Iddarammayilatho is a grandiose movie which tries to blend romance, revenge, political corruption into a huge storyline. It is a heart-wrenching story with a tragic love tale that is mixed up with crime, which is the center of the diary and promises to be emotional and filled with suspense. But the emotional state of the film oscillates erratically between emotional moments and brash action scenes, and it is difficult to keep emotions alive. Complexity, although interesting, tends to seem stuffed into the story, and the pacing is disjointed, which makes it hard to immerse in the story.
The acting is sincere, but occasionally descends into melodramatic tropes, with characters that feel more of generalized types than rounded out heroes. The presentation of direction is a wish to strike a balance between various layers romance, action, political intrigue but this frequently leads to scenes hastening through important scenes or simply lingering longer than is necessary and breaking the flow of the story. The colorful filming and active production design bring life and energy, particularly in the picturesque locations, however at times the excess of special effects and action scenes distract the emotional element and border on spectacle at the expense of substance.
It struck me best that the film brought about the duality of love its healing and destroying aspect. The fervent need of seeking justice and revenge mixed with love creates a bitter sweet taste. Even with its imperfections, “Iddarammayilatho” can be said to contain the raw and passionate spirit that represents the richness and chaos of Indian cinema. It is a roller coaster ride–occasionally crushing but always indelible by its sheer audacity and its emotional sincerity.
