Premam (2015)

No thoughts, just Nivin Pauly in a mundu. And Koya and Shambu being absolute icons and owning the movie. And Nivin Pauly in a mundu. And the sights and sounds of rural Kerala captured so beautifully. And Nivin Pauly in a mundu. And the tender but overwhelming obsession of falling in love for the first time... and also the second time, because you're basically a kid when you fall in love for the first time and you need to experience it again when you're not exactly a kid, but also not smart enough to be a fully functioning adult aka when you're in college so your second love is also technically your first love. And did I mention, Nivin Pauly in a mundu?

Everything is so wholesome (except Celine's fiancé) in Premam that your heart will feel ready to burst by the time you're done. I loved how George, Koya and Shambu were surviving and thriving on one shared braincell, that's the kind of non-toxic male friendship we need to see on screen. I also appreciated how despite having three female leads, none of them were characterised as the villain. A true rarity for Indian cinema. Even the sad parts are dealt with in such a mature way that they never feel manipulative or overdone- the narrative moves on, just like life itself. The comedy was always on point, and so was the music. There is so much to appreciate about this movie, it might take me a couple of rewatches to be coherent about why I love it. For now, I will confine myself to saying that after it was over, I wanted to lie down on the floor and think about why this is one of the best movies ever made. 

In conclusion, I will probably write an essay about why I'm Team Celine at one point in my life. But right now, I feel validated by the mentally mental bit- representation is important!! And so is Nivin Pauly in a mundu, in case I didn't make myself clear enough earlier.