Movie Review: Unakkum Enakkum (Something Something)

In the weeks since this movie's release, it amazes why nobody who saw this film mentioned its similarities with Maine Pyar Kiya.

When I watch films like this one, a part of me is embarrassed to be enjoying the show. Almost everything tells me that the movie is fake. But darn it, it's watchable too.

Ever since Rajshri films discovered that happily families on screen meant a lot of happy families in the cinema hall, the genre has been reduced to a charade. A chemical formula that is repeated endlessly to get the same result: success.
Manic hero + pretty heroine + their naivety + feel good factor + good songs + family values + all is well that ends well = success.

There are no grey areas. All characters are neatly divided into the bad ones and the good ones and given separate corners. Nobody is allowed to move from his or her corner.

Jayam Ravi is Santhosh, the hero, who is too old to be in college and too young to be in the office. Anyway, he is too rich to do any work. He is brash, sweet, and lovable. Ravi has enough charm to cakewalk through this role with his eyes closed.

Trisha is the pretty young thing, who is so naïve, that you would want to fall in love with her for that alone; beautiful eyes and charming smile notwithstanding. She is brought up by her farmer brother - Prabhu who increasingly reminds me of his illustrious dad.

They meet at her friend's marriage and after the usual courtship rituals fall in love. All so good so far. But the villains - there are too many to count - can't stand the class differences.

I don't know how everybody sees this movie. But for me it works like a fairytale. Nothing is real. You almost expect angels to show up at any moment. Makes me wonder why so many movie critics insist on films being real. What is that hang up about? The couple who sat next to me had a wonderful time and that must count for something.

But what grates me is this movie could so easily have been made 50 years ago. And probably has been. So kudos to the cast and crew for making us enjoy a movie we have already seen.

They are the costume department, Jeyam Ravi and Prabhu and the composer. Without them the movie would have not been half as good. Do catch it on DVD.