Malli Modalaindi review: This divorce comedy is a tragedy for the viewer

0.5/5

Story:

Vikram, a chef and the son of a popular entrepreneur-mother, marries his longtime friend Nisha. The marriage has very little going for it and four years into their relationship, the two can't even tolerate each other's presence. Vikram and Nisha seek a divorce, much to the shock of their family. A liberated Vikram finds himself smitten by Nisha's divorce lawyer, Pavithra. With the excuse of enrolling in Pavithra's startup Reset, aimed at divorcees, Vikram gets closer to her. Just when it seems smooth sailing for Vikram and Pavithra, there's trouble in the paradise.

Review:

Divorce as a core theme has always fascinated Telugu filmmakers, but not many of them have tried to suggest that it can work in favour of the parting couple and can also be done on amicable terms. We've even had a handful of films like Aahvanam, Maavidakulu that were critical of divorces and discussed the significance of hanging onto relationships despite all odds. As a film trying to address divorce in a lighter vein and claiming that it's not a big deal to end a marriage, Malli Modalaindi could've been a breath of fresh air but it never quite takes off.

Dealing with a divorce comedy demands sensitivity and wit, but director Keerthi Kumar's effort has neither. The story of two best friends Vikram and Nisha, who get married, and head separate ways amicably, is interesting though the screenplay is a complete disaster. Vikram has his eyes on his ex-wife's divorce lawyer Pavithra right at the court and desperately woos her. When Pavithra proposes marriage, Vikram, who's barely moved on from a toxic relationship, has his inhibitions. However, Pavithra misinterprets his apprehension and their equation takes a turn for the worse. 

The humour is downright cheap, the dialogues have little context or purpose and the cast looks so disoriented, disinterested. The storytelling is too distracted, cluttered to suggest anything progressive. The actors behave as if their only purpose is to go on a ramp walk in various backdrops, dressed in fancy costumes. The first half ends with a reasonably juicy conflict with Vikram's confusion but the director loses track of proceedings completely in the latter part. Not a single scene is written, performed and executed with conviction.

The second half should've been more about Pavithra trying to understand Vikram than the other way round. Anup Rubens' music is hardly impactful. Pavithra talks as if she's landed on a revolutionary concept when she starts a rehabilitation centre for divorcees. Every second person starts delivering sermons and motivational lectures about the importance of moving on. Malli Modalaindi is among Sumanth's most underwhelming performances in the recent past, while Naina Ganguly does very little to understand the spirit of her character.

Varshini Sounderajan doesn't have much to do other than be a nagging wife who is insecure about her ex-husband's romantic life after divorce. Veterans like Suhasini, Annapurnamma look clueless. Manjula Ghattamanenni is an uncoventional casting choice but it appears as if she entered the film's sets after an 'Art of Living' session. Vennela Kishore has never been this 'unfunny' in the last few years. Posani hams his way as if there's no tomorrow. Right from acting to execution and writing, nothing and absolutely nothing works for Malli Modalaindi.

Verdict:

If sanity is what you want, maintain social distancing from Malli Modalandi or rather, stay miles away from it.