Vala - Story of a Bangle review: Dhyan Sreenivasan, Lukman Avaran's uneven tale shines only in parts

Vala - Story of a Bangle review: Despite their limited screen time, Vijayaraghavan & Shanthi Krishna outshine the younger cast in the film that lacks finesse in its execution of an interesting premise

Dhyan Sreenivasan and Raveena Ravi in Vala - Story of a Bangle

Vala – Story of a Bangle story: Vashilakhshi, a Namboothiri woman, elopes with police constable Bhanu Prakash. Soon after their marriage, she becomes enamoured by a bangle worn by Sarala, whom she meets at the village Akshaya Centre, and wishes for one just like it. This seemingly simple desire sets off a chain of events that pits Bhanu against Sarala’s husband, who has other plans for the bangle.

Vala – Story of a Bangle review: Director Muhashin and scriptwriter Harshad’s previous collaboration Kadinam Kadoramee Andakadaham still remains one of the most underrated movies set during the pandemic. That film was poignant and, at the same time, showcased brilliant performances backed by powerful writing. With Vala – Story of a Bangle the duo take a 180-degree turn by picking a subject that revolves around two husbands quarrelling over a bangle, which doesn’t actually belong to either of their wives.

Over the years, Malayalam cinema has given us films such as Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum and Diamond Necklace where a piece of jewellery was at the centre of a small incident that eventually triggered a larger chain of events. Vala attempts something similar. However, what the film largely lacks is finesse in execution. While it begins with elements of comedy, it keeps shifting tones and never really lands anywhere.

Also read: Mirage movie review: Late twists can't save the Jeethu Joseph thriller that's lost in weak writing, dull characters

The brightest portions of the film are, in fact, when the focus shifts away from the feuding husbands essayed by Lukman Avaran and Dhyan Sreenivasan, and instead traces the backstory of Vijayaraghavan and Shanthi Krishna’s characters. Here, Harshad and Muhashin manage to bring forth the emotional quotient of the story, aided by some beautiful cinematography by Afnas V.

Beyond this, however, Vala has little going for it. The main drawback is uneven character development. Sheetal Joseph’s Vishalakshi doesn’t get her due, with most of the attention diverted to her husband, constable Bhanu Prakash. While this elevates the film slightly from its otherwise flat narrative, it also means that large portions of the first half could have been trimmed to make it more engaging. Some of the fight sequences are well staged, especially the one featuring Abu Salim early on and the Ronaldo vs Messi courtyard sequence in the climax.

Despite their limited screen time, Vijayaraghavan and Shanthi Krishna outshine the younger brigade, thanks to their strong storyline. Lukman, Dhyan and Raveena Ravi deliver decent performances. Govind Vasantha’s cameo falls flat, while Arjun Radhakrishnan makes an impression. The music too turns out to be a mixed bag.

Vala – Story of a Bangle verdict: While the plot of this Dhyan Sreenivasan–Lukman Avaran starrer has interesting elements, the movie doesn’t make the most of them and loses its sheen far too quickly.

Share