Romeo Review: An Old-school Romantic Drama Saved By Strong Emotional Beats

Writer and Director: Vinayak Vaithianathan

Cast: Vijay Antony, Mirnalini Ravi, Yogi Babu, VTV Ganesh, Ilavarasu, Thalaivasal Vijay, Sudha, Sreeja Ravi

Duration: 146 minutes

Available in: Theatres

Romeo (Love Guru in Telugu) reminded me of the old-school family and romantic dramas in which emotions matter more than logic and depth. You know for sure that there are more reasonable ways for the characters to solve their conflicts but logic or reality aren’t deal-breakers here because the characters are likable and the story makes you care for them. In that sense, Romeo does a neat job of establishing the main characters and their wants pretty early on. 30-somethign-year-old Aravind (Vijay Antony) has spent his youth toiling to ensure the financial security of his family and all he wants now is love. Leela (Mirnalini Ravi), on the other hand, is an aspiring actor trying her luck out in the show business but to no avail. In a turn of events, she is forced into a marriage with Aravind, who has no clue about her career aspirations and how the marriage threatens to obliterate her acting dream forever. The 10-year age gap between them only widens the gap. What follows is a familiar but sweet marriage story spliced with a Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi-like alter-ego angle that complicates the relationship.

To start with, Romeo is not original by any means and it runs along predictable lines. So, barring a thread focusing on Aravind’s childhood trauma, there aren’t any surprises in the story, and it isn’t necessarily a bad thing because relationship-based films like these run on the affability of characters and their dynamics, an area where the film scores well. Vijay Antony once again comes up with a subdued act as a do-gooder and it’s hard to dislike this man. Even those who enter his life with the intent to torment him and make his life miserable cannot help but start liking him after experiencing his kindness. Aravind’s candor might not make him look like a realistic person but he is very likable. Leela, on the other hand, comes across as icy for the longest time, and even though you understand her plight, the male gaze in writing antagonises her before her humane side is revealed at the end. As a result, for the most part, she is simply angry, dismissive, and indifferent to her husband, which sucks out any nuance from the character which would have rendered her more complex and deep.

While there are glimpses of progressiveness through Aravind’s character—like the one when he questions a filmmaker about how can slapping be justified as a masculine trait—it makes you wish the film made more such points. However, the film chooses to be a simple entertainer and trades nuance for simplicity, which is perfectly alright because it is a humorous ride. Likewise, the story lends itself to some serious commentary on marriage and relationships which the film cautiously avoids to keep the light-hearted tone intact.

When the film shifts gears in the second half and a filmmaking angle is introduced, once again, a lot of logical questions arise but my actual qualm with the second half is that it keeps going on and on but offers little meat to chew on. What is the story of the film Aravind and Leela are acting in? Did the parallels between the story and their story help them come together? The film had an opportunity to explore many such angles but, once again, it chooses to stick to simple entertainment. Of course, there is some pleasure to be had here because Aravind’s awkwardness makes way for several funny moments but is that enough?

Romeo is one of those films where the flaws are evident but you still find it likable because of its heart. From a screenplay perspective, the way Aravind’s childhood trauma angle finds a closure comes across as a gimmick and an overly sentimental song feels out of place, making you wonder why this facet has taken center stage in a film about a husband and wife. But the funny part is, it works on an emotional level, even if you feel the romantic comedy abruptly became a melodrama. Romeo operates in a familiar, comforting territory. The humor is clean, simple, and subtle and even though it feels overlong, it is a largely satisfying ride thanks to its neatly drawn-out emotional beats.