Stand Up Rahul, directed by Santo, is a new-age romantic comedy that attempts to explore the complexities of modern relationships. With a vulnerable male lead and a dreamer female lead, the film navigates the challenges they face while pursuing their passions and seeking love. While the movie starts off well, it struggles to find a consistent tone and balance between progressive and regressive themes, leaving the audience uncertain about its ultimate message.
Story and Characters
The film revolves around Rahul (Raj Tarun), who comes from a broken family and has conflicting aspirations influenced by his parents' divergent views. His father (Murli Sharma), an unsuccessful filmmaker, encourages him to pursue stand-up comedy, while his mother (Indraja), an air-hostess, desires stability for him. Rahul, however, resists the idea of marriage and wants to focus on his comedy career. Alongside him is Shreya Rao (Varsha Bollamma), who struggles with weight issues, an inappropriate boss, and her father's expectations of an arranged marriage. She longs for romance and passion in her life.
Review
Stand Up Rahul starts promisingly, delving into the vulnerabilities of its characters and presenting relatable situations. However, as the story progresses, it veers between being engaging and mundane, sometimes even endorsing regressive ideas. Rahul is portrayed as a caring boyfriend who supports his girlfriend during difficult times, but he also delivers stand-up routines that perpetuate sexist stereotypes about women's success and appearance. This contradiction weakens the film's narrative, especially when his own mother and girlfriend are strong working women.
The characterization of Shreya is also perplexing. She wants to transform Rahul, a person who rejects marriage, into someone content with it. While she supports his passion for comedy, she also expects him to conform to her desires, leading to inconsistent dynamics between the couple. Despite these issues, the chemistry between Rahul and Shreya is palpable, and director Santo succeeds in making their unconventional romance appealing, leaving viewers hoping for their union regardless of societal expectations.
The film suffers from a "second-half syndrome," losing focus and momentum after an initially promising setup. The stand-up comedy aspect, which plays a significant role in the story, fails to deliver the expected laughs, despite the involvement of multiple writers. The writing by Santo could have been sharper, particularly in the emotional segments. Nevertheless, the film benefits from its fresh direction, complemented by the fitting music by Sweekar Agasthi and commendable cinematography by Sreeraj Raveendran.
Raj Tarun embraces the character of Rahul, particularly in the comedic scenes, although he struggles to convey the emotional depth required by the script. Varsha Bollamma effortlessly portrays Shreya, and the supporting cast, including Rahul and Shreya's friends, deliver commendable performances.
Conclusion
Stand Up Rahul is a flawed yet breezy romantic comedy that manages to engage viewers in fragments. While it starts with promise, the film falters in maintaining a consistent tone and addressing progressive themes. The movie's writing could have been sharper, especially concerning the emotional aspects. Nevertheless, it offers moments of charm and an appealing on-screen couple, making it worth a watch for fans of lighthearted romantic comedies. Just be prepared for its inconsistencies and flaws along the way.
Stand Up Rahul (2022) - info
- Release date: March 18, 2022
- Genre: Drama, Comedy
- Director: Santo
- Writer: Santo
- Stars: Varsha Bollamma, Indraja, Vennela Kishore