Dada - A Movie Reveiw

Dada is a film written by Ganesh K Babu and produced by Ambeth Kumar under the banner Olympia Movies. It stars Kavin and Aparna Das in the lead roles while Bhagyaraj, VTV Ganesh, Pradeep Antony, Harish Kumar, and others play supporting roles. The music is composed by Jen Martin, and the camera is handled by Ezhil Arasu K.

Kavin of 'Saravanan Meenatchi' and 'Bigg Boss' fame found success on the big screen with the pure horror 'Lift' and this time he has come up with a family friendly film that deals with relationships. Whether 'DADA' will catapult the star in the making's career remains to be seen.

Blending extreme emotions and comedy in the right proportions can be one of the most challenging tasks for a filmmaker. However, when done correctly, it can keep the audience engaged throughout the film. Kavin's Dada is a prime example of a movie that successfully balances its emotions. The film portrays the struggles that Manikandan (Kavin) faces while trying to create a good life for himself and his child, with some lighter moments interspersed throughout.

Manikandan (Kavin) a careless and irresponsible youth and Sindhu (Aparna Das) who is the pole opposite of him are lovers. The film opens when Sindhu declares she is pregnant and Mani's first reaction is to abort. She refuses and forces him to find a house for them. However situations force them to go to the police and both the parents disown them. The couple get married with the help of a friend who also allows them to live in his luxurious villa. Mani, finds a menial job but situations force them out of the villa to a small house in the slums. Sindhu tries her best to adapt to the situation while the immature Mani often gives in to temptations of alcohol and wayward friendships. In one of their fights when the pregnancy is full he angrily asks her to die and a heartbroken Sindhu becomes ill and is rushed to the hospital. Mani who in his anger switches off his mobile learns of her hospitalization late and when he reaches Sindhu had abandoned their boy baby and attempts to find her fail. The entire responsibility of bringing up the child falls on Mani, who himself is just a man child. The rest of the screenplay is how he transforms into a good father. By a twist of fate Sindhu unexpectedly reenters the father-son's lives and what happens next is what 'DADA' is all about.

Kavin's performance in the initial scenes are so real that you instantly start disliking him and root for Aparna. However once he breaks down at the orphanage where he tries to abandons his child and decides to live for him he completely transforms into a loveable guy. Most importantly he does all this in a grounded realistic manner that is a treat to watch. To sum up Kavin shows potential to fill the shoes of Navarasa Nayagan Karthik in exuding charm and expressing a freaky side subtly. Aparna Das is simply superb as the young girl who breaks the stereotypes and stands her ground in continuing her premarital pregnancy. The scene in the first half where she breaks down when Kavin hurts her and in the climax when she meets her son are absolutely moving due to her powerful histrionics. However her screen time is less and her point of view is completely missing in the screenplay which is an injustice to her. K.Bhagyaraj and Aishwarya Bhaskar appear as Kavin's parents bringing their vast experience to make the sentiments relatable. Aadvik who plays Aaditya around whom the entire story is woven is natural and is endearing to watch especially in the climax. There are several delightful performances by the supporting cast right from Pradeep Antony of 'Aruvi' and 'Yazhl' fame playing the office colleague with a crush on the heroine to the actor playing Kavin's mature brother to Harish Kumar the nerdy friend who is always there for the hero. VTV Ganesh is a scream as the catalyst who helps the lead pair reunite.

What follows is a heartwarming story of a father and son's journey against all odds. Director Ganesh K. Babu's writing is powerful enough to transport the audience into the world of Manikandan, a single parent who is on the path to redemption. One of the film's biggest strengths is its flawed protagonist. Manikandan is imperfect, but he manages to resurrect himself every time reality hits him hard, making us root for him.

The film effectively implements comedy to soften the drama's seriousness. The inclusion of lighter moments and wacky dialogue after emotional sequences works exceptionally well. Pradeep Antony's character in the second half takes the viewers on a fun ride. Although there aren't many conflicts after the intermission, and the screenplay becomes predictable, the introduction of characters like Pradeep Antony and VTV Ganesh keeps the audience entertained.

The sequences between father and son are well-written and relatable. Kavin's screen presence and the way he carries the role throughout the film add value to the narrative. For instance, we are introduced to his character as someone who doesn't get affected by or cry at any situation in his life. However, at one point, when tears roll down his eyes, it looks genuine and believable.

The film has first-timers as its technical crew, but the quality of their work doesn't show that. Jen Martin's background score is top-notch, and the songs are pleasant to hear. It is just the placement that doesn't sit well. Ezhil Arasu's cinematography does justice to Ganesh K Babu's story and elevates the film in a lot of places. He also works in tandem with editor Kathiresh Alagesan.

Dada could have been a Tamil version of Pursuit of Happiness if it had only focused on the career and battles of Manikandan, who is struggling to raise his child, Adhithya. However, the film showcases his love life again post-interval, adding another dimension to the story.

Dada is a sweet feel-good romantic comedy with engagement issues in the first half. The film has its heart in the right place and that powers the film throughout. Technically too the film has a certain quality and that is maintained till the last frame.

Overall, Dada is a well-written drama that strikes a perfect balance between comedy, emotion, and love. It's a movie worth watching this weekend.