Call it chick-flick, if you will. Moggina Manasu is no Mungaaru Male. Director Shashank comes into his own, with a beautifully, sometimes loosely-knit story. Backed by excellent music and superior camerawork, and mostly neat editing, Shashank tells the story of four girls — their first day in college, snagging boyfriends, ragging and other problems.

While comparisons with similar films in the past can be drawn, Moggina Manasu stands out for its treatment and freshness. And, barring a few scenes, the director’s thinking is crystal-clear. The film presents different facets of love and individual reactions to the unfolding events.

Two girls who join PUC are subjected to ragging by their seniors in the college and hostel.

The four later become thick friends. The juniors are in awe of the seniors’ ‘conquests’ and it is not long before they are following them. To what end, is just a part of the story.

The director makes use of an interesting plot device to carry the story of one girl forward. Most of the characters are etched out well, and the arguments about the merits and demerits of falling and being in love, are interesting. Made to target the 15-22 years age group, the film largely succeeds in achieving its goal.

Coming to the actors, looks like producers need no longer complain of a lack of glamourous girls and handsome boys. The casting is perfect. Each of the four girls have executed their roles well, though the roles of Sangeeta Shetty and Manasi are small. An interesting mix of experience and freshness, the four girls make the story quite believable with hardly any melodrama. And being a teenager’s tale, the parents’ roles are like salt to rasam, barely there but quite essential. Coming to the boys (Skanda, Manoj, Harsha and Yash) have all acquitted themselves well.

The film drags in some places and some scenes are anticipated, but its USP lies in presenting a clean, family entertainer. Highly relevant.