Happy Raj Movie Review: GV Prakash’s rom-com struggles to evoke laughter, thanks to messy writing and outdated humour

Happy Raj movie plot:

Anand Raj aka Happy (GV Prakash) might have all the looks that impresses women but get rejected solely for the oddball his father Kaatha Muthu (George Maryan) is. Often rebuked as kuthira muttai (horse egg), his father doesn’t let it impact him as much as Happy does. But Happy finally falls for Kavya (Sri Gouri Priya) who not only reciprocates his feelings but also is okay with his father. Things aren’t the same when their families meet, leading to the rise of complicated and hilarious situations.

Happy Raj movie review:

On what may come as both unrelated and yet crucial in Happy Raj is north Indians in train and their interactions with Tamilians. As part of running gag in the film, we are shown how Happy is irked by the sight of two north Indians who he had met in a train journey and doubted if they had tickets, seem to be employed at every place he goes to. No situational comedy, or antics, but simply irked that how the two Hindi speaking men are working at every possible place. The film wants you to laugh this off while having a very crucial scene of a man letting go of his own tickets to help a Hindi speaking couple travel in his place. It is an emotional point. Contradicting, isn’t it? Is it humour or humanity? But what to expect from a film that believes rhyming Instagram and Saligram, Facebook and loosebook, as its highest form of humour?

Also read: Actor Abbas on Happy Raj, multi-starrers, comeback to films: I enjoy doing solo projects but haven't received good scripts back then | EXCLUSIVE

Happy Raj starts off with a shaky conflict, on how despite being attractive, Happy is unable to find a girl who does not want to step into marriage with him. You might think it could be because of his financial or any other practical reasons. But no, it is because women do not want to be called the daughter-in-law of kuthirai muttai. Yes, women literally reject Happy because of his father’s looks, and the trivial reason forms the basis of debutant Maria Raja Elanchezhian’s directorial that borrows visual treatment of his mentor Pradeep Ranganathan’s Love Today. So, when Happy subsequently moves to Bangalore and falls for his boss Kavya, who comes from a much affluent family, there shouldn’t be any reasons asked why him. We are never told why Kavya who earns Rs 25 LPA falls for Happy who gets Rs 25,000 a month. Their monumental difference in salary, Happy being quite a charmer and achiever he is even as kept aside, there is a lacking resonation with their romance. But let us get past it and assume that falling in love does not need reasons. Happy’s family meets Kavya’s at the latter parents’ 25th wedding anniversary. A suave looking Rajesh (Abbas) from the US along with his wife Reena (not a reference to Minnale) arrive and are flabbergasted by the loud and eccentric presence of Happy’s parents and their entire village folks who have arrived to wish the couple.

Also read: Sri Gouri Priya: I feel blessed that someone watched me in Lover and offered me a jovial role in Happy Raj | EXCLUSIVE

It looks like Happy Raj makes its backbone thrive on making fun of people; be it the north Indians in train or calling George Maryan and Abbas as ‘amavasai-pournami’, only to later make audience sympathise for migrants and those who don’t not conform to the beauty standards. The jokes land bland, the politics of the story serves no purpose, and does the film entertain after all? A big no, for the expectations that Happy Raj comes with. A monologue that Happy delivers stating how people who work hard and put physical labour will be dark skinned unlike Kavya’s parents who sits in the AC rooms. Does the film really have to put down a type of work to glorify the other? Happy Raj is unclear and often misconstruing when it makes such trivial statements.

Happy Raj verdict:

Happy Raj is a misstep in every choice of writing it takes. With bland conflict, messy assumptions and incorrect ideology, the film attempts to just work on foolish concepts, making it a messy affair. The age-old comedy only further ruins it.