Sureshinteyum Sumalathayudeyum Hridayahariyaya Pranayakatha Movie Review: An Absurdist Romcom With Good Performances! (LatestLY Exclusive)

Sureshinteyum Sumalathayudeyum Hridayahariyaya Pranayakatha Movie Review: For the unaware, Sureshinteyum Sumalathayudeyum Hridayahariyaya Pranayakatha is a spinoff of the acclaimed hit Nna Thaan Case Kodu, both written and directed by Ratheesh Balakrishnan Poduval. It centres around the scene-stealing lovebirds, Suresh and Sumalatha, whose cutesy romance even won over the judge in Nna Thaan Case Kodu. Sureshinteyum Sumalathayudeyum Hridayahariyaya Pranayakatha is, surprisingly, a far cry from the light-hearted but realistic satire on the legal system and government corruption shown in Nna Thaan Case Kodu. While assuming the garb of a love story, this movie, with a title that nearly eats up all the space in my headline, is more of an absurdist comedy with little regard for a linear narrative or conventional screenplay. Best Films of 2022: From Mammootty's Rorschach to Kunchacko Boban's Nna Thaan Case Kodu, 11 Best Malayalam Films of the Year and Where to Watch Them Online.

This is why Sureshinteyum Sumalathayudeyum Hridayahariyaya Pranayakatha is not everyone's cup of tea. This phrase was also frequently used to describe the director's Kanakam Kaamini Kalaham, a comedy that many said was not to everyone's taste. Unfortunately, I was among those who didn't appreciate it. However, I liked Sureshinteyum Sumalathayudeyum Hridayahariyaya Pranayakatha better than Kanakam Kaamini Kalaham, even though it doesn't provide complete fulfilment as a viewer. Here, the humour fares better in comparison, and while the time-jumping doesn't always make sense, it feels like a brave attempt by the filmmaker to avoid the usual route and go for a fantastical approach that may not appeal to mainstream sensibilities.

Watch the Trailer of Sureshinteyum Sumalathayudeyum Hridayahariyaya Pranayakatha:

As the title suggests, Sureshinteyum Sumalathayudeyum Hridayahariyaya Pranayakatha is about the evergreen love story between Suresh (Rajesh Madhavan) and Sumalatha (Chitra Nair). Suresh drives an auto, and Sumalatha is a kindergarten teacher. They belong to different castes, and knowing this, Suresh decides to win over her father (Sudheesh), an alcoholic drama enthusiast, by staging a play called Sadarama and asking him to act in it. However, the play not only disrupts the villagers' peace of minds but also messes with the timelines. I don't think I am explaining the plot right because only the director can do so.

The Farcical Love Story

From the opening act itself, Sureshinteyum Sumalathayudeyum Hridayahariyaya Pranayakatha sets the tone for the farcical route it plans to take. It begins by introducing the family members of the hero at the moment of a death, setting the quirkiness of their characters. Once Suresh enters the scene and starts his grand scheme to win over his ladylove, the quirks extend beyond the family to the whole village and even break the fourth wall to play with timeline continuities. The drama becomes part of the continuity and a visual metaphor for the love story, which also goes back years to narrate a similar tale.

While I understand the play merging into real life and vice versa, I have to honestly admit I am somewhat clueless about the purpose of the 'old' track. Is it to show that romance still faces societal scrutiny and caste troubles even after decades? Do answer, dear readers.

The World's A Stage...

The whole middle act is a mixed bag. Some of the farcical elements work - my favourite scene is the hilarious fight between Sumalatha's father and 'Santa Claus' with "Balikudeerangale" blaring in the background. Another hilarious scene, or rather two, is when Suresh uses his shades to trick Sumalatha's father into thinking he is conversing with him when he is actually communication with the daughter.

The drama subplot brings some fine performances from the supporting cast, who get to upstage even the leads. It is not exactly the protagonists' fault, though. The love track takes more of a backseat here, which is why the catchy "Premalola" track comes as a welcome change. Not only does the track bring more focus on the romantic pairing, but the music, choreography, and picturisation win hearts. While "Premalola" is definitely the standout, I liked Dawn Vincent's other compositions for the film as well.

But after a point, the middle act feels like it is simply stretching itself, with the spoof elements struggling to hit the comedy mark, though there are some clever political digs. Even the attempts to mix Hindi and English in conversations feel awkward after the initial amusement. When the girl's father finally gets wind of her relationship and opposes it based on caste differences, what comes next feels nothing new. But the film regained my interest when Sumalatha and Suresh decide to take a bold step only for him to screw things up. I liked how it doesn't treat the male protagonist as some sort of overtly macho person, but one with insecurities and cowardice, while the female lead is equally immature but far more gutsy. I also enjoyed the dig at the 'convert' Nairs. Nna Thaan Case Kodu Review: Twitterati Feels Kunchacko Boban’s Malayalam Courtroom Drama Is a ’Must-Watch'!

Hridayahariyaya Pranayakatha

With the spotlight back on the romance, Sureshinteyum Sumalathayudeyum Hridayahariyaya Pranayakatha fits back on track. However, the third act not only brings back the drama aspect and traversal through timelines, but also includes a flashback scene showing an intimate moment between the couple. I think the film aims to seek a common culmination in all tracks and fits the established tone of the movie, but somewhere, the translation of ideas goes amiss. Even Kunchacko Boban's cameo as the thief feels more like the movie wanting another peg to connect it to the original film - though his arc in this movie has little to do with Nna Thaan Case Kodu. I could be reading the finale wrong, and maybe a couple of rewatches could give me a clearer idea if I have the luxury of time for that.

As for the performances, both Rajesh Madhavan and Chitra Nair are splendid in their roles and make for a fabulous onscreen pair. Their chemistry is so good and wholesome that I was annoyed with Sureshinteyum Sumalathayudeyum Hridayahariyaya Pranayakatha for not being a conventional romcom with more spotlight on the love story.

Just as '90s actors like Jagadeesh, Ashokan, and Indrans are surprising us with some unexpectedly great performances in recent times, add Sudheesh to the list. He steals the show from all as the eccentric Nair, who is quite an a-hole. The rest of the supporting cast is filled with wonderful actors who impress even when the role is brief.

Final Thoughts on Sureshinteyum Sumalathayudeyum Hridayahariyaya Pranayakatha

Sureshinteyum Sumalathayudeyum Hridayahariyaya Pranayakatha is a quirky and unconventional spinoff that uniquely blends absurdist comedy and light-hearted romance. While it may not cater to mainstream tastes, has its share of narrative inconsistencies and doesn't entirely fulfil its potential, the film stands out for its bold storytelling format and enjoyable performances, particularly by Rajesh Madhavan, Chitra Nair, and Sudheesh.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 18, 2024 01:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).