Pathibeku.com Review: Amateurish execution lets down a potentially interesting premise

Savira sullu heli ondu maduve maadu (Seal a marriage by telling a thousand lies) is a popular proverb in Kannada, which in a way is the one-line summary of Pathibeku.com. Mirroring middle-class values, the film explores the many challenges that a girl and her family face to find the right groom.

Cast: Sheetal Shetty, Harini, Krishna Adiga, Aru Gowda
Director: Rakesh

The film's central character Bhagya (Sheetal Shetty) is in her late 20s, and her parents (Harini and Krishna Adiga) are looking for a groom for her, without luck. But Bhagya is also a con-woman. So, she pretends to be a marriage broker and searches for her own groom. She meets Satya (Aru Gowda), who is looking for a visually-impaired woman as his life partner. Bhagya feels that he is the best match for herself and takes the risk of playing a double role – as a marriage broker as well as a bride who is blind. Whether she succees in winning over Satya forms the crux of Pathibeku.com.

While Rakesh’s story sounds interesting as a one-liner, he fails in the directorial department and the film comes across as an amateurish attempt. This is particularly disappointing given that we have seen what he is capable of in Tarle Nan Maklu. Despite having a subject which touches upon dowry, online matrimony, and how parents struggle to get their daughters married, he struggles to come up with strong content.

Except for one song, there is nothing much to applaud about the film’s music nor its cinematography. The performances are also nondescript. Pathibeku.com is a cinematic experiment which fails to explore the nuances of match-making, and in turn results in a disappointing watch.