Niram (1999)

I think it's high time I write a whole essay on my love for '90s romcoms. This one hit all the right spots for me- it was super cheesy, had amazing songs, and was overall quite light-hearted and refreshing. I was actually going through a tough day when I watched it, and truth be told, it helped ease it off quite a lot. And isn't that what we're looking for in cinema, a source of comfort? Especially in this ridiculously godforsaken year when things just go downhill at every turn? Sorry for sounding too depressed, but well, like I said, times are tough.

Enough whining though, back to the movie. Kunchacko Boban and Shalini have amazing chemistry, and you end up rooting for their love to win pretty early on. Also, the script doesn't try to be subtle about the two best friends having feelings for each other AT ALL- depending on your mood, you might actually feel frustrated by their inability to see something so obvious. It's full of stuff like "how will I survive a week without you?" and "get off the phone, she might call!" and well, that's kind of why I love it. It's so simple and so sweet, the perfect combination for cheering me up. And it's these qualities that give it immense rewatch value, which again, I highly prize at this time in life. Bonus points for an amazing railway station sequence, as always, and for not underutilising KPAC Lalitha, who manages to blaze through even in a guest appearance. Well, duh, it's KPAC Lalitha after all.

My favourite bit from the movie has to be the one with Varsha (Jomol) and her father. I love how the movie normalises divorce, and shows a very wholesome relationship between them. They have their own rituals and ways of communication, and Varsha even says that she feels closer to her father than to her mother, with whom she lives. It's lovely to see this in Indian cinema, to say the least. A well-adjusted child of divorce who has a very healthy relationship with the father is something that you'd be hard-pressed to find even in 2020. And that's why, Niram is a favourite for the ages.

In conclusion, the '90s rock. The '00s too, but the '90s just a little bit more. Thank you for listening.

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