At the age of 29, the hero Vidu struggles without having an identity of his own. Through the love of the heroine, Preethi Asrani, he gains the identity of being the lover of a beautiful woman. While Vidu is content living with the identity he found through love and with Preethi’s affection, Preethi tries to make him understand that love alone is not life, and that there is another life beyond it where one must achieve something. When she fails to make him realize this, she decides to break up with him.
After losing both the love and the lover he considered his identity, what happens to Vidu’s life as he once again begins a journey to find himself? Does he reunite with the lover who left him, or not? The film “29” presents this story with a celebration of love while also portraying the realities of life beyond love.
Director Rathna Kumar poetically and gracefully conveys the idea that no matter how deeply and passionately people love for years, the end of a love journey often comes down to just a few moments of physical intimacy. Though women may be compared to the moon, flowers, or stars, in the end they are still human beings; though men may be compared to lions or bulls, they too are just human beings. The way he conveys that love between them is not greater than real life, and that there is much more to achieve beyond romance, along with the way he has handled the scenes, will make not only lovers but even non-lovers applaud.
Vidu, who appeared as a terrifying villain in “Retro,” impresses here as both a hero and a lover. His attempts to make his lover remember him, believing that love alone is his identity, will surely attract young audiences. With the simple appearance of a boy-next-door, he realistically expresses both the emotions of love and the pain caused by separation through his subtle acting, leaving a strong mark. He creates confidence that he will become an unavoidable hero in Kollywood.
Although it is obvious from her appearance that heroine Preethi Asrani comes from another state, she overcomes that impression through her performance and settles into the audience’s hearts as Viji. Whether it is expressing her love by slapping her lover’s cheek or portraying the anxiety of sending him away to his hometown, she beautifully conveys the depth of her love through her excellent acting.
Avinash, who plays the hero’s friend, not only laments over love failure but also lightens tense situations and makes the audience laugh from time to time.
Master Mahendran, appearing in a special role, Aadhira Pandilakshmi as the hero’s mother, and Sindhu Shyam as the heroine’s mother are all fitting choices who add strength to the screenplay through their performances.
Madesh Manickam’s cinematography reminds viewers of forgotten beach romances and bus-stop love stories, while also making the audience admire the places and paths traveled by the lovers.
In Sean Roldan’s music, the songs easily convey both the celebration and pain of love to the audience. Even though the background score moves slowly, it emotionally enhances the scenes and keeps them engaging.
Though the story revolves mainly around love and the lovers’ journey, editor R.S. Sathish Kumar keeps it moving without dullness and effectively conveys the emotions of love present in the screenplay and scenes to the audience.
Director Rathna Kumar, who has already proven himself in portraying the love of ordinary people realistically, sweetly, and powerfully, has gone one step further this time. Along with celebrating love, he beautifully and deeply delivers the message that there is a life beyond love.
Everyone knows that love and the beach share a close connection, but through a scene where the hero expresses his love at a hidden beautiful spot on the beach, director Rathna Kumar adds pride to beach romance itself.
Although the film strongly states that no matter how intensely people love, it ultimately ends in physical desire, Rathna Kumar presents this idea in a highly dignified visual language. Through his sharp and honest dialogues about love, gender, and realistic life, he earns applause from the audience.
