At an age when there's an increasing demand on screen for violence, bloodshed, and anything adrenaline-rushing, comes the JioHotstar series Love Under Construction (LUC) with a much-needed balmy effect. Headlined by Neeraj Madhav, Gouri Kishan, and Aju Varghese, LUC is primarily the story of a youngster's unwavering pursuit of building his dream house and the troubles in his love life. This six-part series is apt for a breezy, laidback watch, where the rise in stakes doesn't necessarily boil your blood or induce anxiety. It's also one of the prime reasons why director Vishnu G Raghav wasn't confident of making it as a feature film. "A couple of years back when I was conceiving it, I wasn't sure of the response for a rom-com. Even while turning it into a series, I was concerned if people would sit through six episodes. I had minimal expectations, but the response has been truly encouraging."
LUC, according to Vishnu, is a blend of several things he has seen around him. In fact, how the lead couple in the show meet and get to know each other is inspired by an incident from his own life. "One of my friends was trying to send me a phone from abroad. I got him in touch with another friend, who both eventually fell in love. Even the confusions in the climax at the register office were borrowed from their real life. Similarly, there was another friend who lost his job while he was building his long-cherished home. I connected these two stories and spiced it with some fiction," says Vishnu, who had been toying around with this idea even before the shoot of his debut film, Vaashi (2022). "It took time to flesh out the writing. Since it's not entirely a fresh story, I wanted to make it as relatable as possible."
Armed with real-life experiences, Vishnu penned an elaborate screenplay for a feature film, which later proved to be a blessing. "Though I knew I wouldn't be able to include everything in a feature film, I still wrote a detailed first draft. So, when I got an opportunity to pitch an idea for Hotstar, I didn't have to think much. I already had this detailed script with organic cliffhangers in it. Most of what you see now was present in the first draft." LUC, like Vishnu said, isn't entirely fresh. Vinod, the protagonist here, shares a similar journey with Mohanlal's characters in Mithunam (1993) and Varavelpu (1989). The makers light-heartedly acknowledged the similarities while promoting the series. Vishnu, however, clarifies that the similarities weren't intentional and that he identified them only after the first draft. While Mithunam continues to hold a cult status, the film has often been criticised for its portrayal of the female lead, in which Urvashi's Sulu is relegated to the sidelines and shown as whiny. Vishnu was careful not to tread down that path. "I wanted to subvert it in the writing. Times have changed, and it's not right to intentionally repeat the same mistakes. I've still seen a few reviews pointing out that Gouri is absent for a while and we don't see things from her perspective. I expected such criticisms, but I deliberately chose not to tell her story. This is ultimately a story about Vinod and his struggles. You don't have to tell the story from her perspective in order to show her side. She is absent for a while because he's not remembering her. But are you, the viewer, remembering her? That's my whole point."
Vishnu also adds that ever since the show's release, he has been curiously asking people about who they stand with—Gouri or Vinod. "I feel really happy when people say Gouri because it's a validation of my instincts. I personally stand by Gouri, but I can't say you should also have similar views. It's for you to interpret and arrive at your own judgement." Apart from Vinod and Gouri, LUC also features an important character named Padmanabhan, aka Pappan, played by Aju Varghese. Pappan embodies regressive views and is openly misogynistic. But at the same time, he is a sincere and straightforward man, sticking by Vinod and Gouri through all their tough times. Despite Pappan being an easy-to-hate character, the show treats him with dignity and gives him the space to evolve. Vishnu, who enjoyed writing the part, elaborates, "I'm personally against cancel culture. I don't think we should dismiss others just because we have a mature understanding of things in comparison. Everyone has flaws and goes through a learning and unlearning process. Pappan is genuine, but that doesn't mean he's a good guy. And his not being socially conscious doesn't make him a bad guy either. I intentionally made him politically incorrect because I wanted to show that a person with likeable qualities can also be flawed."
On the topic of political correctness, Vishnu also shares how Hotstar's creative team had clear guidelines for avoiding anything problematic. Recounting a scene that had to be removed from the show, Vishnu adds, "There was a scene where Vishnu checks out a Filipino girl, prompting Gouri to ask him if he visits massage parlours. It's a common joke in Dubai, but when the creative team pointed it out, I realised it paints a bad picture of that community." A highlight of the show is the performances. While the limelight usually falls on the leads, the supporting actors, some of them fresh faces, make a lasting impression. "The parents were picked through auditions, and we later held workshops for them. By the time the shoot started they weren't acting, but behaving. They could also improvise and casually deliver the dialogues." While Vishnu is pleased with all his actors, he specifically remembers a "beautifully subtle" performance that he discovered later. "In the scene towards the end where Gouri breaks down in the car, my entire focus was on her. I wanted to get that scene perfect and kept pushing Gouri. It was later, while watching that scene, that I noticed Aju's performance. If you notice, he tries comforting her by caressing her head. I didn't ask him to do that, but it was a wonderful touch."
After LUC, Vishnu is working on an action thriller and an intense drama. Responding to the appreciation for his charming portrayal of romance in both his films, Vishnu laughs, "I read a review asking me to do a love story. I always wanted to do one, but I don't want to be carried away by the current praise. I already have a basic idea in my mind." So that's another 'love under construction'. Meanwhile, will LUC get a second season?" We've had some casual talks, and I know there's a scope for it. But I would rather wait for an exciting thread than do one just for the sake of it."
Here's our review of the series: