Andhra Pradesh

‘Valentine’ lacks punch Film review

Film: Valentine

Cast: Sivaram, Suzzane

Direction: Sripada.V

Valentine is supposed to be a thoughtful love story, selfless and moving. Moving it is visually and interesting in parts but wholly unrealistic.

The story is about an American girl, Suzzane, who comes to India to serve the poor and falls in love with a brooding Visu (Sivaram).

Visu’s friends Anjali and Saleem marry against the family’s wishes and Anjali’s father pushes Visu behind the bars and slaps a case against him.

The service oriented Suzanne begins her hunt for her love and a series of incidents throws up open-ended questions about loyalty, love and the imperfection of friendship offering easy answers. But it does so in such a meditative, unhurried style that you are left to take what meaning you want from it.

Suzanne is basically an Australian girl. She looks sweet and cherubic and offers a flat portrayal of a dull character. Imagine a foreigner speaking about the country’s natural resources in pure Telugu, a small girl giving her an idea on how to woo the hero and the spirit less hero who is languishing in a dilapidated secluded cell all of a sudden gives a tough fight in the climax.

Sivaram does look hero material but is compelled to give a distressed outlook to his character. One really wonders how a super-intelligent hero spends his time with worthless friends. The film provides a flashy enough visual experience but it fails to ignite much interest ; it’s an attractive movie but the flair doesn’t add to up to anything useful.

Music is bright and clear and that is probably the only saving grace. Valentine isn’t a terrible film, but it’s a largely derivative and lacklustre romance

- Y. SUNITA CHOWDHARY

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