Name: Love Today
Director: Pradeep Ranganathan
Cast: Pradeep Ranganathan,Ivana
Rating: 3.5 / 5
The success of 'Love Today' is well known by this point. On the commercial front, it has redeemed the sub-genre to which it belongs by performing spectacularly well at the box office in Tamil Nadu. It was released in Telugu today, two weeks after the original, and the excitement surrounding its unabashedly "youthful" elements is palpable. Despite the fact that social media and film reviews have reduced the surprise factor to some extent, the Telugu-dubbed version manages to entertain and engage.
Pradeep Uthaman is a white-collar worker who has feelings for Nikitha, a working woman. When the latter's orthodox father (who is actually unorthodox in his ideas) discovers their secret relationship, he subjects them to a disruptive experiment: he asks them to exchange their mobile phones and see if they really know each other pretty well. When Pradeep discovers that Nikitha is still in contact with her ex, all hell breaks loose. Other secrets are destroying his peace. However, the mess will not be complete until Nikitha discovers Pradeep's secrets.
The crazy premise would have resulted in 3G double-meaning dialogues, 4G crass humor, and 5G in-your-face situations in the hands of a director only interested in slapstick humour and gags. 'Love Today,' on the other hand, gradually builds up unpredictable situations, particularly in the second half.
It is the second half that makes this film a story
Even when the film runs out of jokes, it is the second half that elevates it to the status of a story. The storyline involving Pradeep's sister Divya (Raveena Ravi) and her fiance (Yogi Babu) is complete. This is the kind of writing that distinguishes a story from a comedy.
It is the second half that makes this film a story
Even when the film runs out of jokes, it is the second half that elevates it to the status of a story. The storyline involving Pradeep's sister Divya (Raveena Ravi) and her fiance (Yogi Babu) is complete. This is the kind of writing that distinguishes a story from a comedy.
The humour surrounding ready-made ideas like "smartphone addition" is simplistic at best. The performers, particularly the versatile Radhika Sarathkuma (as Pradeep's mother), make the comedy work despite the average writing. But the film isn't about such cliches. It's all about the plot, which this romantic comedy-drama film definitely has.
The first 30 minutes make a subtle announcement about the intensity of the following 30 minutes. The love song begins in a conventional manner, with mildly emotional and brief moments centred on a bracelet. Pradeep and Nikitha's music is upbeat and sweet.
A unique circumstance reveals the charade in the lives of some unsuspecting characters. The film is also a protest against the facades that modern man has become accustomed to. When the characters are shocked, they act like the impatient, impulsive guy next door.
A unique circumstance reveals the charade in the lives of some unsuspecting characters. The film is also a protest against the facades that modern man has become accustomed to. When the characters are shocked, they act like the impatient, impulsive guy next door.
It would have been problematic if the writing in the second half had remained superficial. The film eventually becomes a love story, assuming a higher form and overcoming the second-half syndrome. The teary segment may not appeal to those seeking pure entertainment, but the film's longevity stems from its drama.
Background music by Yuvan Shankar Raja
Background music by Yuvan Shankar Raja
In the first half, Yuvan Shankar Raja's background score is derivative. It grows more in the second half. Between Pradeep and Ivana, it is the latter who demonstrates range; in her first scene with her boyfriend and her father, it is her expressions that prevent the situation from becoming completely caricaturistic. When you think about it, a lot of the drama works because of how well her character is written.
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