Pranaya Vilasam review: An entertainer in all forms with subtle performances

Pranaya Vilasam is the newest entry in the league of romantic movies released in February. The film deals with many emotions like love and anger. It would be a spoiler if anything more is mentioned here.

The movie has a storyline that is unlike other romantic films. It focuses on the relationship between a son and his parents.

Director Nikhil Muraly tries a different formula — something that isn’t new for the Malayali audience.

Biju Menon-starrer Anuraga Karikkin Vellam had a similar plot: A middle-aged man finding his old lover and what happens after that.

Pranaya Vilasam is similar, but the director explored relationships before marriage.

Also read: Mr King is an idealistic story marred by amateurish treatment

Good concept

It’s quite complicated in a society like Kerala where people are not open to new forms of lifestyle. Several instances of moral policing have been reported across the state.

Nikhil Muraly subtly tries to explain how the married life of a middle-aged man would be.

Mohanlal’s Munthirivallikal Thalirkumbol also had a similar plot, where the protagonist finds his ex-lover and starts communicating with her. Pranaya Vilasam has the same sequence.

The movie differs from the earlier mentioned films because of the portrayal of the woman’s character — Anusree — whose younger self is essayed by Anaswara Rajan.

Films usually narrate the story from the point of view of the male protagonist. But here, Anusree (Anaswara Rajan) has an ex-lover — Vinod (Hakkim Shah). Theirs isn’t platonic love but a normal love story that happens at Kalyassery village in the Kannur district.

At a certain point, Arjun Ashokan’s character chances upon the diary of his mother Anusree (played by Sreedhanya) where she describes her love life.

Following this, he and his father (Manoj KU) travel to Kalyassery to unearth some truths. Their interesting journey forms the second half of the movie.

Woman-oriented script

Writers Jyotish M and Sunu convincingly bring to life a housewife whose life revolves around her husband and son who don’t have time for her and are busy with their own lives.

Only at a crucial point do they realise the value of the woman. But by then, it is too late.

Even the father’s character meets his former girlfriend Meera (Miya George). He finds relief in her company.

But Miya George’s character (a professor) is a typical person with a spectacle.

Related: Someone feeling liberated through  my movies is a win: Hakkim Shah

Missing details

Hakkim Shah as Vinod and Anaswara Rajan as Anusree are too good on screen. The film focuses more on the life of Anusree and Vinod.

Though Manoj gets good screen time in the movie as the father, details about his relationship with Meera go missing.

Even the relationship between the characters of Arjun Ashokan and Mamita Baiju becomes irrelevant after a point.

The first half of Pranaya Vilasam is a joyride with lighter moments.

Arjun Ashokan plays the character of an aspiring singer who is in love with her collegemate (Mamita Baiju).

Their romantic track is well-picturised. The actors came together again after their superhit movie Super Sharanya.

The songs composed by Shaan Rahman give colour to their love track and the flick. Shinoz’s cinematography is brilliant.

Verdict

Pranaya Vilasam is a good entertainer with a universal theme of love. The movie has clubbed relationships across generations which makes it worth watching.

(Views expressed are personal.)