Chi La Sow Review: A well-written, heartfelt romance that gets most things right

The idea of a guy falling for and deciding to marry a girl in just the few hours that he spends with her might sound crazy. Chi La Sow is the story of an incredibly eventful night that unfolds between a girl and boy who have nothing in common. But Rahul Ravindran manages to convince the audience that this crazy idea could actually be a slice of reality.

Cast: Sushanth, Ruhani Sharma
Director: Rahul Ravindran

Arjun (Sushanth) is your average indecisive 27-year-old software employee who is fed up with his family and friends pressuring him to get married. His mother, however, cons him into an unconventional pellichoopulu. His prospective bride, Anjali (Ruhani) shows up at his place when he is strategically home alone. As Arjun blurts out that he has no intention of marrying her, Anjali fires off for wasting her time and tells him how his decision could impact her family. Anjali is a fatherless elder daughter of her family, who only wants to get married to pacify her mother who suffers from Bipolar Disorder. As they talk and spend time, Arjun feels a connection, but all Anjali cares about is a yes or a no.

Anjali then recieves a phone call telling her that her mother has fainted after an episode. Arjun offers to drop her at the hospital. The night then spirals into a series of incidents where the two bond, get on each others’ nerves and find love.

All characters in the film, even the supporting ones, have significance if not depth. Arjun is a careless youth who has only himself to worry about. Anjali is an independent woman who handles life as it comes at her. Neither of the protagonists try to woo each other. But everything fall into place by the end of the film. Rahul Ravindran has done an amazing job in writing real characters that appeal directly to our emotions.

Rohini is effortlessly brilliant as Anjali’s troubled mother. It’s not everyday that you see a well-etched mother-daughter relationship and this film really gets it right. Ruhani Sharma is a perfect fit for the role of Anjali. Sushanth has made a great choice in picking the role of Arjun, and he seems to have found his groove with this one.

The comedy in the film comes about quite naturally, except for a few parts with Vennela Kishore. But no complaints there, as he can crack one up just by being present in the frame. The only complaint one can level against the film is about the sluggish narration, which instead of keeping the audience hooked, leaves us a bit impatient. For a laid back romcom like this one, a two-and-a-half hour runtime might be a bit too long.

Overall, Chi La Sow is a film which gets its treatment of romance right. It’s a well-balanced, well-written and heartfelt story that you don’t want to miss.