A self-centred macho fighter pilot;
An angelic, bold, yet, thoroughly smitten army doctor;
Kashmir on the brink of Kargil war;
A cinematographer (Ravivarman) who captures the snow-capped peaks, drab mountainscapes, colourful weddings and intimate indoor shots in spectacular visuals which are breathtaking in equal measure;
The Mozart of Madras bringing his A game and delivering aces;
A turbulent romance which has the potential for being a mature and captivating drama;
A master auteur who despite relying on several of his time-tested template tropes can present them in a refreshing manner that few could manage;
Sounds like the perfect recipe for an epic romance... Right ...?
Alas... If only life was so predictably rewarding...
Aditi Rao Hydari gets it pitch perfect across the entire spectrum of her emotional journey as Dr. Leela with just the right notes of confidence, madness, love and vulnerability. She is all grace and glows (perhaps, a tad too much) in every single frame in resplendent manner.
Karthi brings in a valiant performance as the cocky, self-centered fighter pilot who could oscillate unpredictably between the extremes of a romantic to a ruthless, even cruel, chauvinist with smirk in those aviator shades. However, one could sense an undercurrent of unease in his portrayal of VC as if it is not a perfect match or perhaps, he couldn't convince himself of pulling this off.
One feels something is amiss and is lost in the process of translation from the written words to the wow-inducing visuals. The evolution of the romance as well as the character arcs, especially Karthi's is unconvincing and as a result, you are not connected to the characters or care for them, as you should.
Further, the entire stretch of scenes set in Pakistan appear contrived despite some well written voice-overs.
Ultimately, the movie could neither stir the emotions in you nor soar into the pantheon of great movies.
By the time the credits start rolling, it leaves you in a breathtakingly beautiful, albeit, an empty breezy expanse (kaatru veliyidai) - seeking more even as you find it is just a middling venture that has gone with the wind.
All that glitters...
A GOOD WATCH (which could have been so much more) !!
RATING - 2.5/5
