Ashok Selvan Venkat Prabhu Samyuktha Hegde Rating- Cinema express
Venkat Prabhu, clean off the blockbuster accomplishment of Maanaadu, was clear about contacting Manmatha Leelai a “tiny, exciting movie produced for the duration of the pandemic.” It was virtually like he wished the viewers to know that he could possibly have not attempted this ‘experiment’ if not for the COVID circumstance. Right after viewing Manmatha Leelai, it is also apparent why he required to condition the viewers so due to the fact the Ashok Selvan-starrer is not what was promised with the marketing content. For all those seeking for a chortle-a-minute romp or the ones who imagined this to be on the traces of some not-so-illustrious predecessors in this genre, Manmatha Leelai turns out to be a shock detour.
Forged: Ashok Selvan, Samyuktha Hegde, Riya Suman, Smruthi Venkat
Director: Venkat Prabhu
When we saw Venkat and co bend the time-place assemble in Maanaadu, he toys with this in Manmatha Leelai, in telling the story of Sathya (Ashok Selvan) in 2010 and 2020. He is in two comparable predicaments, and how every single of them pans out is explained to parallelly, with the crisscrossing of timelines neatly represented by the great modifying do the job of Praveen Rajen. In 2010, we follow the tale of Sathya and Poorni (Samyuktha Hegde), and in 2020, we stick to Sathya’s lifestyle with Anu (Smruthi) and Leela (Riya). When it is quick to slot this alternating timeline approach as a gimmick that extends its welcome, some clever creating makes sure this is just not the situation. The knowledge VP obtained in Maanaadu undoubtedly arrives in helpful in this article. Contrary to lots of other adult comedies that have built their existence felt in Tamil cinema, Manmatha Leelai is not just about the pursuit and attainment. The gaze in this article is not as well distinct, but it is fortunately used minimally. Far more importantly, it is not something we haven’t observed right before in Venkat Prabhu films like a Saroja or a Biriyani. So, it will not actually make feeling why he made a decision to mount this movie as an grownup comedy. Also, it is substantial time our filmmakers never limit themselves in earning grownup comedies that only titillate 1 section of the audience. How is it ok that Poorni isn’t going to react to a drenched Sathya the way he reacts to a drenched Leela? There is an allusion to woman sexual wish, but this isn’t going to get explored ample. This dichotomy and pulling again a couple of punches is a thing that restricts Manmatha Leelai from achieving its complete probable.
In Tamil cinema, infidelity would not definitely occur underneath the ‘adult’ theme and the composing in Manmatha Leelai treats it with kid gloves. Once once again, it is not some thing we have not viewed in movies like Chinna Veedu or Sathi Leelavathi or Uthama Purushan, or a Charlie Chaplin, but where Manmatha Leelai demonstrates signals of fraying is in the psychological attachment in a single of the timelines. If an adult comedy that develops a conscience in the last act is a bummer, consider an adult comedy with a regular undercurrent of sentimentality for the reason that a person of the storylines has a devoted wife at the centre. But eliminate the unwanted garb of adult comedy and Manmatha Leelai turns into a interesting study of how a straightforward film can be elevated many thanks to sure options in the narrative fashion.
If the writing is a single of the pillars, although shaky at locations, Premgi Amaren’s background score is a revelatory addition. Very easily amid his finest will work, it is nearly like he is in cahoots with editor Praveen Rajen to maintain the required suspense in the movie. In point, Manmatha Leelai is extra of a darkish comedy thriller together the traces of an Andhadhun alternatively than an grownup comedy like a Hunterr. And in quite a few strategies, the simple existence of Ashok Selvan anchors the movie whenever it meanders absent from the self-imposed circle of experimentation. He is an complete charm and uses this Venkat Prabhu ‘quickie’ to establish other sides of his performing talents. When Samyuktha and Riya Suman are given meaty roles that allow them to faucet into their acting expertise, albeit with inconsistent success, Smruthi Venkat is handed a raw deal, as she is just created to be the Skip Goody Two Shoes in Sathya’s daily life.
Like almost every VP film, there is the last act that alterations the full landscape of the movie. Although it could not constantly be the smartest way to wrap up a movie, Manmatha Leelai hinges on the surprise component of the previous act, and it does supply. The way a couple of twists are neatly wrapped up, and some of the dialogues, specifically in the final act, place the comedy in this grownup comedy. Also, I did love how the title had a intelligent connection with the very last act. Nevertheless, I do want proven filmmakers like Venkat Prabhu really don’t go for the straightforward pickings and use, for instance, ‘podradhu‘ as a euphemism for sexual intercourse. It is not that these kinds of traces shouldn’t be prepared, but it is just that we have appear to count on superior from Venkat Prabhu. And mainly because it is Venkat Prabhu, it was reasonable to assume Manmatha Leelai was to be THE adult comedy in Tamil cinema. Whilst we are remaining with a bumpy experience of a movie that is much from generating that throne its have, Manmatha Leelai does saunter to a rousing ending that obliviates some of the earlier misgivings.