Most Eligible Bachelor movie review: An upbeat, enjoyable romantic comedy that sheds new light on modern-day relationships

3/5

Story:

Harsha, a 20s something youngster settled in San Francisco, is content with his life - has a dream job, a roof of his own and a loving family back home in Hyderabad. He can't wait to select his best match from the potential brides chosen by his parents and get married. Harsha has rosy dreams about his partner and thinks he has everything sorted to lead a secure, happy life ahead. The confusion game begins when he bumps into Vibha, a free-spirited standup comedian, who changes his perspective towards marriage and companionship. Vibha isn't without her set of issues either. Will these unlike poles meet?

Review:

Bommarillu Baskar is a rare filmmaker gifted with the skill of intricately balancing the must-haves of mainstream cinema with his directorial voice. He had managed to find that middle ground with his very first film Bommarillu and to a large extent with his second outing, Orange, as well, where he camouflaged his sensitive stories in an entertaining exterior. After a series of setbacks, he finds his groove again with Most Eligible Bachelor, a light-hearted romantic comedy that hits the right chords and understands the thin line between frivolousness and quality entertainment.

Most Eligible Bachelor is a pertinent take on the many anomalies surrounding arranged marriages. In times when societal standards dictate the right time, age and financial status to get married, the film is a sugar-coated pill that discusses the importance of working on oneself before committing to a (hopefully life-long) relationship. On paper, it may seem that the story is about two youngsters falling in love but Most Eligible Bachelor is about two individuals coming to terms with themselves, their priorities and what they seek from a marriage.

The director contradicts the fact that one has to compromise and adjust for a marriage to last long and instead suggests that the partners need to take the initiative to keep their romance alive. By romance, he doesn't dilute its meaning as physical pleasure alone and highlights the significance of the little personal gestures that could spring new enthusiasm into a relationship. Through two complicated, messy characters like Harsha and Vibha, the film drives the message along well without getting too preachy.

Harsha's hilarious encounters with his potential matches more or less populate the first hour. The film addresses his confusions in a lighter vein and gets a little too absurd when the father of a girl goes on to file a case for his supposedly indecent behaviour. Otherwise, it's refreshing to see a female protagonist like Vibha, a stand-up comedian by profession, who has a voice of her own and is no pushover who has to fall for the charms of the hero. Bommarillu Baskar, the writer shows immense maturity in crafting her character, proving that the childish female leads in his earlier films are a thing of the past.

An aspect that Most Eligible Bachelor benefits from is its racy screenplay. The screenwriters find a knack to keep the laughs coming and still not dilute the emotional quotient of the story. The film's pace slackens considerably in the latter hour, especially when Harsha tries hard to woo Vibha, keeping his identity in disguise. Most Eligible Bachelor still works for the most part because it talks of the dark corners in relationships and doesn't fill its frames with 'make-believe' cute moments.

Akhil, in his finest performance as a lead actor to date, comes a long way as a performer and is immensely likeable, composed and funny. It shows that the actor has consciously worked on his body language, comic timing and dialogue delivery. The film proves that he has the mettle to last long. Pooja Hegde probably gets the most well-written role in her career with Most Eligible Bachelor. It's not always that mainstream actresses get roles with substance, moreover a scope to depict self-transformation and tap into their vulnerable sides. She's much beyond a pretty face here.

The contributions from the film's ensemble cast, be it Murali Sharma or Jaya Prakash or Aamani or Pragathi Suresh, lay a solid foundation for the narrative. Chalaki Chanti and Sudigaali Sudheer are entertaining in their brief roles though Vennela Kishore's humour doesn't quite work this time. The film is full of sparkling little cameos by Faria Abdullah, Eesha Rebba, celebrity couple Chinmayi and Rahul Ravindran. Pradeesh Varma's cinematography is easy on the eyes and this is composer Gopi Sunder's best album in recent times. 

Verdict:

Most Eligible Bachelor is a light-hearted, colourful and chirpy film that sheds new light on marriages and modern-day relationships. Backed by confident performances from its lead actors Akhil Akkineni, Pooja Hegde and the supporting cast Murali Sharma, Jaya Prakash, Aamani and Pragathi Suresh, the film has its heart at the right place and is a perfect bet for the festive season. Bommarillu Baskar proves his worth as a writer and director, delivering a trendy, upbeat film that'll bring a smile to your face.