69, Dada; movie review

 

DADA

Cert 12A

133 mins

BBFC advice: Contains infrequent strong language, domestic abuse, harassment, suicide references

I have had plenty of jobs in my life but none has come close to being as tough or rewarding as parenthood.

Fortunately, nurturing our kids was a joint enterprise - Mrs W and I are a close team and made sure we were always on the same page.

This poses the question... how do single parents do it? Especially, if they have no support network?

Kavin's character, Manikandan, is ill-prepared for this sudden responsibility after his girlfriend, Sindu, (Aparna Das) gives birth but he has to find a way.

Ganesh K. Babu's film begins with Sindu becoming pregnant by her college boyfriend.

She insists she will have the baby, despite their precarious financial situation after their parents disown them.

Their descent from a happy loving couple is sobering but the real meat of the film is after she gives birth in very traumatic circumstances.

Kavin is alluring in the title role, moving his character on from a reckless juvenile to a mature father and we were certainly brought onside by his litany of bad luck.

But there also are some rather charming and funny moments to Dada. Indeed, the native speakers at Ilford Cineworld spent much of the movie having a right good giggle.

Much of the hilarity is down to Pradeep Antony as Manikandan's work colleague - a veritable 'employee of the month.'

Dada was engaging throughout but the keenest talking point was its most unexpected ending. We definitely didn't see that coming.

I shall write no more for fear of spoiling it.

Reasons to watch: Intriguing and funny

Reasons to avoid: Some daft script moments

Laughs: Three for us - many more for native speakers

Jumps: None

Vomit: Yes

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 7/10

Did you know?  In 1978, The Supreme Court in the case of SPS Balasubramanyam v. Suruttayan held that if a man and woman live together under one roof for a long time then they will be considered as husband and wife under Section 114 of the Indian Evidence Act. Thus, the children born out of such a live-in relationship shall be legitimate.

The final word. Ganesh: "I got this idea around 2013 when I was studying at the film institute. It happened to one of my classmates." Film Companion

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