Darling Movie Review.

Behind the Movie Darling: A sensitive director known for his class touch to love stories is Karunakaran and a rebel star known for his treat for mass audience is Prabhas. Darling is the most peculiar combination from two personalities who stand for opposite poles. To join them is Kajal Agarwal, the shining eyes baby. Let us see, what is this ‘Darling’ all about?

In the Movie Darling: Movie starts in 1980 period when a group of friends celebrate their fare well party. These friends promise each other to keep in touch even after decades of separation. One among the group is Hanumantha Rao (Tamil actor Prabhu) who has a son Prabha and the other in the group is Vishwanath (Ahuthi Prasad) who has a daughter Nandini. To reach their professional goals Vishwanath and his daughter travel to Switzerland while Hanumantha Rao becomes a criminal lawyer to settle down in India and thus Prabha and Nandini gets separated in their childhood.

Years after their separation these old friends call for a re union and grown up Prabha (Prabhas) is eager to see his love Nandini (Kajal Agarwal). But, another girl Nisha (Shradhdha Das) daughter of goon (Mukesh Rishi) attempts for a suicide when Prabha doesn’t accept her love. Angered goon tries to kill Prabha but is convinced by a fake story narrated by Prabha on his love Nandini that happened in Switzerland.

Now it’s time for re union of old friends with their families at the farm house of Buchchaiah (Chandra Mohan) and Prabha happens to see Nandini. Here comes one more character Rishi (Santhosh) calling himself as son of Appala Raju (MS Narayana), who is again the member of this old friends batch. As usual its competition between Rishi and Prabha for Nandini. At a time when Nandini opens her heart before Prabha, Hanumantha Rao rejects the proposal and pleads Nandini’s father Vishwanath to offer his daughter to Rishi.

Who Rishi actually is? What is his relation with Vishwanath? How did Hanumantha Rao help Vishwanath in his love marriage (flash back)? At last will Prabha win his darling Nandini? Then what did Neha’s goon father do? form rest of the story.      


Values of the Movie Darling: Karunakaran, a gem in directing the heart touching love stories has stumbled this time with ‘Darling.’ His regular laminar flow of narration has become turbulent. The entertainment graph of ‘Darling’ goes up and down all along the length of the movie. Inconsistency is the key word for ‘Darling.’ Although there are few trademark Karunakaran movements but they come very late in the movie. Even the way he closes few of the characters in the movie doesn’t impress audience. Story was a simple and regular one, so an innovative script was demanding which was not offered by Karunakaran. Dialogues by Swami also followed the unsteady and uneven path of Karunakaran. Music by GV Prakash is biggest draw back. Neither were there any catchy numbers nor was there any depth in back ground score. Editing by Kotagiri was also just okay. Cinematography by Andrew was class work. Excellent DI, lavish spending by Producer BVSN Prasad and SVCC made the movie look grand and colorful.   

Performance wise Prabhas was superb. His dressing style, body language, modulations in comedy punches were striking. For reasons unknown, Prabhas looked tired, pale in action episodes and dances. Overall he was confident and took the entire movie up by one level. Kajal Agarwal was once again eye catching and her glam looks are one plus for the movie. Shradhdha Das has very short role to perform and ended abrupt. Tamil hero Prabhu, old heroine Tulasi, Ahuthi Prasad, Sivannarayana, Chandra Mohan, MS Narayana, comedian Srinivas Reddy, Raja Sridhar, Kota, Mukesh Rishi, Santosh were just okay.

Out of the Movie Darling: Movie does not stand totally fit for its title. For all those Prabhas fans who expect more may get disappointed. The way Karunakaran makes fool of audience with entire first half is unpardonable. At least 80% of first half had no connection with main story. Second half, it is again the routine concept of hero winning the love of heroine and their family members by beating up his rival competitors, but what’s so special is Karunakaran’s trademark elements in second half. Unfortunately, for a length of two and half hour movie…we see Karunakaran’s touch hardly for 45 minutes and that too in patches. Comedy bits between Srinivas Reddy and Prabhas provide some relief else there was even lack of good comedy. Action wise, Karunakran missed the chance of entertaining mass audience in first half (especially the fight in Switzerland with local kidnappers) but second half he grabbed it right and one can easily see audience going in loud whistles. ( I feel that easily one more fight could have been incorporated at least for Prabhas fans). Picturization of Hyderabad tourist spots (Charminar, Golconda Fort, Tank Bund, Budhdha Statue) in Switzerland snow style was one of the best parts to show Karunakaran’s style of working. It was in the climax when titles roll, you see real Darling of love stories Karunakaran in 100%. But, it was late. If Prabhas, Karunakaran, Kajal, few comedy bits, second half are considered positive points; first half blunder, inconsistent entertainment, weak music are negatives for ‘Darling.’

Cinejosh Verdict of the Movie Darling: First half boring…Second half cheering.

                                                                                                                    Reviewed by Srivaas 

(Reach Srivaas at srivaasreviews@gmail.com)