‘DaDa’ movie review: Kavin, Aparna Das impress in this emotional rollercoaster
Thanks to ample support from its lead actors, debutant director Ganesh K Babu’s film about a single father and a fractured relationship turns out to be a wholesome entertainer despite few missteps
(Originally published in The Hindu on February 10, 2023)
It’s normal for most people, regardless of gender, to wonder at least once how they would be if they were to become a single parent by chance. Think along the lines of a relationship that grows and ruptures, with the man having to raise a child on his own, and it opens door to a wide range of stories for the screen. In DaDa, debutant Ganesh K Babu writes a solid storyline with this and the film is impressive despite the conventional treatment of the screenplay.
We open to a long, lingering shot that closes in on Manikandan (Kavin) waking up to his college sweetheart Sindhu (Aparna Das) resting on his shoulder, shedding tears of happiness. There’s airtight intimacy between them. As he wonders the reason behind those happy tears, we, along with Sindhu, realise that Mani has never cried. “I didn’t cry even when I was an infant and it’s not like I haven’t tried. I am just unable to,” he informs. Sindhu leans forward and kisses him on the cheek. From the camera angle to the kiss and to what we know of these characters here, many details from this simple introduction scene get reflected later on in pivotal moments. One of the many signs of a good screenplay is this — it knows what it sets out to do and it effectively sets out some convincing high points for pay-offs.
And as one realises later….