Heartin review: Soothing romance that lacks emotional depth
Kishore Kumar’s Tamil romantic drama ‘Heartin’, available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, is a well-meaning, somewhat generic affair that seeks to soothe your heart with the gentle breezes blowing in and around Jaipur. Shiva, a reclusive chef with trust issues finds unexpected love in the pretty Sadhana. Despite its likeable nature, the movie never quite connects with you due to an almost listless presentation and lack of emotional engagement.
Shiva, a quiet Tamilian chef, runs a local joint in Jaipur with his friend Mani. He meets the vibrant Sadhana and the two click instantly, spending their time together engaging in light-hearted banter and enjoying each other’s company. Thus far it is all rather charming and the movie moves at a breezy pace, gently engaging you in its world and trying to win you over with sincerity and light romance.
It is only when Sahitya, Shiva’s ex-lover, turns up after an accident with no recollection of her past, that the movie shifts gears to a more dramatic, love-triangle inclined, Ooty-bound rom-com. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but it is rather disappointing to see the movie try to follow a generic third-wheel blueprint, which it ultimately fails to execute because its characters are as shallow as the writing that tries to present them.
As mentioned, the primary problem with ‘Heartin’ lies in its writing. We learn next to nothing about Shiva and Sahitya’s relationship, which is presented to us only through a series of montages. Their romance never quite feels genuine and it seems as if their love for each other is something that neither Shiva nor the movie cares about.
Furthermore, Sadhana’s sudden possessiveness towards Shiva seems out of place, and both the main girls have very little depth and are portrayed by the movie as shallow. Sananth as Shiva is rather good, being able to convey his troubles through a subtle twitch of his facial muscles. WhatsApp Mani has a great comedic role once again. Madonna Sebastian manages to do what little she is given, and Emaya T makes a strong debut as the ex-lover.
As for the technical aspects, they are rather strong. Murugesan’s light melodies are perfect for the movie, as well as the photography by Mukes that captures Jaipur and Ooty rather beautifully. The movie is also short enough to not test your patience. Therefore, ‘Heartin’, the latest film by Kishore Kumar, is a rather standard, easily likable romantic drama, albeit one with few noteworthy elements. The positive aspects lie mostly in the performances and presentation, as the romance is somewhat bland and forgettable.