less it feels like we are left to see fragments rather than complete story of the titular character which works against in second hour.
Atharvaa is good. Preity Mukundhan is also good in the portions she is given. Kayadu Lohar did her best in Interval scene and Mart scene. Fahadh Faasil is wasted. Dravid, Rakshan fail to evoke laughs. Sudhakar is fine in few portions. Niharika and Thaman just irritate. Score and music by Thaman are good, cinematography, production values are glossy. But the intention of presenting a man who is unable to express his love when the other women are ready to accept troupe feels repetitive and hence, losses value making the movie a decent attempt.
Positives:
Atharvaa and Preity Mukundhan scenes
90's Nostalgia Moments
Kayadu Lohar scenes
Interval portion
BGM
Negatives:
Thaman's character and performance
Draggy and Repetitive Second Hour
Over chatty scenes
Bottomline: Decently Executed but writing feels too repetitive and convoluted.
Rating: 2.5/5
Disclaimer: The views/opinions expressed in this review are personal views/opinions shared by the writer and organisation does not hold a liability to them. Viewers' discretion is advised before reacting to them.
