A good one hour into Mental Madhilo , amid hearty chuckles and smiles, one wonders how writers Vivek Athreya and Jonathan Cristillo fleshed out a thin storyline into a slice-of-life story and eventually a coming-of-age romance. The everydayness of life is told beautifully with sharp observations of people.
Several statements that seem casual aren’t necessarily throwaway ones. Director Vivek Athreya uses these statements to go back and forth in the narrative and give it the necessary gravitas. In the opening sequence we see a father-to-be (a wonderful Shivaji Raja) looking anxiously at the doctor after he hears the cry of a newborn. He exults only when he hears ‘both the mother and child are safe’. Much later he recalls this situation and tells his son Aravind Krishna (Sree Vishnu) about a crucial decision he had to make.
Decision making is not the son’s strength. He’s educated, good at work and all is well until he’s asked to make a choice — it could be as simple as choosing a shirt, tea or coffee or a city of preference for an assignment.
His indecisiveness coupled with the lack of confidence and courage to talk to women results in hilarious matrimonial ordeals. Aravind and his parents don’t have it easy. Not when the women are more sure-footed. So when Swetcha (Nivetha Pethuraj) counters Aravind’s awkwardness with maturity and puts him at ease, it seems too good to be true.
A wafer-thin story develops into an enjoyable romance. Sree Vishnu is spot on as an average guy with issues, and Nivetha is a welcome addition to Telugu cinema. She’s expressive, at ease with the camera and her performance is accentuated by Veena Ghantasala’s voice.
Swetcha is secure in her relationship and in fact, encourages Aravind to talk to women. There’s an eye for detail and even when you’re listening to staccato phone conversation, you sense a change in dynamics as the story progresses. The post-intermission segment that traces back a few incidents to string together these bits of conversations shows the flair in writing.
The arrival of Renuka (Amrutha Srinivasan) shakes thing up. She’s mysterious, unpredictable and Aravind is fascinated. Yet, her characterisation appears jarring. She isn’t the likeable Geet of Jab We Met but an intrusion into Aravind and Swetcha’s lives. From the first frame it’s evident that Renu’s demeanour is a put-on act. This portion between Aravind and Renu doesn’t engage after a point. There’s only so much you connect with Renu’s quirky attitude, love for food, fun and romance. Amrutha, though, makes an impression and deserves a mention for dubbing her own lines.
The narrative gets back on course in the last act. Prashanth R Vihari’s soulful music and Vedaraman’s cinematography are added bonuses. There’s also dancer Aruna Bhikshu in a fun cameo as the nosy landlady. Kireeti and Keshav Deepak are effective as the friends who watch Aravind’s confusion.
Mental Madhilo
Cast : Sree Vishnu, Nivetha Pethuraj and Amrutha Srinivasan
Direction : Vivek Athreya
Story line : An indecisive guy who has been rejected by several women, finds himself in a spot when he has to choose between two women.
Published - November 23, 2017 04:02 pm IST
