‘Lover’ movie review: Manikandan and Sri Gouri Priya shoulder an intense yet intriguing relationship drama

An individual studying methods to journey a scooter won’t be an enormous deal however in Prabhuram Vyas’ Lover, Kala (an excellent Geetha Kailasam), mom of our protagonist Arun (Manikandan), lastly studying methods to journey a scooter appears like a private win. Studying to do one thing new, making an attempt out one thing that’s thought of a nasty behavior, and even realising the way forward for themselves in a relationship and trying course correction are all half and parcel of rising up and this doubles because the plot for Prabhuram’s Lover.

Lover tells us the story of Arun and Divya (Sri Gouri Priya), two drastically completely different people linked by their fondness for one another. Arun is sort of a rock apart a shore — cussed, old-school and unalterable, whose beliefs are set in stone. She’s much like the waves — boisterous, free-spirited and distinguished. Each time they meet, it’s the union of an unstoppable power and an immovable object, and it’s all the pieces from being explosive to damaging.

Lover, not less than on a floor degree, may appear like a sequence of fights between two conflicting personalities that resolve on their very own solely to start once more till considered one of them tries to cease the loop. It’s additionally in all probability why the movie works extra as moments hidden inside scenes relatively than its whole. Be it when Arun finds Divya to be mendacity and heroically goes to confront her, just for the scooter to get punctured halfway, or when Divya blocks Arun throughout social media and he begs for forgiveness utilizing the messaging operate of Google Pay, moments within the movie usually are not simply poignant and lovely however they’re additionally eerily relatable for {couples} preventing the percentages in a recent relationship.

Whereas what the 2 lead characters undergo shouldn’t be notably balanced — which might be the story of each relationship — Prabhuram does a high quality job of humanising the characters amidst the exuberant highs and miserable lows of their relationship. Whereas we get to know little or no about Divya, we all know each side of Arun; proper from his caring, hardworking mom and a futile father who has one other household to his gang of mates. Although the movie feeds us on the poisonous setting Arun dwells inside, neither does it condone nor glorify the toxicity that he exudes. Regardless of an array of supporting artists, the filmmaker has neatly etched out every character, and the one which stands aside essentially the most is Kanna Ravi’s Madhan.

Probably the most entertaining sequences in Lover are when Arun is interacting together with his gang of associates — just like the hilarious scene the place Arun confuses OCD with OCB rolling papers. The movie spends a variety of time letting its leads be confronted and comforted by their associates, and the filmmaker does an excellent job of showcasing each modern relationships and friendships. The truth that the perfect scene of the movie doesn’t contain the 2 leads however is definitely a telephone name between Divya and Kala drives residence the energy of the script.

Be it the parallels, the stunning scores of Sean Roldan which amplify the temper of the movie, or some implausible performances from all the forged, particularly Manikandan and Sri Gouri Priya, the movie has loads going for it, making you look previous its minute flaws. Lover, like a slice of heat apple crumble, served alongside a scoop of ice cream, is a tasty story of a new-age bittersweet relationship that works properly because of its wise and pragmatic strategy.

Lover is presently working in theatres