There had been films in India based on big fat weddings that span for many days. Like the super hit `Hum Aap Ke Hain Kaun' to My best friend's wedding and Meera Nair's' Monsoon wedding, all the movies were trying to built in and amidst the happenings of the pompous wedding ceremonies. T K Rajeev Kumar's `Seetha Kalyanam', is one such attempt, perhaps the first in Mollywood. Revolving around the seven day wedding of Tamil Brahmins, the movie is built around all the ceremonies involving hoards of relatives, flowers, food and laughter.
Indeed a nice concept that could have built wonders on screen, 'Seetha Kalyanam' hams big time as it doesn't show any creative flair in writing, wasting the big chances of life, fun and emotions that is associated with the situations offered. The movie just try to depict the development of relationships that metamorphose amidst the rituals, in a dim insensate style and ends up as a downer offering little entertainment.
The movie has Jayaram as Srreeni, a staff of an MNC. After much search, his mother (played by Manorama) finds a bride in Abhirami (Geethu Mohandas), the younger daughter of a famous classical musician (Oduvil Unnikrishnan), without knowing that Abhirami is in love with the soft spoken Ambi (Indrajith), the favourite disciple of her father. On the beginning of the ceremonies arrives Sreeni's co workers and friends led by Nimisha (Jyothika). As every one passes through the various interesting ceremonies Nimisha, realises her true love for Sreeni. But it is the high time for anyone to express one's love and Nimisha is perplexed about herself and her future.
The storyline sounds OK, but on screen looks silly and pale without any single moment that elevates your interest. The proceedings are shabby and cliched and a parallel humorous track led by Jagadeesh, Bheeman Reghu, Janardhanan, Bindu Panikkar and Kalpana is a big yawn. With plenty of doubleenterades, cooked up situations and silly jokes, the dialogue writer fails in a big way to present any scenes convincingly.
Jayaram just have nothing to do, except to look good. Jyothika shows that characteristic ease and flair in some scenes but there are not much of it in the entire movie. Siddhique as a typical villain Parameswaran, the elder son in law of the bride's family, is loud but offers solid, consistent mannerisms which is lacked by all the rest on the screen. Geethu and Indrajith have little to do, which they does with grace while Manorama is wasted in an undemanding role.
Cinematographer Rajeev Ravi' have gone for some mirror experiments which appear interesting in the first part but goes over board in the later. Sreenivas' music is good, but with some lighter tunes and simpler lyrics, the makers could have kept the viewers to your foot, as every predecessor to this kind of marriage films in India, does with grace.
All in all, `Seetha Kalyanam' doesn't show any serious intention to entertain you or offer you anything new, in terms of the storylines. Apart from the nice premise and colourful presentation, there is nothing that calls for a must see endorsement.
