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Pranaya Vilasam backdrop

Pranaya Vilasam

24 February 2023Malayalam2h 3m
out of 10
Mixedlukewarm or divided
Monk Score · 6 scored reviews · 2 not rated

A warm but uneven romance that moves in patches yet struggles with its own blind spots.

Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: emotional balance of love story
  • Criticised: underdeveloped female characters and male gaze

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Critic consensus

What 8 critics are saying

Critics are divided on Pranaya Vilasam, a Malayalam romantic drama about lost love and relationships. Several reviewers praised its emotional honesty, balance of light and melancholic moments, and its ability to stand out among recent Malayalam love stories. However, detractors found the film meandering and underdeveloped, with one prominent critic pointing out poorly written female characters, a male gaze that undermines its progressive themes, and an unwillingness to fully reckon with its protagonist's infidelity.

How the 6 scores spread

2 not-rated reviews aren't plotted

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 8 critic reviews · may contain errors

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From the papers

Critic reviews (8)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Critic review

    Film review

    The romance is spot on! All the love stories come down into the viewer's heart. Through a narrative that has both substance and finesse, it touches all the emotional nuances of the audience with precise measure.
    Auto-translated from Malayalam
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    “വിലാസം ശരിയാണ്! പ്രണയ കഥകളെല്ലാം പ്രേക്ഷക ഹൃദയത്തിലേക്ക് ഇറങ്ങിവരുന്നു. കാമ്പും കഴമ്പും ഉള്ള ഒരു കഥയിലൂടെ ആസ്വാദകരുടെ മനോവികാരങ്ങളെ എല്ലാം കൃത്യമായ അളവിൽ മനസിൽ തൊടുന്നു.”
  2. New Indian Express

    Film review ·

    Despite the slight undercurrent of sadness that pervades the entire story, Pranaya Vilasam is careful not to go so 'dark' as to dampen our spirits. It achieves a neat balance between the light and dark moments by immediately switching to the humour-filled bonding scenes between Arjun and Manoj after a sombre moment.
  3. Indian Express

    Film review

    Despite some clichéd moments, Pranaya Vilasam is a film that touches the heart through a distinct narrative. Pranaya Vilasam will stand apart among the romantic films that have come out in Malayalam recently.
    Auto-translated from Malayalam
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    “ചില ക്ലീഷെ മുഹൂർത്തങ്ങളുണ്ടെങ്കിലും വേറിട്ട ആഖ്യാനത്തിലൂടെ മനസ്സു തൊടുന്ന ചിത്രമാണ് 'പ്രണയവിലാസം'. സമീപകാലത്ത് മലയാളത്തിലുണ്ടായ പ്രണയചിത്രങ്ങളുടെ കൂട്ടത്തിൽ വേറിട്ടുനിൽക്കും പ്രണയവിലാസം.”
  4. Ottplay

    Film review

    Apart from a few moments that would tug at heartstrings, Pranaya Vilasam is a meandering affair that doesn't quite hit home.
  5. Firstpost

    Film review ·

    Pranaya Vilasam's progressive theme and intentions are, however, marred – ironically – by a limiting male gaze on women, poorly developed female characters and a hesitation to be outrightly critical of a man's infidelity.
  6. manoramaonline.com

    Film review

    Pranaya Vilasam is enriched with many beautiful moments that fill the heart. One can say without doubt that it is a film that stands apart among the love stories that have come out in Malayalam recently.
    Auto-translated from Malayalam
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    “മനസ്സു നിറയ്ക്കുന്ന ഒരുപാട് മനോഹര നിമിഷങ്ങളാൽ സമ്പുഷ്ടമാണ് 'പ്രണയവിലാസം'. ഈ അടുത്ത് മലയാളത്തിലുണ്ടായ പ്രണയചിത്രങ്ങളുടെ കൂട്ടത്തിൽ വേറിട്ടുനിൽക്കുന്ന ചിത്രമെന്ന് നിസംശയം പറയാം.”
  7. The Hindu

    Film review ·

    Yet, the movie still manages to portray the pain and nostalgia of lost love through its other better-written parts. In the end, the slightly misleading trailers appear to have worked in Pranaya Vilasam's favour, surprising the audience a bit with a fairly entertaining take on lost love and the need for understanding in relationships.

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Cast

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