Lover - Movie Review

Friday, July 20, 2018 - 13:00
Lover (2018)
Cast & Crew: 

Film: Lover
Cast:
Raj Tarun, Riddhi Kumar, Posani and others
Music: Ankit Tiwari, Arko, Rishi Rich & Ajay Vas, Sai Karthik, Tanishk Bagchi
Cinematography: Sameer Reddy
Editor: Prawin Pudi
Art Director: A S Prakash
Producer: Harshith Reddy
Banner: Sri Venkateswara Creations
Directed by: Annish Krishna
Release date: July 20, 2018
CBFC Rating: UA

What’s it about!
 
Raju (Raj Tarun) can fix or change any mobike into altogether different bike. He is expert in automobile engineering. It was love at first sight for him when he sees a Malayalee staff nurse Charita (Riddhi Kumar) in a hospital in his home town Ananthapur. She doesn’t love him but he still tries. One of his noble gesture melts her heart and romance blossoms. But she finds that the hospital authorities are trying poison a girl and other irregularities at hospital. Now a gang from Coimbatore is after Charita. Why? How does Raju save her?
 
Analysis
 
Dil Raj’s recent blockbuster ‘MCA’ with Nani narrating a flashback of his equation with his brother and his love life. The film was set in Warangal. The latest ‘Lover’ directed by Aneesh Krishna also begins with Raj Tarun sitting on top of Gandikota narrating the incidents that began six months ago. This story is set in Ananthapur. In both the films, the brother’s role is played by Rajeev Kanakala. Both the movies begin with love tracks in the first half and real drama is kept for the later portions. It doesn’t mean that both the movies are same. They have the same formulaic narration is what we are stressing.
 
In fact, the screenplay of ‘Lover’ is quite routine and similar to umpteen old love dramas. There is hardly anything that is original. Protagonist is introduced as modified-bike designer which is new, there is also scene of hacking of car engine system which was not seen before. But these two elements are used in prototype romantic thread in regular way that makes the film quite a predictable one from start to the end.
 
The backdrop of Ananthapur in the first half and Kerala in the second half has added value to the scenic beauty but they have not erased the formulaic feel as the narration lacks novelty.
 
Heroine comes from a rich family from Kerala (her house in Aleppy is much like a resort) but works in an Andhra government hospital as nurse. This is hardly believable.
 
The film is narrated with some catchy numbers. This reviewer liked three songs in particular. Best of the lot is “Naalo Chilipi Kala” which was shot in a hospital backdrop. Bits of this music runs throughout the movie. “Adbutham” song shot in Kerala is good too. The sorrow song is also effective.
 
The film has visually pleasant and has good cinematography by Sameer Reddy. Editor should have cut excess scenes. Art work is decent and production values are top class.
 
As far as acting is concerned, Raj Tarun with his ponytail appears a little bit different and has also tried Rayalaseema accent for a change. He is quite good here. Riddhi Kumar is beautiful and has also come up with decent acting. Rest of the actors from Rajeev Kanakala to Subbaraju to Ajay, all have got stock characters and they have done regular acting. Sachin Khedekar is wasted in consequential role.
 
Director Aneesh Krishna’s writing is bad here.
 
Bottom-line: ‘Lover’ is quite routine romantic drama with formulaic scenes. Despite some ‘dhum’ in the second half, it never comes into the groove and ends up giving dreary feel.

Reviewed by: 
J Gudelli
Rating: 
2/5