A movie is nothing but a string of fantasies put together. Depending on a creator’s vision it may typically traverse two different paths - one would be as close to life as possible and the other one might immerse itself into the typical fantasy like a superhero film or a film with the supernatural elements. ‘Oh, My Kadavule!’ seems to have traversed the latter path.
The movie opens with the grim faces of Arjun and Anu (Ashok Selvan and Rithika Singh) at a family court seeking a divorce. Things quickly slide into a fantasy zone, where Arjun is given a second chance to undo his mistakes in life by going back in time and also to find his true love. Was he successful in his second attempt? Did he find his true love?
The first half of the movie that narrates how marriage to even the best of friends could turn them into foes due to the bizarre turn of events was endearing and had a more pragmatic touch. With an actor like Vijay Sethupathi getting into the mix and playing the cards to the tee with an extended cameo, things got much more exciting and engaging.
The second half that starts with the lead man going to his past with an intent to undo his mistakes, takes some unexpected emotional twists that were quite pragmatic and enjoyable at the same time. Though we could sense what’s coming next, the screenplay and dialogues saved the day.
The cast and crew of the movie were fresh and young. Debutant director Ashwath Marimuthu has made a safe and decent debut with this minty cool love story that had no serious preachings on true love. With one-liners from Sha Ra, things stayed afloat even when the proceedings were about to sag.
The songs were not quite up to the mark and hampered the pace a bit. Ashok and Ritika shared decent chemistry, but their acting skills were nothing to rave about. Vani Bhojan’s character had depth and she came across well with a solid performance. MS Bhaskar and Gajaraj held their respective roles well, while Ramesh Tilak as Vijay Sethupathy’s sidekick delivered the kicks periodically.
‘Oh, My Kadavule!’ largely merits from the wackiness it packed in terms of its story and presentation. It is a breezy romantic entertainer that deserves a watch with the entire family. Good job director Ashwath Marimuthu and team!
Verdict: Enjoyable!
Rating: 3 / 5