'Modern Love Chennai' Tamil web series review

The third India-based chapter of the franchise Modern Love (2019) — called Modern Love Chennai — has just been released.

Hoping to see a repeat of the success that the popular franchise Modern Love (2019) enjoyed in the international circuit, its makers chose to release three chapters in India.

The first two are called Modern Love Mumbai (2022) and Modern Love Hyderabad (2022).

The stories featured in Modern Love Chennai are inspired by articles published in the New York Times. They have been adapted for the Tamil landscape.

Before we take a look at the six stories featured as part of the bouquet called Modern Love Chennai, we my note that some points are common to all stories in this anthology.

Similarities

First things first: Though all stories in Modern Love Chennai are set in varied backdrops, their underlying motif factor is love.

Also, all the stories in this anthology on love and relationships are told only from the perspective of the women in them.

Word is that the makers, while putting together this bunch of stories for Chennai, were worried that they would have to have at least one story told from a woman’s perspective.

One look at Modern Love Chennai, and you realise that they were unduly worried. All the stories, despite having been directed by men, are told from a woman’s perspective.

Exceptions

There is an exception to this statement, and that exception comes in the form of a brilliant story called Imaigal (Eyelids), directed by Balaji Sakthivel.

This does not mean that Imaigal has been told from a man’s perspective. Imaigal, too, puts across the point of view of the woman. But it also allows the man in the story some space to present his point of view, though in a limited fashion.

Thiagarajan Kumararaja’s story Ninaivo Oru Paravai (A Thought is a Bird) presents the man’s side but not before showcasing him to be guilty of levelling a baseless accusation against his girlfriend.

Some of the stories appear to be an honest attempt to capture the transformation that love and relationships have undergone with time, and how they have become now. Some others seem to be far-fetched and too unrealistic, to say the least.

Then there are those stories that are so outrageous that they make you lose faith in love and look at relationships as mere transactions for benefit.

Lalagunda Bommaigal (The Dolls from Lalagunda)

Lalagunda Bommaigal , directed by National Award-winner Raju Murugan, tells the story of Shobha (Sri Gouri Priya), a young girl working in a biscuit-making unit run by her family, and her relationship with a pani-puri seller from North India called Nathuram.

The story tries to make the point that love is actually not what it seems — that all men are out to cheat and exploit women who dare to fall for them.

Apart from the lead character played by Gouri Priya, Vasundhara Das plays a significant role in this brief episode, which has more feminism than love.

What stands out in this story of Modern Love Chennai is Vasundhara’s character repeatedly proclaiming that all men are cheaters and are out only to exploit women.

Of course, some will say this is not sexism because it is a woman making a sweeping generalisation about men, and that the generalisation is condescending in nature does not make it significant. Let the viewer be the judge of that.

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Imaigal (Eyelids)

Imaigal, directed by Balaji Sakthivel, who is known for his cult classic Kaadhal (2004), which went on to become a superhit, delivers a fantastic story that stresses the fact that the qualities that define love best — even in this day and age — are trust, understanding, standing by one another, and not letting go while facing insurmountable challenges.

The story revolves around a middle-class couple played by Ashok Selvan and TJ Bhanu.

Despite Devi (TJ Bhanu) announcing that she suffers from a retinal degenerative disease, which would mean that she would be losing her vision eventually, her boyfriend Nithya chooses to wed her.

As time goes by, Devi’s vision starts deteriorating. It is at this time that they have a kid. How Devi struggles to raise the kid as she has to do everything all by herself despite Nithya’s best intentions to help her is what the story is all about.

For once, a story in Modern Love Chennai does not look to point an accusing finger at its male characters. Instead, it honestly looks to examine the problems that a couple face because of their situation.

Ashok Selvan and Bhanu both do a fantastic job of playing their parts. The story makes you genuinely feel sorry for both the husband and wife. It has quite a few takeaways for anybody looking to have a meaningful relationship.

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Kaadhal Enbadhu Kannula Heart Irukkura Emoji (Love is an eye having a heart emoji in it)

The best story of Modern Love Chennai comes from actor-director Krishnakumar-Ramakumar.

Called Kaadhal Enbadhu Kannula Heart Irukkura Emoji, the story is a lighthearted enjoyable tale of a young girl who finally gets to understand what love and compatibility truly mean.

Ritu Varma plays the lead part of Mallika, around whom the entire story revolves.

Full of romantic ideas, thanks to the large number of films that she has watched all her life, Mallika wishes to find a partner who is as romantic as she is.

After failing quite a few times, she lets fate have its way and is pleasantly surprised.

Ritu Varma as Mallika delivers a fantastic performance, as does Vaibhav, who, despite appearing only in the climax, steals the show. Easily the pick of the lot.

Margazhi (the name of a Tamil month)

Margazhi is a story directed by Akshay Sundher. It is a simple story that looks to talk about the first love that blossoms in a schoolgirl.

The episode features Sanjula Sarathi, Chu Khoy Sheng, and Srikrishna Dayal in pivotal roles.

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Paravai Kootil Vaazhum Maangal (The deer that lives in a bird’s nest)

Paravai Kootil Vaazhum Maangal, directed by ace filmmaker Bharathiraja, revolves around a complex subject.

It tells the story of a husband looking to divorce his wife to bring in a woman he’s fallen in love with on the Metro.

This story of Modern Love Chennai is hard to accept not only because of the idea that it proposes but also because of how the two lead female characters are shown discussing their future course of action, keeping in mind the welfare of the two kids that the man has.

Ravi (Kishore), Ravi’s love Rohini (Vijayalakshmi), and Ravi’s wife Revathi (Remya Nambeesan) live their parts.

All three are exceptionally good actors. They came up with measured performances to help director Bharathiraja gracefully narrate a difficult subject.

Ninaivo Oru Paravai (A thought is a bird)

The final story in the anthology is Thiagarajan Kumararaja’s Ninaivo Oru Paravai.

A story that truly looks to capture the state of relationships today, Ninaivo Oru Paravai revolves around Sam (Wamiqa) and her boyfriend K (played by PB).

Having been in a relationship, both Sam and K part ways. The developments that happen for them to get back together make them learn more about themselves and the love they have for each other.

The story, which can best be described as whacky and modern, dispels certain notions of chastity, sex and relationships in the fast lane in the process of unfolding itself.

Quite a few dialogues in the story are deep and have several layers to them. While some are explained by the lead characters themselves, others are left to the wisdom of the viewer.