Film Review: Lovely

COOL COONOOR, scenic Ooty, joyous families - the ambience seems just right for a light, breezy comedy. And that is what Evergreen Movie International's ``Lovely'' is... in the first half. Unwarranted knots and protracted incidents test your patience towards the end.

Blind opposition by parents to the love affair of wards has been the crux of many a film. Here Mahadevan (Manivannan) gives hurt from a childhood happening as reason for his strong dislike for love marriages. But his daughter Nivedha (Malavika) is already in love with Chandru (Karthik). Mahadevan's friend (Vinu Chakravarthy) spots the love birds and informs dad. Meanwhile Chandru works out moves and counter-moves to get into the good books of Nivedha's father and succeeds too. The story, ideally, ends here. But unnecessary squabbles and an elopement drama stage-managed by Nivedha's sister and Chandru's brother, pull the film to a stretched crescendo. A didactic soliloquy from the hero at this point lends a ``Kadhalukku Mariyadhai'' touch to the film. The story, screenplay and direction are Shakti's.

It is another treat from Vivek. Though overdone in a couple of scenes, the actor's humorous encounters are enjoyable. The surprise packet is Vinu Chakravarthy whose portrayal lends itself to wholesome comedy. The actor has made good use of the opportunity given.

N. Prasannakumar's dialogue is a major factor in making the comedy in ``Lovely'' appreciable.

B. Kannan's camera captures the picturesque beauty of the locations in all its sylvan splendour. Deva's ``Vinodhamanavanalae'' number so scintillatingly sung by Hariharan and Sujatha is a bonanza for the eyes and ears - a well picturised melody.

The veena bit in the background after the pallavi is particularly captivating. If at all there's a sore point here, it is the pedestrian nature of the lyrics - Pa. Vijay can definitely do better. ``Aina sabhai...'' is another foot-tapping refrain from Srinivas and Harini.

Karthik's voice modulation appeals only in the climax when he goes on about the greatness of familial bond. Otherwise it is loudness in the name of comedy. For that matter, in all the scenes where the two families are fighting or having fun, the decibel level of the conversation hurts the ear.

Monal has been added only for glamour (as if Malavika is not enough!) and she does what is expected. A character which has little to do.

One always remembers Karthik as an elegant dancer. Why he has not been given enough chance to show his prowess in the song sequences is rather strange. Again but for the loudness, Balu Anand's character as the constantly tense son-in-law has been well conceived and presented.

``Lovely'' has enticing visuals and guileless humour - Vivek, Vinu Chakravarthy style. If only the unwarranted convolutions in the end had been avoided, the film would have probably been as enjoyable as the Sivaji-Muthuraman comedy ``Ooty Varai Uravu'' of the past.

MALATHI RANGARAJAN

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