Modern Love Chennai review: A fantastic sixer!

There’s another story of a divorce that doesn’t lead to a broken family, and it is directed by the iconic filmmaker Bharathiraja, a strong influence in creating the conventional idea of romance in the mainstream. His film, Paravai Kootil Vaazhum Maangal (Deers that live in a bird’s nest) is about a wife’s meeting with husband’s new lover to discuss how they are going to swap their worlds. Talk about subversion! With Remaya Nambeesan’s brilliant performance and Iliayaaraja’s old songs, Bharathiraja has effortlessly pulled off a radical story. Revathy (Remya), who is accepting of her husband’s decision to move on, tells his lover Rohini (Varalaxmi), “Let’s create a new world for our children, where we can find a place for all of us.” It reminded me of Pablo Larrain’s most sensual and explicit film Ema, a film about a woman who starts an affair with a couple, who adopts their former son. Bharathiraja’s film doesn’t go to such length but it drives home a similar point.

The wackiest film of Modern Love is Rajumurugan’s Lalagunda Bommaigal. Set in North Madras, the film has some of the most interesting characters and sly humour that’s sharp and sarcastic at the same time. The film opens with a rather bleak sequence of Shoba (Sri Gouri Priya) going through an illegal abortion. However, the seriousness of things quickly gets sidetracked by the dark humour that pervades throughout the film. Shoba resolves that she will find the best guy and live happily ever after. However, a self-styled godman tells her that she will end up with a guy from the North, who will also be a thief. Things don’t go exactly the way Shoba wants to, but she gets a happy ending, nevertheless.

On the other hand, Kumararaj’s Ninaivo Oru Paravai, in a sense, doesn’t have a start or an ending. Maybe, you can start watching the film from the middle and can go back to the beginning, and it would still make sense. Ninaivo Oru Paravai starts with perhaps a beautiful break-up between a couple. They have the best sex of their relationship and Sam (Wamiqa Gabbi) goes, “Saving the best for the last, were you?” (It’s a meta line about the film being the last in the anthology?) They have a smoke together and leave with a smile on their faces. K then goes on to have an accident and loses a part of his memories including their break up, and Sam jogs his memory with notes she had made of some of their best moments. And boy! They are also some of the best visual and aural moments as well for the viewer. Everything about Ninaivo Oru Paravai is like a memory. The background (sometimes even the subject) is hazy. Shots are so dark that the makers thought it is necessary to put up a warning note before the film asking not to adjust the screen brightness. One can make whatever they feel is right about Ninaivo Oru Paravai. It could all be in Sam’s head, or it is all in K’s head. Or we are just seeing the K’s first draft and that’s why things are quite messy. Everything could be the right interpretation because it is not about the story. The magic is about the moments Thiagaraja creates. It is wickedly funny. It panders to both the heart and the brain at the same time. Take the same first scene from the film for example: Sam suggests they have sex again for the one last time. K goes, “Why ruin the best? Always leave them wanting for more.” She hits back, “Poda mayiru, admit you can’t.” K looks hurt for a moment, and he laughs, “That too.” With such a delicious film, Modern Love Chennai leaves us wanting more.

Modern Love Chennai series cast: Kishore, Varalaxmi, Wamiqa Gabbi, Ritu Varma
Modern Love series directors: Thiagarajan Kumararaja, Bharathiraja, Balaji Shakthivel, Akshay Sundher, Rajumurugan, Krishnakumar Ramakumar
Modern Love Chennai rating: 4 stars