Date: July 19, 2024
“Darling” Movie Review: A Promising Start That Falls Short
Rating: 2/5
Duration: 2 Hr 41 mins
Genre: Comedy
Release Date: 19-07-2024
Cast: Priyadarshi, Nabha Natesh, Brahmanandam, Vishnu, Ananya Nagalla, and others
Director: Aswin Ram
Producers: K. Niranjan Reddy, Smt Chaitanya
Banner: Primeshow Entertainment
Music: Vivek Sagar
Priyadarshi and Nabha Natesh have teamed up for the madcap entertainer titled “Darling,” marking Nabha’s return to films after a three-year hiatus. The movie had decent expectations due to its entertaining trailer and the paid premieres held last night in select areas. Let’s dive into how the film fared.
Story:
Raghava (Priyadarshi) is a travel agent with a simple dream – to marry a girl and take her to Paris for their honeymoon. His father (Muralidhar Goud) arranges a match with Doctor Nandini (Ananya Nagalla), but she elopes with her boyfriend just before the wedding, leading Raghava to contemplate suicide. At this low point, he meets the spirited Aanandhi (Nabha Natesh). They eventually marry, only for Raghava to discover that Aanandhi has a multi-personality disorder, which turns his life upside down. The main crux of the movie revolves around how Raghava manages the hurdles in his married life.
Writing and Direction:
Director Aswin Raam had a quirky concept but struggled to translate it into a compelling narrative. The film required well-crafted characters and engaging comedy scenes to keep the audience entertained. Unfortunately, Aswin’s weak writing and characterization left much to be desired. The lack of a solid connection between the lead characters made it difficult for the audience to root for them or their relationship. As a result, the film’s pacing dragged, leading to boredom and frustration among viewers. Overall, Aswin failed to impress in both writing and direction.
Performances:
Priyadarshi is known for his impeccable comedic timing, and while he performs his role well, the weak script doesn’t fully utilize his potential. Nabha Natesh had a challenging role that demanded a range of emotions, but she fell short, especially in the comedy scenes. Vishnu Oi and Muralidhar Goud delivered commendable performances in their respective roles. Brahmanandam was underutilized in a limited role, and Ananya Nagalla was decent in her extended cameo.
Technicalities:
Vivek Sagar’s music was average, with a decent background score but forgettable songs. Cinematographer Naresh Ramadurai’s work added richness to the visuals, capturing the film’s essence beautifully. Editor Pradeep E Raghav could have trimmed the film significantly to avoid the lengthy runtime, as many scenes felt unnecessary. The production values were high, reflecting in the film’s overall presentation.
Positives:
- A few comedy scenes provided genuine laughs.
Negatives:
- Lengthy runtime that tested patience.
- Weak direction that failed to engage.
- A weak screenplay that lacked depth.
Bottomline: Boring Darling
“Darling” had the potential to be a hit with its interesting premise and talented cast, but it ultimately fell short due to poor execution and weak writing. The film struggled to maintain interest, leading to a lackluster experience for the audience.