What Is the Story About?
Sundari is a divorcee working as a librarian in a school. The movie’s core premise is what happens when she falls for the newly joined English teacher Victor. And to what extent does she goes to achieve her love.
Performances?
\Sundari is a character right down the alley for Aparna Balamurali. She plays it calmly and with intensity and occasionally fieriness in her style. The role offers her various shades to showcase her range, which she delivers with aplomb. It is a low-key movie that relies entirely on her act, and she gives what’s required.
Neeraj Madhav is the typical charming, pleasant guy a girl would like to fall in love with. He does his part with ease, and the minor confrontations or dramatic moments, too, are handled calmly, adding to the breezy feeling.
Analysis
Charlie Davis directs Sundari Gardens. It is a simple rom-com plot on the surface, but the small tweak given to it makes it a little more serious than usual stories in the space.
A pleasant mood is set at the start with lovely music and is later continued with the background score and the school backdrop. While the central love story is fairy tale like and simple, the screenplay is filled with some serious subplots.
At the start, we have a problem of teen pregnancy, and then later, the main issue is related to divorce. We also have a sister-in-law and a potential mother-in-law with harsh tones. These are all serious but predictable dramatic plots that add heaviness to the overall lighter vein and simplistic romantic drama.
What works amidst all these is the central journey involving the lead pair and the lady in question, Aparna Balamurali, who holds it all together.
The story generally follows a predictable path with some silly moments thrown in between. The leads do their best, but the slow pace definitely has its effect. The ending is simple but satisfying, considering the dramatic arc they go through. It is in spite of the predictability.
Overall, Sundari Gardens is a typical Malayalam romance that takes its sweet time to reach a predictable end. The lead pair do well, hold interest, and have a pleasant vibe, but routine melodrama intersects them. If you like lighter vein romantic dramas, give it a try, but keep expectations low.
Other Artists?
Lakshmi Menon plays a forgettable supporting role. It briefly threatens to play a vital role, but that doesn’t happen. Among the rest, most have bits and pieces part completing the world of respective leads. The entire family from the hero’s side looks good and does an effective job (Sminu Sijo, for example) even though nothing is new. Jude Anthony Joseph’s comedy adds to the length even though it helps world-building.
Music and Other Departments?
Alphons Joseph’s music offers a soothing and pleasant feel. The background score too adds to the mood. There is a calmness to the whole thing, even when the high-intensity dramatic moments happen. The music played a critical role in that aspect.
Swaroop Philip’s cinematography is decent. The locales naturally lend to a feeling, and the lensman captures it without artificiality. The writing is adequate. Sajit Unnikrishnan’s editing could have been sharper, though.
Highlights?
Lead Pair
Pleasant Music
Drawbacks?
Routine Story
Predictable End
Unevenness In Parts
Cliched Melodrama
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, In Parts
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, But With Reservations
Sundari Gardens Malayalam Movie Review by Binged Bureau
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