[balenoed_]

The recent sensational musical hit movie "Hridayam" is up on OTT - Hot Star.

Watched in theatre earlier - (4/5)

A lot has been spoken about this movie online, so not getting into a review. A must watch basically. Best to be watched in theatre to get the mood and musicalness.

For best experience, do wear your teenage hat and watch and not as a grumpy old man.

[naveen.raju]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

The recent sensational musical hit movie "Hridayam" is up on OTT - Hot Star.

For best experience, do wear your teenage hat and watch and not as a grumpy old man.

Oh yes. I could connect a lot in this movie (ragging, exams, some 10 guys in a small house etc) as I did my engg in Chennai. The senior salute and shopping for cheap stuff it was so true. I guess Vineeth's engg in Chennai also helped here I guess .

It was a good watch.

[benbsb29]

Hridayam - Hotstar (Malayalam)

Thanks to vb-san for messaging me to inform this was now available to watch online.

As mentioned above, don't try to dissect the movie, and do allow for some creative freedom as well as college time behavior to play out, and you wont be disappointed.

Without going too much into the story itself, i gotta appreciate Pranav. He just looks so calm and composed, and his charm gets through without even having to try! Darshana and Kalyani do well, each carving their own niche in the story. The music as well as supporting cast help you through and you do not realise you just sat through 2.5 hours of cinema, which is kinda uncommon with modern day cinema.

I recommend a watch, to reminisce the times in college as well as the times that flew past as we soared into adulthood.

[fundagenie]

Hridyam - 3/5

Now i am sure people will roast me for this rating for such a mega hit movie. But I have my own reasons
1. Maybe the OTT experience was not as good as the theatre experience.
2. Could not connect much with the college character of Pranav. I would connect more the Nivin Paulys college character in Premam - kinda ditto minus the love story
3. Had a minor headache which just got worse by the mid of 2nd half.

Now 1st half for me was great. Pranav and Darshana did a great job. Brought back lot of college memories - Seniors, juniors, ragging, rented houses, booze, college fights, group studies, supplies, clearing supplies, bike accidents, losing friends forever and all...

I felt the 2nd half was the sore part. If not for the presence of Aju varghese, it would been a little dragging. His comedy brought some relief. And Kalyani frankly speaking dosent have much acting skills or expressions. I think she is making it most because of her cute doll look, being Priyadarshans daughter and the strong filmy family connections. Infact, felt her role in this was kinda an extension to her role in BroDaddy. The same tantrums, expressions and all. Was thinking if she had to do Darshanas role, if she could have pulled it off the same way Darshana did.

Finally the music and BG score was a blast. Overall a good watch. Can always watch it a couple of time for sure. And am a huge fan of Vineeth Sreenivasan, especially the way he started bringing college romance back into mainstream without making it too cheeky. Taking us all back to our college days.

FundaG

[Rajeevraj]

Hridayam: Enough comments on it. So will keep the review short. I liked it and was an enjoyable watch with some good performances especially by Pranav. But even considering its almost 3 hr. length, I felt it was too packed-jumped from one episode to the next in pretty short time. The usage of background music and the songs were very good. I don't think I'll watch it a 2nd time though. For that my vote is for Premam.

[balenoed_]

Aarattu - (2/5) - Theatre

Now that is one mass entertainer of Mohanlal. Every frame captures Lal's charisma and squeezes out every inch of his gestures. For Mohanlal fans, certainly a must watch. He is in fact there in almost every frame in the movie and with humongous screen presence and beauty.

But now other things - What is the story, how can someone like Udaykrishna (from Sibi - Uday) combo write such scripts with terrible non sense loaded in it. Siddique is made a joker out of it and clue less several other characters with no depth in their character build up.

The movie calls out several popular dialogues from Lal's yesteryear hits like Devasuram, Aram Thamburan, lot more.. and their back ground scores. While you enjoy it in a limted way, but imagine you get to hear/see it throughout the movie and you feel, what!

Can you imagine AR Rahman playing a cameo in a movie and sing Mukkala Mukkabala, well they have done it here . Have no idea whether ARR has done it ever in any movie and how the heck did this makers rope him in. That is something crazy. But again, an AR Rahman show arranged in a village town to raise funds, some thing again that one cannot digest. Kudos to the producers for getting him in anyway.

Lots of twists and turns and you have no idea where and how did the movie end!

All in all, a mass entertainer for Mohanlal fans.

[subraiyr]

Originally Posted by benbsb29

Hridayam - Hotstar (Malayalam)

Thanks to vb-san for messaging me to inform this was now available to watch online.

As mentioned above, don't try to dissect the movie, and do allow for some creative freedom as well as college time behavior to play out, and you wont be disappointed.

