Hridayapoorvam review: A light-hearted Mohanlal entertainer with delightful moments and genuine laughs

Hridayapoorvam review: Mohanlal continues his dream run this year, returning to a familiar and much-loved space under a director who knows exactly how to bring out the best in him

Sangita, Mohanlal and Malavika Mohanan in Hridayapoorvam

Hridayapoorvam story: Sandeep Balakrishnan visits the family of his late heart donor in Pune at the insistence of the donor’s daughter Haritha, ahead of her engagement. Circumstances prompt him to extend his stay, grow attached to both Haritha and her mother Devika, and in the process, learn more about his colonel donor.

Hridayapoorvam review: Sathyan Anthikad and Priyadarshan are two veteran Malayalam filmmakers who have managed to stay in step with the times. For Malayalis, that means they still get to witness the magic of their craft onscreen every now and then. While Priyadarshan has recently spoken of his interest in retiring, watching Sathyan Anthikad’s latest film Hridayapoorvam makes you wish both of them would continue making the kind of entertainers that charm family audiences.

Mohanlal continues his dream run this year, returning to a familiar and much-loved space — light-hearted stories — under a director who knows exactly how to bring out the best in him without breaking a sweat. The film, based on a story by Akhil Sathyan and screenplay by TP Sonu, revolves around Sandeep Balakrishnan (Mohanlal), a heart-transplant recipient who travels to Pune with his home nurse Jerry (Sangeeth Pratap) to attend the engagement of his late donor’s daughter Haritha (Malavika Mohanan). After suffering a spinal injury, he is forced to stay back a few more days, during which he gets to know more about his donor and his family.

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Calling something “a typical Sathyan Anthikad film” has become a cliché. But Hridayapoorvam feels different — in its storytelling, visuals and the tone it sustains throughout. There’s a refreshing quality here that appeals across generations, especially to families. The film’s biggest strength is its organic humour, which flows naturally and keeps the laughs consistent. Even the serious and dramatic moments often end with a comic touch, making the characters feel more endearing.

Unlike Sathyan Anthikad and Mohanlal’s Sanmasullavarkku Samadhaanam where the hero is forced to stay in his tenant's house in hopes of selling it to get rid of his debts, here the protagonist carries no such burden. It’s liberating, because just like Sandeep, the audience gradually discovers the donor’s family through the everyday situations he encounters while living with them — without the burden of a conflict.

The first half keeps the audience in splits, while the second half shifts gears as Sandeep comes to terms with “the matters of the heart.” At this point, the plot briefly veers into familiar territory, but the writers bring it to a poignant conclusion. That said, you still wish the film had built to a more stirring finale, one that lingered a little longer after you left the theatre.

Mohanlal plays Sandeep with just the right balance of comedy and warmth, while Malavika Mohanan delivers a performance suited to a breezy entertainer like this. Sangeeth Pratap and Sangita Madhavan Nair provide the most laughs — though for very different reasons, best discovered in theatres rather than described in print. Siddique and Lalu Alex also lend strong support to the film’s sometimes overstuffed comic subplots.

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Anu Moothedath’s cinematography matches the film’s light mood, with Pune serving as a pleasant backdrop, while K Rajagopal’s editing keeps the narrative breezy. If the performances form the heart of Hridayapoorvam Justin Prabhakaran’s music — especially Vida Parayaam — gives it its soul.

Hridayapoorvam verdict: As a festive entertainer this Onam, Mohanlal and Sathyan Anthikad’s film ticks all the right boxes. Even without that one heart-tugging moment, it wins you over with several heartfelt ones.

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