Managalavara Rajadina Movie Review: Styled in simplicity

In Mangalavara Rajaadina (for barbers/ hairdressers, Tuesday is considered a holiday), writer and director Yuvin drives the story through light-hearted, conversational episodes that portray the lifestyle of the aspirational and struggling middle-class. Weaving his tale around a barber/hairdresser and his son, Yuvin consciously envelops the film with simplicity and well-knit humour.

Madeva (Gopalkrishnan Deshpande), a barber, is a strict disciplinarian, who cuts short his son Kumara's (Chandan Achar) education after sixth standard and pushes him to follow in his footsteps and take forward his salon business. Kumara, a big fan of Sudeep, has one wish — to style the star's hair. His attempt to fulfill this wish is one part of this family comedy-drama. The film also highlights the father and son relationship and the hurdles the family faces when they plan to expand the business. It also craftily brings in those friends who are there through thick and thin. All this more or less realistically connects to the common man's life.

Director: Yuvin

Producer : Team Trivarga

Cast: Chandan Achar, Gopalkrishnan Deshpande, Lasya Nagaraj, Jahangir, Rajinikanth

The film manages to capture the essence of a local salon's activities, and beautifully translates it into a reflection of the lives of ordinary people. Yuvin engages the audience with some fun dialogues and double entendres in the first half, especially involving Sheetal (Lasya Nagaraj), who befriends Kumara; Martin Luther (Jahangir), who promises to get him to meet Sudeep; and Kumara's childhood friend Abhi (Rajinikanth). The director has brought out the feeling of this youth idolising his star since childhood in a neat way through Kumara's character.

However, the way he goes about connecting with the celebrity does not hold steam till end. Especially in the second half, the whole fanboy moment and the thrill of meeting the star gets diluted with family issues and the film becomes just another normal story. The director also gives a hint of a sequel with an open ending.

Yuvin has chosen the right actors to play the various characters. Chandan Achar, who was previously seen in character roles in Kirik Party and Avane Srimannaryana, plays a full-fledged hero's role here, and he has put his best foot forward. Chandan gives a natural performance, while Gopalkrishnan correctly portrays a middle-class father. The rest of the actors too are apt for their roles.

The background score by Ritvik Muralidhar, songs by Prajoth D'Sa, and the catchy title track penned by Yogaraj Bhat all help to showcase the hair dresser's life.

In short, Mangalavara Rajaadina paints a vivid picture of a middle-class family and a commoner's dreams, while also catering to all sections of the audience.