BOTTOM LINE
Smart Idea, Dumb Execution
RATING
2/5
Written & Directed by: Vignesh Shivan
Cast: Pradeep Ranganathan, Sj Suryah, Krithi Shetty, Yogi Babu, Seeman, Gouri Kishan, Shah Rah, Malavika
Music Director: Anirudh Ravichander
DOP: Ravi Varman ASC ISC
Editor: Pradeep E Ragav
Producer: Nayanthara
Presented By: S.S. Lalit Kumar
Production Company: Rowdy Pictures, Seven Sreen Studio
U.S. Distributor: Novaa Vistaa
What Is the Film About?
Set in 2040, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, LIK, aka Love Insurance Kompany, is an App that decides people’s relationships. Vibe Vasu (Pradeep Ranganathan) is a guy who lives an organic life away from all the cell phone cacophony. Dheema (Krithi Shetty), on the other hand, is a twenty-four-by-seven online girl. What happens when Vibe Vasu falls in love with Dheema at first sight?
The challenges faced by Vibe Vasu when he forms a relationship with Dheema, and how it evolves, facing all difficulties. How he manages to prove his point related to technology (app) versus emotion (heart) in the process is the movie’s overall plot.
Performances
Pradeep Ranganathan picks another role that suits his strengths and delivers it with fun and confidence in his usual style. The movie offers him many scenes that give him both fun and dramatic moments.
But what works for the movie is Pradeep Ranganathan’s usual style and charm. The way the chemistry is built with the heroine and the emotional payoffs is where the actor manages to click like always. Nothing memorable here, though, as it feels like a walk in the park for him, now.
Krithi Shetty, after a gap, gets a role that is worth her onscreen time and is not just about appearing glamorous and seen in songs. It doesn’t mean she has that packaging; it very much does, but there is an additional depth to the character. A few scenes give her scope to perform, and she is okay.
Analysis
Vignesh Sivan does so much more than write and direct Love Insurance Kompany. He provides the story and is the lyricist as well. Love Insurance Kompany is a love story, but set in a unique backdrop that makes all the difference.
As the whole story is set in a futuristic space, a lot of time is taken in establishing it. While it is necessary, too much happening at once makes the narrative chaotic at first.
The description of the relationships and how the app functions is simple, but the explanation of how it functions isn’t clear. The contrast between the technology-driven world and organic space is neatly done, though.
The movie takes off only when the technology issue is brought to the fore around the half-hour mark. The rising stakes and subsequent hero-and-heroine track finally let one settle into the happenings.
The pre-interval and interval block neatly mixed the two sides of the drama. The heart vs App conflict is neatly done and gives a fresh vibe. One looks forward to seeing how things will be resolved.
However, as the narrative unfolds post intermission, the relatable drama and depth of the pre-interval block are missing. The proceedings flow, check some boxes that are points of debate, and follow a routine commercial trap of hero-and-villain one-upmanship.
The hero-versus-villain scenes are fun, but they feel dragged out, with nothing new happening, even though the setting screams freshness.
Even the emotional resolution between the lead pair is predictable. We know where things are headed, and things move in that direction. The good part here is that the moments still work due to the cast and technical work.
The narrative is neatly mixed with fun and drama until the end, but it feels dragged by the time the movie ends. Especially, the whole heroine’s realising part is overstretched with a big action block for the hero.
Love Insurance Kompany is a movie targeted at youth with content and drama that at best works best for them. The world-building and fun parts drag the narrative down, but the core emotions are relatable, especially the conflict block in the first half. Some of the payoffs in second half are also decent, but they are few and far in between.
Overall, Love Insurance Kompany comes with a fresh setting that takes time to settle. Once that’s done, the emotional hook works to an extent during the first half. But its resolution is done in a predictable path without depth. It makes the movie a boring and tiring watch.
Performances by Others Actors
SJ Suryah is the movie’s third main pillar after the lead pair. He clearly is having fun, even though he is doing nothing new. His scenes still have the grip and help strengthen the core conflict.
Apart from the three, Seeman and Gouri Kishan are in important roles. They do well in the limited scope given to them. The comedy is handled by Yogibabu, who does well in his typical style with a unique character. The hero’s friend lacks nativity in Telugu. The rest of the cast is okay.
Music and Other Departments?
Anirudh Ravichander’s music is good. A couple of songs are at the level we expect from his combination with Vignesh Sivan. The rest sounds well, but misses that spark in Telugu. Anirudh delivers with the background score, though.
Technically, the movie is excellent with superb work from different departments. Ravi Varman’s cinematography gives the movie a unique look and texture. The editing is neat and slick. The visual effects are okay for robotics, but the world can feel slightly tacky at times. The dialogues are decent.
Highlights?
Backdrop
Pre-interval to Interval
BGM
Core Conflict
Drawbacks?
Chaotic Opening Block
Fun doesn’t always land
Resolution of Conflict
Stretched Ending
Did I Enjoy It?
No, for the unique experience, it is a passable parts, but overall it fails.
Will You Recommend It?
No. But having the expectations in check, and on OTT one can take a chance.
LIK Movie Reviewed by Kalyan
