A Venkat Prabhu Quickie|Apr. 01, 2022|India|110 Min.|n/A
Genre: Comedy;Drama;Romance;South;Indian
Description: “Manmatha Leelai” (2022), a Tamil film, explores a narrative where two parallel incidents occur in different timelines. Directed by Venkat Prabhu, the story revolves around Sathya (Ashok Selvan), who crosses boundaries to engage physically with two women, Poorani (Samyuktha Hegde) and Leela (Riya Suman). The film intercuts these scenes to highlight their similarities, though this approach becomes repetitive over time.
The first half of the movie focuses on these parallel tracks, stretching them beyond necessity. Promoted as an “adult comedy,” the film lacks a substantial core idea, leaving the audience to interpret what makes it adult or comedic. The common theme of adultery is present, with two types of extramarital affairs depicted—one predictable and the other unexpectedly striking. The latter, while potentially humorous, relies on blame-shifting and jokes at a woman’s expense.
In the 2010 storyline, Sathya meets Poorani through Orkut, though they have yet to meet in person. Poorani is portrayed as a sympathetic character, transitioning from a traditional Tamil woman preparing for her “first night” to a model in a condom ad within the same scene. Leela’s role is more dramatic, seemingly out of place yet ending up at Sathya’s home on a rainy night. Both women primarily serve to titillate the audience rather than Sathya, though the film avoids excessive objectification, unlike some other works in the genre. A third woman, Anu (Smruthi Venkat), plays Sathya’s classic nagging wife.
Overall, “Manmatha Leelai” struggles to balance its comedic and adult themes, leaving much to the viewer’s imagination.
Cast director: Venkat Prabhu
Cast actor: Ashok Selvan, Smruthi Venkat, Riya Suman, Samyuktha Hegde, Chandran, Premji Amaran, Jayaprakash, Karunakaran, Baby Aazhiya, Vaibhav Reddy
Original name: மன்மதலீலை