Finding message in mush

Melody
Kannada (U) Cast: Rajesh Krishnan, Karthika Menon,
Ramakrishna, Mandya Ramesh, Chethan
Gandharva, Akshatha Maarla
Director: Nanjunda Krishna

Melody is meaningful, but not as mellifluous as one would wish it to be. However, Nanjunda Krishna ensures that the message is driven home despite the cliched climax.

Melody’s modern-day romance blossoms over mobile phones, Facebook posts and SMSes. Also, it’s not your regular romance.

Nanjunda Krishna doesn’t treat his heroines as pretty props. He gives them their due and provides a feminine perspective to the love story. He sees to it that even as the audiences enjoy the comic strain, the larger motive — the message that girls cannot be taken for granted — is not lost.

Through tongue-tied software engineer CEO Kiran — piquantly caught between expressing his love for Anushka and a career — the director does his job with aplomb. That he takes the proverbial path to drive home his point is its only fault.

Melody works wonderfully despite its pitfalls. Yes, as its tagline says, just love maadi, for it is as much a treat to youth as it is to the entire family.