BOTTOM LINE
Warm And Funny
OUR RATING
2.75/5
CENSOR
2h 29m, ‘U/A’ Certified.
What Is the Film About?
Arjun (Vishwak Sen) is a potbellied, thirty-plus guy under pressure to get married. He finally finds a match in Madhavi (Rukshar Dhillon) and is all set to get married. The story of Ashoka Vanamlo Arjuna Kalyanam takes place when Arjun is forced to stay with Madhavi’s family due to the lockdown.
What new revelations take Arjun by surprise? How do the families stay together? Did Arjun get married comprises the overall plot.
Performances
Vishwak Sen comes up with a simple but lovable act. He goes entirely against the image and plays a non-heroic simpleton role that is not dumb or too naive. Arjun is just an ordinary guy, and that’s how Vishwak Sen portrays him. Of course, there are elements to make him stand out as a ‘hero’, but they escape the typical expectations.
The small mannerisms related to the body language, the subdued and composed diction, and the hairstyle everything add to the act by Vishwak Sen. We only see very few glimpses of the hyper actor he is and that is where he scores. Arjun will therefore be a memorable role for him.
Rukshar Dhillon and Ritika Nayak are the main female leads in the movie. Both look adequate for the part and play their roles accordingly. They are lovely without going the glamorous route. Rukshar is less bubbly than Ritika, but both dramatically have a decent presence.
Analysis
Vidya Sagar Chinta directs Ashoka Vanamlo Arjuna Kalyanam. It is a simple, straightforward story of the marriage of an overaged guy feeling pressure from society.
In recent years, many new-age filmmakers have been attempting grounded and realistically rooted dramas with relatable themes. Vidya Sagar Chinta’s Ashoka Vanamlo Arjuna Kalyanam is another addition to the list.
What is essential for movies like these to work is the perfect casting and neat writing. The characters have to stand out and seep into the local milieu. The best of Malayalam movies get this right. We see all these come to fruition in Ashoka Vanamlo Arjuna Kalyanam.
When the director knows the characters inside out, and the writing supports it, all that is left is a decent execution. Vidya Sagar Chinta gets that right. Despite a predictable (and thin) story, the first half of the movie offers plenty of fun moments to keep one engaged.
The supporting actors do that trick here. They are all familiar roles – we have seen the usual over the top uncle’ running riot at marriages, a wedding photographer going crazy with his photographic skills, and so on. It is how they go about the proceedings with a regular hero at the centre that brings freshness to the whole thing.
A couple of small twists arrive at the interval mark. It might not be the case if one remembers the trailer, though. They make one look forward to the second half with curiosity concerning the movie’s direction.
The second half, too, is weak on the story aspect. The team once again focuses on the characters to pull through the narrative. So we have a few other characters take the driving seat to provide the entertainment.
It is the fun that keeps coming intermittently that is the mainstay of Ashoka Vanamlo Arjuna Kalyanam. Some work hilariously like the drinking sequence, some moderately, but they keep the momentum going without slipping away altogether.
The drama slows down the proceedings. It feels like the whole thing is retro-fitted in the narrative rather than coming organically. So we have a situation where the supporting actors and the fun move nicely, whereas the drama is holding things back. It creates a patchy and uneven tale during the second half.
But, eventually, the feel-good fun trumps the minor blemishes and leaves us with a bright smile at the end. And that is ultimately the mood we carry, coming out from cinemas.
Overall, Ashoka Vanamlo Arjuna Kalyanam is a light-hearted, feel-good drama with plenty of fun moments. The story is feeble and weak, but the superb supporting cast and the writing hold it together. Give the movie a try if you like a simple slice of life dramedy.
Performances by Others Actors
Goparaju Ramana, Rajkumar Kasireddy, Kadambari Kiran, Kedar Shankar etc. play the vital supporting roles. Everyone fits the milieu, and the Telangana slang adds to its freshness. Rajkumar Kasireddy and Kadambari Kiran’s roles are reduced in the second half, but we have Goparaju Ramana take charge with Vennela Kishore coming along. Basically, there is no shortage of supporting artists who blend into the narrative and generate fun.
Music and Other Departments?
Besides writing and casting, Jay Krish’s music and background score are critical ingredients in adding a pleasant feel to the proceedings. It is nothing out of the world, but it has enough zing and charm to bring the that happy feeling. Pavi K Pavan’s cinematography is decent. The small-town vibe is captured well. Viplav Nyshadam’s editing makes the narrative patchy, especially in the second half. The writing is good throughout.
Highlights?
Casting
Writing
Feel-Good Factor
Fun
Drawbacks?
Thin Story
Uneven Narrative (During Second Half)
Feels A Little Lengthy
Alternative Take
Better integration of drama during the second hour would have elevated the movie further. As it stands, it looks like a more rooted, simplified and small scale version of the much-loved Venkatesh movie Aadavari Matalaku Ardhale Verule.
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, For The Most Part
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, But With Slight Reservation
Ashoka Vanamlo Arjuna Kalyanam Movie Review by M9News
Final Report:
Despite the shortcomings storywise, Ashoka Vanamlo Arjuna Kalyanam manages to survive and provide the necessary fun. After back-to-back heavy-duty films, this is the movie if you are looking for some entertainment with expectations in check. Review coming soon.
—- Show started. Arjun is getting ready for arranged inter caste marriage.
After Paagal, actor Vishwak Sen returns with a new outing Ashoka Vanamlo Arjuna Kalyanam. Vidya Sagar Chinta directs the movie, which hits screens all over on May 6th.
Vishwak Sen is slowly but steadily creating a niche for himself with unique choices of subjects. In Ashoka Vanamlo Arjuna Kalyanam, he plays a soft character which takes back to his debut Vellipomakey.
The promotions and controversy surrounding the movie have helped create a buzz. But, it is still not reflected in advances, though. Ashoka Vanamlo Arjuna Kalyanam requires an excellent word of mouth to take off at the box office.
The opportunity is correct as there has been a spate of biggies, and some failed spectacularly. Success here will bring Vishwak Sen back on track. But more than that will breathe life into the small films that are faring poorly at the box office (barring one).
Rukshar Dhillon pairs up with Vishwak Sen in Ashoka Vanamlo Arjuna Kalyanam. The trailer promises a fun entertainer with both having an equal scope. From the debut director to the rest of the cast and crew, the movie is critical in taking them to the next level. BVSN Prasad presents the film, whereas B Bapineedu and Sudheer Edara produce it.
As always, M9News will bring you a ‘First-On-Net’ Ashoka Vanamlo Arjuna Kalyanam review, genuinely and honestly. Watch this space for our updates.
