Sunayana Suresh, TNN, Apr 19, 2019, 02.38 PM ISTCritic's Rating: 2.5Five married friends set out on an all-boys road-trip to Goa. The journey sees them share their current problems while also having fun. A shocking twist changes the course of the holiday.
Many films are made with male bonding lately. But not too often does a filmmaker try and concentrate on a film that doesn't involve young actors. This is where Payanigaru fits in, as the protagonists are middle-aged and it follows a more realistic way of narration.
The film begins with five men, each having their own little domestic problems, setting out to Goa to take a break from the humdrum. The first half seems more or less like a conversation that would happen over a table with drinks between these men. There are parts that seem relatable too. The interval block sees a twist that changes the tone of the narrative and lends a little philosophical touch.
The film has five actors in the lead roles who seem naturally fit. Laxman Shivashankar, who had impressed with a good performance in Kempirve, stands out, especially. The tone of the film could have been a little less louder, since the background score becomes overly melodramatic at times.
Payanigaru is a bittersweet tale of friendship with atypical middle-aged men as the protagonists. It is different, but it could have been a lot more edgier in treatment.