Film: Meendum Oru Kadhal Kathai
Director: Mithran Jawahar
Cast: Isha Talwar, Walter Philips, Nasser, Manoj K Jayan, Thalaivasal Vijay, Arjunan
It was a romantic musical with a simple plot that showed the religious divide between a couple in love. But what had made Thattathin Marayathu (2012) a fascinating watch was its engaging screenplay and it’s undercurrent soft emotional flow that touched a chord in the viewer. The film had its soul in the right place.
And now the Malayalam film is adapted to Tamil as Meendum Oru Kadhal Kathai. This is Jawahar’s fourth ‘remake’ of another language film to Tamil. While the director has followed the physicality of the script almost faithfully, the essence and feel seems to have been lost somewhere in its translation. Also, a romantic musical depends to a large extent on its songs, which can carry the narration forward. But the film’s music is just about average here and more of a speed breaker.
The couple-in-love is Vinod and Ayesha (Walter, Isha), both a study in contrast. Vinod is a middle class youth from a Hindu background, poor in academics and not well versed in English. While Ayesha (Isha) is from a traditional Muslim family, her uncle wealthy and influential (Nasser). An ideal setting for the conflict to follow.
The early scenes are about Vinod falling for Ayesha at first sight and wooing her relentlessly. The opposition they face is through Ayesha’s uncle which is the rest of the story.
Debutant Walter (the film’s producer too) has a pleasant screen presence, an expressive face, and is confident in his portrayal of a youngster in his first flush of love. Isha, who reprises her role from the original, cuts a beautiful picture. But her motions seem almost mechanical here.
Adequate support is lent by Manoj K Jayan as the cop who supports the cause of the lovers; Nasser as Ayesha’s uncle and Thalaivasal Vijay as her hapless father. The latter gets his space nearing the finale, where he breaks his silence and vents out his frustration. But apart from this scene and a couple of others, it’s a dry flat scenario throughout.
Thattathin Marayathu with its lyrical feel was like a beautiful love-poem on celluloid. But its remake fails to touch an emotional chord.