I recommend a watch, to reminisce the times in college as well as the times that flew past as we soared into adulthood.

3.5/5

Feel-good movie. Did feel a bit like Pranayam. There was the angry young man striking out after the loss of the girl, the funny guy, and the intense chap making a business work in the end. All very similar to Pranayam. Some of the things like Mallus having arrears in college was not great. Music was quite good and after ages hearing something nice

[Sebring]

Hridayam 3.5/5
Thanks everyone, for suggesting. The movie brought a smile to my face. A coming of age drama set in an engineering college, Hridayam presses all the buttons of the heart. Even as the Story progresses beyond academics, and on to adulthood the transition is really smooth. really well made movie. Expect the good moments to transport you to your past. Everything was so familiar

[swiftnfurious]

Originally Posted by balenoed_

Aarattu - (2/5) -

...
But now other things - What is the story, how can someone like Udaykrishna (from Sibi - Uday) combo write such scripts with terrible non sense loaded in it...

What's with the "HATE CAMPAIGN" dude?!!

Honestly, the moment I read Udhayakrishna, I wrote off the movie (logic / subtleties). The trailer was the last nail.

I may waste my time when it hits the OTT.

[Gannu_1]

RIP KPAC Lalitha. We lost a great actor. :’(



Reunited once again.

[Latheesh]

Originally Posted by subraiyr

3.5/5

Feel-good movie. Did feel a bit like Pranayam. There was the angry young man striking out after the loss of the girl, the funny guy, and the intense chap making a business work in the end. All very similar to Pranayam.

You mean Premam? Pranayam has different theme (I have not watched it yet).

[vibbs]

Hridayam (Malayalam)- Hotstar

Contrary to many reviews here, I was sort of underwhelmed by the movie. The main reason was probably the length of the movie. I felt second half had no substance. First half was comparatively better if you discount some convenient plot armours for the Hero.

I dont think its a bad movie. Defenitely watchable and a clean movie as well. But sort of undone by all the hype.

[StarrySky]

Originally Posted by vibbs

Hridayam (Malayalam)- Hotstar

Contrary to many reviews here, I was sort of underwhelmed by the movie. The main reason was probably the length of the movie. I felt second half had no substance. First half was comparatively better if you discount some convenient plot armours for the Hero.

I dont think its a bad movie. Defenitely watchable and a clean movie as well. But sort of undone by all the hype.

I have similar views about the movie, especially about the second half. The movie is trying to show so many incidents from the lead character's life in the second half, but it just skims over most of them.

I felt that the portion of the movie from the showing how the hero becomes established as a photographer could've been removed (in today's world, no one is going to ask how an Engineering graduate chose another field later ). Instead, some more time could've been allocated to exploring the relationships between the leads. For eg: At the end of the first half, there is a possibility that "something might happen". But the second half begins from a totally different point, and there is no reference to or explanation of what did or did not happen. In the second half, there is some suggestion in the movie that Kalyani's character feels some jealousy/suspicion about the relationship between Pranav and Darshana's characters. But this is then forgotten quickly.

It's not a bad movie. I think this movie, more than many others, is one that might connect personally with a viewer. I think the film has good moments, which you might have experienced in your own life. If it connects with you, then you will probably be hooked.

This is basically Pranav's movie and I think he has done well. Darshana, Kalyani and the supporting cast are also convincing. The songs are really good.

Just before the film released on OTT, director Vineeth Sreenivasan had requested that if not the whole film, atleast each half should be watched without breaks. I didn't follow it. Maybe I will give it another chance.

[Sebring]

I don't know, but it had that INTO THE WILD (2007), kinda vibe. I thought it was heading in that direction

Originally Posted by vibbs

Contrary to many reviews here, I was sort of underwhelmed by the movie

[benbsb29]

Originally Posted by fundagenie

Hridyam - 3/5

And Kalyani frankly speaking dosent have much acting skills or expressions. I think she is making it most because of her cute doll look, being Priyadarshans daughter and the strong filmy family connections. Infact, felt her role in this was kinda an extension to her role in BroDaddy. The same tantrums, expressions and all. Was thinking if she had to do Darshanas role, if she could have pulled it off the same way Darshana did.

I agree with your points. Kalyani's roles have mostly been typecast into the cute, mischievous girl type roles. As for the answer to your question, my answer would be No. Darshana brought a lot of her natural charms into that character and i don't think i can even visualise anyone else in that role now.

Originally Posted by Gannu_1

RIP KPAC Lalitha. We lost a great actor. :’(

Totally agree. She is irreplacable. Everything from her comedy timing, mannerisms and yet seamlessly play the role of a strict mother. Will be missed. :(