Some of Mohanlal's most enjoyable and enduring films have featured the actor playing a character who is briefly transplanted from his home to another setting, and his reactions to the new surroundings and people he meets there. Nadodikkaattu, Chithram, Chandralekha, Kakkakkuyil... The stranger in a strange setting who eventually becomes one of their own. In Sathyan Anthikad's Hridayapoorvam, another transplant, a medical one — his heart is replaced by another's — becomes a catalyst for the geographical and emotional one.
There is a moment where a bunch of aspiring filmmakers, inspired by Sandeep's (Mohanlal) upbeat story, come up with the idea of making a movie. Only difference? Theirs comes with a dark, violent twist. When they tell this to Sandeep, under whose care they have been getting by for a while, he explodes, comically. "Can't you come up with something that ordinary people can enjoy?" and they reply, "Violence sells these days." One can immediately tell, judging by everything that happens in Hridayapoorvam up until that point, that Sathyan Anthikad is essentially using Sandeep as his surrogate, expressing the filmmaker's longtime philosophy. Think Ayushkalam without the murder, revenge, tears, and ghosts.
Anthikad's intent with Hridayapoorvam is very simple — a hangout experience that could please even the real-life Sandeeps. Give people a good time, with a story of a bond strengthened not by blood, but by fate — or providence? After all, it's Onam. The rains are playing spoilsport when it’s supposed to be sunny. At least, a movie could try to cheer people up. If you ask me where Hridayapoorvam ranks among Anthikad's best work, I've to say it's nowhere close. But it's not one of the weakest either. It comes with, of course, a few weak areas. It could've been 15-30 mins shorter. There is a popular actor cameo that feels unnecessary. But then there's another popular face placed in the right place at the right time.
The film's most enjoyable scenes involve the playful banter between Mohanlal and Sangeeth Prathap ("Premalu"). The latter, who starts off as his nurse, eventually evolves into a friend and confidante — in effect, his sounding board. Not every joke is effective — there are places where it seems a punchline is missing, but we are abruptly taken to the next scene. There's also the sense that Anthikad is trying a little hard to create moments that cater to audiences three to five decades younger than him, and the attempt to milk humour in these particular segments is unsuccessful.
As for Mohanlal, he feels at ease in the role and film. An unsurprising cakewalk that doesn’t require him to do much heavy lifting, but also one that brings the necessary emotional beats that one finds relatable in a couple of instances. Since it's a filmmaker with whom he enjoys a great rapport, with whom he has contributed a significant share of Malayalam's most celebrated classics, the laidback vibe comes naturally. But was that little 'mass' fan service at the end necessary, though? I'm in two minds about it. There are also, of course, a few false notes when it comes to scenes involving Malavika Mohanan and Sangita. But for the former, ‘Haritha’ is one of her stronger roles. In short, not a flowerpot. Besides, when the film makes mostly the right choices concerning age-gap relationships, one cannot complain. It's such a relief to see that this film doesn't even go near the disaster-prone area of that Telugu film where Honey Rose played Balayya's mother.
Film: Hridayapoorvam
Director: Sathyan Anthikad
Cast: Mohanlal, Malavika Mohanan, Sangeeth Prathap, Siddique, Sangita
Rating: 3.5/5
