Manamey: A Fresh Thought Lost in Clichés
London, the city where Vikram’s journey begins
Manamey, directed by Sriram Aditya, had all the ingredients to be a heartwarming drama about two individuals taking care of their friends’ baby in an unexpected scenario. Unfortunately, the film falters in its execution, relying on clichéd narrative and overused tropes.
A Promising Start
The film begins with Vikram (Sharwanand), a fun-loving flirtatious guy living in London. His friend Anurag (Adith Ram) and his wife Shanti die in an accident, leaving their baby boy Kushi behind. Vikram and Subadra (Kriti Shetty) take on the responsibility of caring for the two-year-old. This fresh thought had the potential to be an emotional ride, but it gets lost in the routine template of many yesteryear love stories mixed with a parenting drama.
Performances
Sharwanand shines as the happy-go-lucky guy, and his playful character is amusing. However, the weak narrative overshadows his performance. Kriti Shetty looks good but has nothing to boast about in terms of her performance. Seerat Kapoor and Ayesha Khan sizzle in their guest appearances, making their presence felt. Vennela Kishore’s few jokes work well, and the baby actor Kushi is cute.
Technicalities
The production values are good, and the cinematography is great. The background music, however, could have been better. There are many songs in the movie, but none really help to elevate the film.
Thumbs Up and Down
Thumbs up to Sharwanand’s performance and the cinematography. Thumbs down to the clichéd narrative and the songs.
Analysis
Manamey starts on a slow note and fails to pick up pace in the first half. The way the hero and heroine agree to take responsibility for the baby as caretakers is unconvincing. The establishing scenes of their hurdles as caretakers fail to make an impression. The interval block is predictable, and the second half follows the same route.
The cinematography is too good, but the background music was not good enough to match the great visuals. Most of the film was shot in Europe, which adds to the visual appeal. The combination scenes of Vennela Kishore and Sharwanand manage to bring some laughs.
The Verdict
Manamey had the potential to be an emotional ride, but it gets lost in the routine template of many yesteryear love stories mixed with a parenting drama. Sharwanand’s energy and his jokes save the film to an extent, but Manamey needs much more than that.
Sharwanand in a scene from Manamey
Rating: 2.5/5
