Kal Manja

Alls well that ends well

A wannabe writer sets out to try his luck in namma Bangalore after being forced to dupe his benefactor’s daughter. Problem is, he is accompanied by a silent girl who is keen on following him...

Komal takes another laborious step towards establishing himself as a hero with Kal Manja. He has chosen a neat story, courtesy Raffi and Meccartin (Chathikkatha Chanthu - 2004), which the director has adapted to highlight the hero’s strengths and camouflage his weaknesses. He succeeds to an extent. For those who have not watched the Malayalam original, Kal Manja may seem, at times, racy, stupid and overly dramatised, but entertaining as well. Emil acquits himself well. The song conceptualisation and their picturisation give good value for money, if the obvious shortcomings are studiously ignored.

Komal is no fresh daisy and his quicksilver tongue has lost some of its sheen here. It is left to the likes of Guruprasad and Thriller Manju to add punch and weight to the story movement. Komal should focus on grooming himself some more. Comedy is incidental to Kal Manja’s story and there are enough loose ends that mar audience pleasure. Aishwarya Nag, Sharan, Raju Talikote, Srinivasmurthy, Shailashree and others are mere props.

The screenplay keeps one enticed with the promise of something memorable, but only just. Kavi Urs’s work leaves much to be desired. But the story and Udayatara’s competent performance make meeting Kal Manja an enjoyable experience.