Introduction
Darling (2024) starring Priyadarshi and Nabha Natesh is a romantic comedy that explores the complexities of marriage through humor and drama. Let’s see how the film fares.
Story
Darling follows Raghav(Priyadarshi), a travel agent who dreams of marrying a nice girl(Nabha Natesh) and taking her to Paris for their honeymoon. After a failed attempt at love, he tries to end his life but is saved by Aanandi. They get married but soon, Raghav faces numerous problems. The film revolves around the challenges he encounters and how he navigates through them, especially dealing with Aanandi’s eccentric behavior.
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Performances and Technical Aspects
Priyadarshi, who plays Raghav delivers a performance that is consistent with his previous roles though he struggles in more emotional scenes. Nabha Natesh portraying Aanandi has a demanding role that requires her to act erratically in the second half of the film. Unfortunately, she falls short and the inadequacies in her performance are amplified by weak writing. Her makeup and styling also fluctuate impacting the overall portrayal of her character.
Supporting actors like D. Krishna Teja and Vishnu Oi have limited roles due to poor writing. Ananya Nagalla, Muralidhar Goud, and Brahmanandam are decent in their parts, while Balagam Venu’s performance as a Baba is irritating, reflecting poor character development.
Director Aswin Raam’s handling of the film leaves much to be desired. The story is straightforward but lacks depth and creativity. The writing is shallow, and the comedic elements fail to land effectively. The second half introduces too many new characters and subplots, leading to a chaotic and confusing narrative. The film’s length further tests the audience’s patience.
Vivek Sagar’s music provides a decent background score, but the songs do not add much to the film. Naresh Ramadurai’s cinematography is adequate for the film’s budget, while Pradeep E. Raghav’s editing fails to keep the film tight and engaging. The production values are good, given the film’s scale.
Analysis
“Darling” had the potential to be an entertaining film with its core idea of a man struggling with his new marriage. However, it falls short due to poor execution. The film’s predictability, combined with an overstuffed second half, makes it a tedious watch. The attempt to address mental health issues is commendable, but it is poorly integrated into the story, making it seem like an afterthought.
The comedy, which is crucial for a film like this, rarely works. The director’s attempt to balance humor and drama fails, leading to an unsatisfactory viewing experience. Additionally, the inclusion of vulgar humor detracts from the overall quality of the film.
Verdict
Overall, “Darling” is a film with an interesting premise that is poorly executed. The weak writing, inadequate performances, and unnecessary subplots make it a patience-testing watch. The film’s lengthy runtime only adds to the discomfort, making it hard to recommend.
Bottom line: Darlings, Stay Away!
Rating: 1.75/5
