141. Premalu; movie review

 

PREMALU

Cert PG

155 mins

BBFC advice: Contains mild bad language, sex references, rude humour, threat, violence

Am I too old for slushy romances?

I doubt I would have been too enamoured of Girish A.D.'s Premalu in my 20s but now I am in my 60s, I just found it irritating and repetitive.

And yet, according to Wikipedia, it is the fifth highest-grossing Malayalam film of all time and is the best box office performer of 2024.

This could mainly be due to the jokes that went over my head because I am not a native speaker.

But I must also presume that audiences have been entranced by the love mismatch between the hopeless Sachin (Naslen) and the bright and bubby Reena ( Mamitha Baiju).

I just can't see what's to like - Sachin is such a wet blanket that girl after girl has dumped him. The more rejections he receives, the more he turns to drink and work ambitions wane.

Yet he somehow thinks he will be a catch for Reena, who has already said her ideal partner would be a bit older and settled in his career.

Step forward, her work colleague, Adi (Shyam Mohan) -  a jolly fellow who seems to be a perfect fit.

But, inevitably, he also turns out to be a jerk, so Reena is left with a choice between a no-hoper stalker and an obsessive.

Neither of them deserves her and the only surprise is that she doesn't run to the next city.

However, that wouldn't make much of a movie, would it? Consequently, the stags rut with each other while she looks on incredulously.

Guess what? We are meant to support the bloke who cannot hold down a job, is ludicrously naive and turns up uninvited so often he should be reported to the police.

Nevertheless, we all know how this is going to end up - it is a double frustration that Premalu is so predictable and takes so long to reach its inevitable conclusion

Reasons to watch: Breezy romance

Reasons to avoid: Non-native speakers will miss the gags

Laughs: None for me

Jumps: None

Vomit: Yes

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 5/10

Did you know? Mamitha Bajiu won the Kerala Film Critics Award or Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Anju in Kho Kho. 

The final word. Mamitha Bajiu: "Of the roles I have played so far, Reenu is similar to me in more ways than one." Times Of India

Share this post