Luca

Synopsis: Luca is a highly talented artist who creates magic out of scraps. Niharika, a researcher in industrial chemistry enters his life to make it more colourful. Will they make it together?

Story: Luca (Tovino Thomas) is jovial, artistic and charismatic. While introducing his house to Niharika (Ahaana Krishna), when she complains about the mess, he replies, “Ee alongolathinum oru alankaramundu (this mess is decorative)”. The film is just like Luca’s response, a beautiful mess. An intense love story which will take you to a dreamland, leave you floundering and then wake you up with a jolt.

Debutant Arun Bose’s movie Luca tells the tale of star-crossed lovers Luca and Niharika who meet accidentally during Biennale, become friends and quickly connects. Their magical love in a highly creative land which is filled with art and artistic elements leave you in awe. The chemistry and the interaction between Luca and Niharika are so intense and engaging that you tend to live along with them for a while.

The film tells two stories, in parallel, life of Luca and Niharika and an investigation connected to them. While the love story is engaging, the investigation is too dramatic. When the two stories merge, the movie leaves you with many questions.

Tovino gives an amazing performance and makes Luca, who has a fear of death, lovable. He effortlessly plays the romantic Superman like nobody else in Malayalam cinema. Ahaana just blends with his charm and gives her best so far. The duo makes you laugh and cry with their fabulous story. But then comes the investigation officer and the team who seems to be highly mechanical.

The colour tone and the art direction of the movie, by Anees Nadodi are commendable. Cinematography by Nimish Ravi that has used too many extreme close ups brought out the connect between Luca and Niharika well. However, that also revealed the flaws of other actors as they failed in showcasing minor expressions. Music director Sooraj S Kurup, who has also done an important role in the movie, presents an interesting array of music that adds flavour to the romantic saga. But Arun Bose in his interestingly-crafted venture succumbs to the weakly-knitted script.

While summing up, out of the many unanswered questions the movie raises, one of them has to be cracked. Will love give you hope or hopelessness in a crisis?