Single Shankarum Smartphone Simranum review: A decent take on how AI threatens human relations

Director Vignesh Sha’s Single Shankarum Smartphone Simranum is remarkably different from what one usually gets to see in Tamil cinema.

While most people would call it a fantasy comedy, its plot is closer to reality than fantasy because the movie has been released at a time when the ChatBot and ChatGPT took the world by storm.

Single Shankarum Smartphone Simranum gives audiences an idea of how human relationships could sour if Artificial Intelligence enters that space, too.

A brilliant, frustrated scientist (Sha Ra) who remains single for a very long time chooses to create an Artificial Intelligence programme called “Simran” on his mobile phone.

His frustration has its roots in the fact that he has no one to talk to, while people around him share their emotions with their partners.

Sha Ra designs Simran (Megha Akash) as a pretty woman to keep him company and eventually the prototype works.

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However, his mobile phone gets stolen and the thieves sell it to a dealer.  A delivery boy named Shankar (Mirchi Shiva) who lives with his dad (Mano) buys the phone.

Shankar is initially unaware of how powerful his second-hand phone is. However, it does not take him long to realise that the tech gadget is unique in more ways than one.

He invariably gets introduced to Simran who, he realises, can transform his life in a matter of minutes.

From making himself rich by picking the right team in a “Dream 11” contest to simplifying his daily chores by employing drones and delivering food to his customers to investing his money in profitable stocks, Simran does everything.

Every time Simran does something that makes him wealthy, Shankar tells the phone that he loves it.

Nevertheless, Shankar falls in love with Tulasi (Anju Kurian). Simran, which has been helpful all this while, develops feelings for Shankar and professes its love for him.

However, Shankar reminds Simran that it is just a phone and that he can’t possibly be in a relationship with it.

Simran, which until then is helpful, feels jealous of Shankar’s love for Tulasi and turns rogue. What happens next is what the film is all about.

Entertaining only in parts

Single Shankarum Smartphone Simranum is an extended version of director Vignesh Sha’s own short film Iphone Siriyum Ayanavaram Raviyum.

Although the movie could have been used to put across a meaningful social message relevant to the times we live in, the makers made it clear that their motive behind the film is to just provide entertainment.

It has its share of positives to offer. Like Mirchi Shiva’s other films, this one, too, does not shy away from taking potshots at real people who are in the limelight for all the wrong reasons.

For instance, there is a sequence that spoofs a recent incident where a woman from a well-to-do background played the gender card and tried to portray herself as a victim to avoid paying for her meal.

Also Read: Pranaya Vilasam movie review

In the real-life incident, the woman even levelled allegations against a delivery boy saying that he attacked her. However, it eventually became clear that she fabricated the story.

Single Shankarum Smartphone Simranum also has a sequence that takes a jibe at a particular cricketer for repeatedly letting down a popular cricket franchise in a sporting event. The spoof is bound to leave you in splits.

Certain parts of the film do make you laugh. But then, a few don’t. These scenes are exhausting to watch and play the spoilsport.

For instance, the meaningless sequences where Shankar’s dad flirts with a woman seeking a divorce from her husband and the one where Shankar’s friend suspects his wife of having an affair.

All these don’t add any value to the film and instead turn it into a rather silly comedy.

Have you watched #SingleShankarumSmartphoneSimranum 🥳💃 yet? Book your tickets 🎟️ now at the nearest Cinemas 📽️ #EnnaSimranIdhellam 💃 #SSSSRunningSuccessfully@actorshiva @akash_megha @AnjuKurian10 @kumarkarupannan @larkstudios_ @11_11cinema @prabhuthilaak #Mano @makapa_anand pic.twitter.com/IEBAODwg2B

— 11:11 Productions (@11_11cinema) February 25, 2023

Performances

Mirchi Shiva is just as good as ever in the movie. He is unapologetic and revels in taking potshots at both people and developments.

His dancing, which resembles a toned-down workout session designed for senior citizens, is hilarious. On the whole, if you have liked his earlier films, you are bound to like this one too.

Megha Akash, who plays the AI bot Simran, seems to have done a fantastic job because most of her sequences must have been shot with only her in them.

Anju Kurian as Shankar’s love interest Tulasi also does a neat job.

Sha Ra as the scientist delivers what is expected of him.

On the technical front, Leon James composes an apt background score.

Well-known cinematographer Arthur Wilson, as always, does justice to his job.

In all, it’s a decent entertainer!

(Views expressed are personal.)