A debutant’s film is worth rooting for, the maker has everything to prove and nothing to lose. Even if there are loose ends and the storytelling finesse is amiss, you give them that extra leverage when they believe in their methods and not bow down to market diktats. Meeku Meere Maaku Meme by Hussain Sha Kiran (story writer of Nannaku Prematho ) is a charming little outing that’s equally real, contemporary and humorous. Within a predictable terrain of a couple who struggle to move beyond their ego and commitment issues, its live-wire screenplay leaves you in splits.
Hussain is straightforward with his story and never lets it get mushy. He invests meaning into every subplot and completes character arcs with care. Celebrating little moments, he remains sensitive enough to the emotions of both genders in a relationship. In this familiar story of two college graduates Adi (Tarun Shetty) and Priya (Avanthika) falling for each other, the maker mirrors the confusions of the contemporary generation in relationships. There are a series of interesting sequences that get the two together.
Of course, there are stereotypes, the prospect of an intelligent girl always falling for the adventurous and the notorious guy, her love for shopping, visiting temples and making their partners utter ‘I love you’ every second minute. The men expectedly detest that. All these familiar tropes (including the title hinted at both genders) are integrated into the film in good jest, there's nothing sexist about them.
A lot of male-bonding happens in the background, through their love confusions, common gaming interests, which keep the proceedings alive. Kireeti is more than a hero’s sidekick here, his well-timed gags consistently elicit laughs. A parallel story unfolds between the parents of Adi, who have their own way of caring for each other despite regular quarrels. This is one of the simplest threads in the film whose value you realise in the climactic stretch. The parents support and empathise with their children’s issues, like friends.
The rawness of the male lead Tarun Shetty is complemented by the Maaya fame Avanthika, who’s easily more comfortable on the celluloid. Otherwise, it’s a string of newcomers, some even picked from short films, who do look ready for a cinematic leap. Shravan’s music plays its part in taking the film forward, except for the inclusion of a quintessential party song. The one-liners are catchy enough, one that sticks to your mind reads like ‘ Dooram penchukovadaniki prema emanna kukka pilla ?’
The cinematography is neat and the frames remain lively throughout. Meeku Meere Maaku Meme comes without any expectations and the underdog element is its strength. Besides the director Hussain Sha who extracts natural performances from his cast, it’s Kireeti’s lively screen presence that one has to watch out for.