Better Mum Than Mumtaz

Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are globally synonymous with eternal love. The trouble with this Mumtaz is that it gets the concept of love completely wrong and in the process, making a mess of it to an audience whose taste is now refined enough thanks to some brilliant outings by wiser filmmakers.

Lacking in spontaneous charm from the beginning, this half-hearted film revolves around Ranjith (Dharma Keerthiraj) and Anjali (Sharmiela Mandre). But for the two, expressing their fondness for each other through roses and letters becomes a challenge.

Their love remains a secret with each and when they get an opportunity to reveal their feelings at the Taj Mahal, Anjali’s friend says she is engaged. Whether Ranjith will still go after his love forms the rest of the story, with a touch of tragedy in the end.

A debacle for the ambitious director Raghava Murali. Though he tries to excite the audience with nuggets tried-and-tested elements, the script betrays with an inevitable ending and clumsy conclusion. 

Kan Kana Salige..., a love song with Dharma Keerthiraj and Sharmiela Mandre in the film Navagraha, caught the attention of debut director Raghava Murali who chose them as the lead pair for Mumtaz, with its tagline Janma Lovealli Marna Feellali. But the chemistry doesn’t work too well in this film.

Dharma Keerthiraj has tried to prove himself by essaying a different character, but he fails in dealing with a subject like love. Sharmiela Mandre does not bring any depth. Nothing noteworthy about the supporting cast.

The 19-year-old music director Praveen is promising but has a long way to go. Of course, age is on his side. Chikkanna adds comedy in a subtle way.

Better go mum and ignore the ‘taz’.

Related Stories

No stories found.

X
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com