Lover
Introduction
Everything in love will probably be lost, but in the end, love will return in another way. These were the lines of Kafka years ago but if only humans could implement this thought with the same breath in which it is read! With that, I finished watching the new Tamil film Lover which is now streaming on Hotstar. It was in 2018 when the Sandeep Reddy Vanga film Kabir Singh took the world by storm with many people terming it as a ‘violent’ love story. While I too wasn’t of the opinion that a girl should be slapped by a man, only to later get a redemption of sorts, there are always issues that need to be addressed in a modern day relationship especially if you are together with someone for a longer time. This does stem from the fact that both individuals are evolved and different people from what they may have been when the relationship had begun. And as a result, the fights and the possessiveness often turn any relationship sour and toxic. Based on this fact, I was curious to witness the film Lover, does it manage to impress, let’s find out.
Story & Screenplay
Lover follows the story of a couple who are in a relationship for over 6 years while being on the tipping point of outgrowing each other. This, while there is a last hope of wishing to hold onto each other that much more longer. Would moving on be easy? The story here is extremely grounded and in a space where many folks will relate to the drama. The idea of toxicity which is a byproduct of possessiveness in a relationship is expertly showcased here while almost allowing the drama to act as a mirror for many couples who still wish to carry forward a relationship that is way past its shelf life. The screenplay standing at almost 140 minutes is compelling while never really taking sides of either of the two protagonists thereby making it a thought-provoking watch.
The drama begins with the introduction of one of the two protagonists Divya who works in an IT firm. During a farewell get-together of her colleague, she is coaxed by her peers to shed light on her love story. A little flashback from her college days gives us a glimpse on how she forms a crush on a boy, our second protagonist Arun, and how she was impressed with his mimicry that eventually made her fall head over heels for him, thereby starting their relationship 6 years ago. The incident is abrupted by a phone call from Arun that paints a different picture of how things stand between them. 6 years down the line, Arun is possessive to a point of panicking at the idea of Divya even talking to another guy, even as he continues to waste the days of his youth in alcohol while dreaming of starting his own cafe and marrying Divya. But clearly Divya is not on the same page as Arun, and the toxicity in their relationship is evident to a point that both can’t stand each other yet they still wish to hold onto each other till the last strand.
The proceedings are effective in communicating the toxicity of a modern day relationship that is often conflicted in ambition versus hope. Yet, the writers do well in not tilting the narrative in favour of any particular gender while allowing justification of the actions of Arun who is the sole person to take care of his mother, even as his alcoholic father continues to be abusive towards the family. And this grey area allows the viewers to also be empathetic towards Arun without completing being in agreement with his actions. On the other hand, Divya is confused as well with a choice of having to discount a six year relationship or allowing Arun with one last chance. It is often seen that in situations like these you do tend to be defensive and begin to hide things from your partner given that you are unsure on his/her reaction to the truth. And that is nicely highlighted here through a series of sequences. It is indeed more painful when the truth is revealed at a later period as opposed to being exposed to it, there and then which is nicely showcased here.
The drama comprises of a sequence of events featuring Arun trying to win over Divya in order to salvage his relationship. These events continue over the course of the second half where there are discussions of another potential relationship blossoming from the point of view of Arun, much to the dismay of Divya. The intensity of the drama is always intact with streaks of relatability that was the core ingredient of the love story. It is always difficult to accept the reality of your relationship until you are completely pushed to the hilt, and that is wonderfully showcased in the events leading up to the final act when realisation finally sets in. Even the finale was quite brave and realistic and that made me marvel at the writing which was simple with its premise but quite complex with its staging and the dynamics of the characters. The screenplay here is excellent.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are conversation but grounded that adds to the relatability factor of the drama. The music is good and none of the songs stall the flow of the drama. The BGM is good as well and heightens the drama at many junctures. The cinematography captures some wonderful frames particularly in the second half with a good integration of the production design to compliment the narrative. The editing is sharp and crisp for most parts of its runtime. Director Prabhuram Vyas does a fabulous job in his debut outing in a drama which is well constructed and is a fascinating case study of a toxic relationship. The ability of the director to kerp things simple and never go overboard was a big plus here, and it made for a rather reflective watch. The direction was superb here.
Performances
The performances are pretty good here by the ensemble cast. Anurachaleswaran as Vishwa, Harish Kumar as Suhail and Pintu Pandu as Deepan have their moments to shine. Nikhila Sankar as Ramya and Harini Sundararajan as Aishu are brilliant to witness in a great job done. Kanna Ravi as Madhan makes his presence felt in an earnest and sincere act. Sri Gouri Priya as Divya has a pleasant personality on screen and she hits all the right notes with the emotional beats of her character. Her ability to express through her eyes is wonderful that convey even the most conflicted emotions with bouts of grace. She is brilliant in every sense of the word. K Manikandan as Arun is extremely measured with his character, always maintaining the intensity to perfection. He also effectively showcases his vulnerability that makes his character extremely raw while conflicting the viewers with his actions. So you neither like him nor completely hate him which was the intended set of emotions for the viewers to absorb. In that regard, he is exceptional here to the core.
Conclusion
Boasting of strong performances, Lover is a fascinating case study of a lingering toxic relationship in a drama that makes for a brilliant watch. Available on Hotstar and Highly Recommended!