'Premam' hits the screens this season amid not-so-high expectations. Here we analyzes the hits and misses for you:
Story:
The story packs in three love stories of Vikram (Naga Chaitanya) at three different ages. Taking two leaps, of five and ten years each time, it chronicles his joys and dejections.
As a 16-something, Vicky falls in love with Suma (Anupama Parameswaran). A short-lived love story, it’s punctuated with three songs (two playful, one tragic) in its narration. Before he knows, the story comes to a halt.
The guy moves on. A five-year leap later, Vikram is now a bearded, gutsy college youngster keeping the same company (read Praveen and Chaitanya Krishna). The backbencher with a devil-may-care attitude falls for lecturer Sitara (Shruti Haasan), a half Marathi. This story too is doomed and this time, the reason is more agonizing than disturbing.
Cut to 2016, Vikram is a star chef (featured, hold your breath, on ‘Outlook’). This time, the style quotient has moved northwards, with a mustache to boot. Enter Sindhu (Madonna), who dashes into the ordinarily glum-looking Vicky’s life by reciting a poem. The curtains have just been raised for a third love story. But will it succeed? Will the more-than-once-wounded guy finally find his 'premam'? That's the climax.
Analysis:
A remake of the Malayalam “cult classic” ‘Premam’, the film is more breezy than emotionally-charged, unlike a ‘Na Autograph’. Don’t expect to watch tempestuous crests and troughs, whatever that means. Don’t expect cathartic proceedings, whatever your tastes and preferences may be. Don’t expect visual poetry, especially if you have set a high bar.
In the (strange) times we are in, may be classics don’t (need to) have magical dialogues. The very fact that a brawny student falls in love with a saree-clad beauty (who is elder to him) should be enough to give orgasms. If the folkish ‘dappu’ dance she does, Sai Pallavi-style, lacks in nativity, so be it.
Much as you expect emotions, comedy is what you get. Not that this is inherently wrong, but if you hadn't bargained for it, be prepared to lower your expectations.
Hits:
A faithful remake, the film boasts of engaging performances by all those actors seen from beginning till end. Naga Chaitanya wows in the role of a clean-shaven, unsophisticated teenager, especially in the song ‘Agarottula’. He sparks in the college student’s role picking up fights with rivals. The experiments with the two looks elevate his acting. Praveen and Chaitanya do a good job. Shruti Haasan merely passes muster and one feels she couldn’t fare well in a role she was expected to look understated. Anupama fares better than Madonna for the brief time she is seen. Srinivas Reddy is at his usual best.
Situational comedy involving Chay & Co (Praveen, Srinivas Reddy, Brahmaji, ) is rib-tickling. Comedy seems to be one of the big strengths of director Chandoo Mondeti.
The film will work big-time for those who don't expect heavy-dose stuff. The love stories come and go with a breeze.
The music (Rajesh Murugesan and Gopi Sundar) is enjoyable, whether as part of the flow or as standalones. They don't really suck you into the narrative, though.
Misses:
The third love story is nothing special (in terms of emotional content) when compared to the first two. The tempo actually descends rather than ascends. Since these are the last portions, this is all the more a problem.
The audience should resign themselves to watching a rom-com rather than a romandrama.
Some of the portions lack nativity. Where the director has inserted his innovation by having a duet between Chay and Madonna, the pace falters.
Verdict:
A fairly entertaining rom-com. Musically and lyrically superb. One of the career best performances by Chaitanya. Comedy wins. A happy festival watch.
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