Movie Review: Meenakshi Sundareshwar: A Calm Movie! ***

 1978th BLOG POST

Well, the OTT platforms help you explore multiple options sitting at home – the ones which you may not have watched by paying in theatres. On the similar note, I watched “Meenakshi Sundareshwar” recently which released on Netflix under Dharmatic Productions. It stars Abhimanyu Dassani and Sanya Malhotra. It’s a movie about long-distance relationship post getting married and hence the makers had a good topic to explore and present something not being presented before. The film begins with the parents getting ready to reach the bride’s home for the 1^st step of match-making i.e. meeting the families and making the boy-girl introduce and know about each other within 10 minutes of conversation.

 

The fun begins right from this scene when they realize later that they have ended up at another house. But because the name of both the characters i.e. Meenakshi and Sundareshwar is based on our Lords – Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva, the decision is made to get both the partners married as it’s decided by the destiny. As soon as the couple gets married, one of them had to leave home due to job relocation and here begins the main purpose of the movie – the long-distance relationship. The movie, in particular, is a nice experience to watch seeing how things unfold between the couple- how they try to find time for each other – how they try to manage their space – how they miss each other – how they resolve issues between them etc.

 

They face a lot of downs which brings them close to ending their relationship itself. There are some funny scenes in the movie as I mentioned above when they end up meeting the wrong family for matchmaking. Another scene where both the protagonists try to do some fun through video call is a great scene which will cheer you up. The aesthetics of the movie is also very beautiful in the way South Indian culture is portrayed on the screen. Yes, I know, Madurai doesn’t look the way it has been shown but as an audience, I really enjoyed watching the beauteousness on the screen.

 

In terms of reality, movie tells us how blindly we are married in an arranged setup where not even the names are asked, and the family reach each other’s home for setting up the wedding of their children. Similarly, how casual few people are about their job that they don’t worry about it even when something life changing as marriage happens in their life. How difficult it has become for maintaining this relationship in today’s time is displayed through the concept of long-distance but still, it talks about the speed with which one among the two ends up taking a call of ending it – as immediate as 6 months itself. We don’t understand ourselves a bit due to which we have to ask Google even personal questions like how to make wife happy or how to make long-distance relationship work. How girls are still seen as someone who can shuffle with their careers for the family, but boys are expected to excel.

 

Talking about the performances, I believe this is the career-best performance of both- Abhimanyu (though he is two films old only) and Sanya as they talk less and speak more with their eyes. Their chemistry also looks so beautiful on the screen that you start imagining your love life in front of the screen. The background music of the movie is very serene and keeps you calm even in the challenging times of the characters. Similarly, the songs are soulful with meaningful contemporary lyrics. The dialogues are also engaging.

 

Talking about the drawbacks, I believe that the movie could have been rolled up in 2 hours itself because you start getting bored in between due to the same narrative running for a longer time. There’s another plot that is introduced where Meenakshi meets one of her old friends and you believe that something will happen because of this but the whole segment is completely taken away from the story in the 2^nd half of the movie. Talking about the climax, you wanted a realistic ending, but you are presented the same Bollywood-ish stuff which disappoints a little.

 

Overall, this is a watchable movie which is good for viewing when you want to watch something very calm and slow. I give it 3 stars out of 5.

 

Thanks.

 

WRITING BUDDHA