Love Today Review: Pradeep Ranganathan shines as a writer, director and a debut actor

Cast: Pradeep Ranganathan, Ivana, Yogi Babu, Raveena Ravi, Sathyaraj
Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja
Direction: Pradeep Ranganathan

The best part of the film is the way its trailer was cut. The trailer was fun, but my first reaction to it was, “why is it so misogynistic?” Thankfully, Pradeep Ranganathan structures the film in a way that until the first half, Nikitha (Ivana) is questioned for her activities which is followed by her questioning of Uthaman Pradeep (played by the director himself) in the second half. The film doesn’t take any person’s side and talks in general about the influence of smartphones in our lives. 

The film’s title credits are over the manufacturing process of a phone. Through that phone we get introduced to the lead characters, Pradeep and Nikitha, where the former gives the latter the phone. Soon their phone stands in between their relationship. Nikitha’s father (perfect casting of Sathyaraj) asks them to exchange their phones for a day, and if they still want to get married he wouldn’t resist. The film is based on the director’s short film App(a) Lock. The phone is not just involved in the lead’s life, but also in supporting characters’ lives. Be it Pradeep’s sister, Divya (Raveena Ravi), wants to check her fiance’s phone or Dinesh who gets pranked using a fake account or a character who gives away biriyani to a beggar and posts that video online. 

The influence of phones and the power of anonymity that social media gives is addressed in this film. The lead’s relationship, supporting characters and the other characters is tied seamlessly within the screenplay with a strong emotional core. There is a parallel narrative of young Pradeep planting a seed and keep taking it out to check if it’s growing. The connection of this sub plot to the main story is brilliant. 

The emotional beats are perfect and work well along the thunderous comedy scenes. The comedy writing is hilarious. The theatre moments throughout the film were fantastic. One of the most fun I had in theatres in recent times. The music by Yuvan Shankar Raja is like second fiddle to the film. The music elevates the emotional scenes and adds more humor to the comedy scenes. The editing of the film too adds to the fun and makes this a complete entertainer.

Verdict: Pradeep Ranganathan shines as a writer, director and a debut actor