Imagine two men from rival parties scouting out the town to find a wife? And when one finally ends up with a partner, can the other person remain still? 'Nadikalil Sundari Yamuna', directed by Vijesh Panathur and Unni Vellora, is a fun-family drama that explores relationships – friendship and marriage – in a comical manner. The simple, yet unpredictable, situations the protagonists find themselves while trying to get hitched with the help of their cronies make 'Nadikalil Sundari Yamuna' enjoyable.
It is easily one of those light-hearted comedies that work because of its relatability, though one may argue that the theme of single, older men facing too many odds while navigating through the marriage market, may be all too familiar.
Nonetheless, the highlights of the movie are the exchanges between the characters. Dhyan Sreenivasan and Aju Varghese, who have reunited after the successful film 'Love Action Drama', deliver a fun-filled comedy that carry some essence of vintage movies. The film is set in north Malabar and begins with an annual festival conducted by villagers. The festival, which kicks off with a sacrificial wild pig, is also a prominent aspect of the movie.
Dhyan plays Kannan, a happy-go-lucky man in his 30s, who realises it is time for him to find a suitable partner. That he wants a partner who can look after his basic needs is definitely old-school writing and may feel out of place at a time when filmmakers are striving to ensure women characters are on par with men onscreen, but given that Kannan is someone who depends too much on his mother and sister, it doesn't seem unbelievable.
Kannan is always surrounded by men from his party, who are very serious about finding him a bride. The extremes to which they will go and the tactics they use to outsmart the rival party member and garment shop owner Vidhya (Aju) and his gang is yet another highpoint of the movie.
Unlike his recent outings, Dhyan gets to play a less serious character in the movie, which elevates his performance. Though he struggles to get into the skin of the character initially, Dhyan finally manages to break ground, especially in his interaction with Vidhya. Aju, who made a comeback in Kerala Crime Files, delights us once again with his performance.
The performances by Nirmal Palazhi, Aneesh Gopal, Pragya Nagra and Banumathi Payyannur are also exceptional.
The setting of the film and the treatment take you back to the old films of the 80s and 90s, which were peppered with dialogues that are borrowed from everyday life. It's not that 'Nadikalil Sundari Yamuna' is a perfect entertainer, but it is quiet refreshing that the makers have not tried too hard to make the comedy work. While the film may suffer from some cliches, the flow in the narrative and the humour ensure these shortcomings can be overlooked.
