Review: 'Manasina Maathu' is for the family crowds

Film  Manasina Maathu  (Kannada)
Director R Anantharaju
Cast Ajay Rao, Aindrita Ray, Sharan
Rating: **1/2

Here’s another remake of a popular and superhit Tamil film in Sandalwood. This time around, director R Anantharaju takes the script of Roja Koottam, the launch vehicle of Srikanth that shot him to fame.

The film was a big hit and the story was quite liked by the masses. But, like Eno Onthara (the remake of the 1999 Vijay-starrer Khushi) and Kicha Hucha (remake of 2006 film Chitram Pesuthadi) this is another remake of an old Tamil script. The Tamil film released almost a decade back in 2002.

Luckily, the makers have tweaked it to suit the present day Kannada audience.

The story is tailor-made to suit Ajay Rao’s image. Ever since Taj Mahal and Krishnan Love Story, he’s become the convincing martyr in love stories on screen. This script too is a triangular love story, with newbie Lohith adding  the third angle to the Ajay and Aindrita Ray romance.

Lohith and Ajay play best buddies in this film. Aindrita plays the chirpy young neighbour to Ajay. She win’s Ajay’s heart when he sees her for the first time. But, it is only towards the interval that we realise that Aindrita and Lohith have been in love with each other for a while, leaving Ajay shattered.

This is followed by some interesting twists and turns in the plot, where circumstances force Ajay and Aindrita to be together. Does this succeed in making Aindrita fall for Ajay? This makes for the rest of the film. There’s a great comic track featuring Sharan, which livens up the script and leaves you in splits.

The film, by itself, is quite decent. It makes for a one time watch.

Ajay and Aindrita have really well-etched characters, which they bring alive magically. The first half has three forced songs, which could’ve have been done away with easily. But for that, this is the kind of film that makes for family viewing. Watch it this weekend, it can be worth your while…
s_sunayana@dnaindia.net