'Laila' briefly comes alive in the second half when Vishwak Sen dons the lady get up but the weak writing plays a major spoilsport. The major problem is its over-reliance on crass humour and less on emotions.
A poster of the film 'Laila'. (X)
Over the years numerous leading men have successfully transformed into female avatars. Whether it is the legendary Kamal Haasan in the rollicking entertainer Avvai Shanmugi (1996) (in Telugu Bhamane Satyabhamane).
In the Telugu film industry too, both Rajendra Prasad and VK Naresh experienced huge success with Madam (1994) and Chitram Bhalare Vichitram (1992). These movies have outlandish scenarios but they are backed by cohesive writing and a strong emotional core.
Talking about Hindi actors Ayushmann Khurrana tasted major success with his female get-up in the Dream Girl 2 (2023). And now, actor Vishwak Sen has tried something similar, how did he fare?
Laila directed by Ram Narayan had the potential of being a good Valentine’s treat but the treatment makes it a tedious watch for most of its running time.
Vishwak Sen is a capable young actor, but his selection of scripts has been getting worse and Laila is a perfect example.
The storyline of Laila focuses on Sonu Model (Vishwak Sen). Sonu runs a beauty parlour in the area of the old city. Sonu is extremely popular among the ladies for both his makeup skills and also his helpful nature.
Sonu’s helpful nature is reflected when he allows a customer to use his name for an oil brand. However, this decision leads to a dramatic shift in his life. Due to certain circumstances, Sonu is forced to transform into Laila. The rest of the story revolves around why Sonu undergoes this transformation and the events that follow.
Laila has very few redeeming qualities and one of them is Vishwak Sen’s avatar as a female. He brings in a certain charm while seducing the men around him particularly Abhimanyu Singh— the comic villain.
Vishwak Sen in ‘Laila’. (X)
The way he portrays femininity, starting from the body language showcases Vishwak’s capability in attempting different roles. The scenes between him and Abhimanyu are an absolute riot even though it borders on farce.
As Sonu Model, Vishwak Sen does a fair job, particularly in the scenes where Sonu talks about his emotional attachment towards the parlour. Abhimanyu Singh as a married man lusting after Laila gives the movie some much-needed energy.
The way he adores Laila brings a smile to the viewers’ faces, the viewers feel that he is genuinely in love with Laila.
The major problem with Laila is too much emphasis on crass humour. Most of the dialogues are way below the belt producing more groans than laughs. Sonu’s connection with the parlour and him being a makeup artist is a very novel concept but this angle isn’t sufficiently developed.
The love track between Vishwak Sen and Akansha Sharma has also been haphazardly written. Portions involving Akansha’s interactions with Sonu majorly pull down the movie.
The songs composed by Leon James are another downer. None of them come close to standing out. The movie also has some unnecessary references to megastar Chiranjeevi’s films.
To sum it up Laila leaves a bitter aftertaste. Watch it only if you are in the mood for some senseless fun.
(Views expressed here are personal.)
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