31 December 2019
Hyderabad

For an industry that loves love in all its forms, that goes out of its way to create and glorify romance, that shines in the glory of its love stories as much as its mass entertainers, it’s surprising that 2019 saw only one love story that managed to create an impact of any sorts.

Starring real-life couple Samantha and Naga Chaitanya as the leads alongside Divyansha Kaushik, the film was certified blockbuster at the box office when it released in April.

Putting aside how good or bad the film was, there were some underlying factors that worked in favour of the film. One, the pairing of Sam and Chay. The couple is definitely the “it” couple of T-town and this marked their first collaboration post marriage. Who doesn’t want to see a real-life couple’s post-wedding big screen outing? Especially when the pairing was a hit one that teamed up in films like Ye Maaya Chesave and Manam! Surely, they left the audiences happy because their unconventional chemistry worked wonders in the film.

But that is not it. Majili was a film with one of the best albums in 2019. Priyatama Priyatama surely hit the bullseye and became the song all the love birds raved about. The song found such popularity that it was being played at wedding baraats as well! There’s no bigger success for any album than making it to a wedding baraat, is there? Gopi Sunder gave amazing numbers through the album like Na Gundello, One Boy One Girl Looking and Ye Manishike Majili O.

But then, alongside all that, what works is the freshness of the story and the style it was narrated by director Shiva Nirvana. The story of unconditional love has been told in many ways. And Majili takes the route of giving credit to a wife who is ready take it all from a non-responsive husband who doesn’t get over or move on from the past failure in love. Not a very modern story at the outset, the milieu of a middle-class neighborhood and people, the much-loved sport of cricket as an important backdrop and a story that pinches the heart made Majili the story that stirred souls. What adds to the charm is the families represented by Rao Ramesh and Posani who remind us of our next door uncles!

It is to be noted that Samantha was criticized for taking up the role of a subdued wife who did everything to win the love of a man who gave back nothing to her, considering it was “unfeminist” in most ways. But the actress stuck to her belief that versatility is her job and that’s exactly what she was doing in the film.

Chaitanya too gives it his all as the jilted lover who does not see merit in moving on and starting a new life with the wife who loves him despite all odds, which include funding his needs to drink regularly.

There are so many things that may have worked for this film but what makes it stand out is that no story made as much impact as this one this year, and for that Majili deserves its due credit!