Anthologies don’t excite me as a feature film would. The few anthologies (all Indian) that I have seen so far could be one reason, apart from other reasons. They have ended up being a mixed bag at best. And this leaves you confused as you can never say as a whole, whether you enjoyed it or whether it left you disappointed. It almost always ends up as, “some worked, and some did not”. Even that is all right given that it is essentially a collection of short films. But the primary issue is that despite being based on a single theme, most anthologies don’t really fit together as a single unit. Sometimes, the tonal shift between the shorts is jarring and sometimes they come across like a random collection put together. Different directors, different ideologies and different genres are all valid reasons. But then this also defeats the purpose of stringing them together (Now that I mention different directors, I do recollect that I did enjoy Sillukarupatti but then it was by one filmmaker). That is why Modern Love Chennai almost instantly stands apart. Each of the short is different and most likely each of them would find different takers. But there is something about each of them that feels similar. In the sense, they do feel like they are put together by single person or a group that has a similar taste or even if not, a group that is working together to find a common ground.

Lalagunda Bommaigal (Adapted, Written and Directed by Rajumurugan)

This one was a surprise coming from Rajumurugan, given the light hearted treatment and a certain quirkiness. The plot itself isn’t a comedy. It is about men physically exploiting women in the name of love. But Lalagunda Bommaigal plays out like a comedy and the actors are very good. Sri Gouri Priya as the short tempered and bold girl is enchanting while the actors playing Nathuram and the fake Godman are spot on. The catchy Jingrudha Dhanga (by Sean Roldan) is another highlight of this short. Rajumurugan shows us another side of him with Lalagunda Bommaigal. This one is definitely entertaining.

Imaigal (Adapted and Written By Balaji Tharanatheeran, Directed by Balaji Sakthivel)

Imaigal has an affecting story. It is about a couple who are genuinely in love with each other, but a physical condition of the girl keeps challenging them. They are doing the best for each other but also end up hurting each other unintentionally. For a short, this story is too dense for us to get into the lives of this couple. But the lead actors manage to get us involved, though it might be at a surface level.  

Kaadhal Enbadhu Kannula Heart Irukkura Emoji ( Adapted and Written By Reshma Ghatala, Directed by Krishnakumar Ramakumar)

Alongside Lalagunda Bommaigal, this one from Krishna is another entertaining short in this anthology. Ritu Varma is terrific and sells the cutesy antics superbly. She is one of the main reasons that this short really works. Centered around a girl who is influenced by romance in cinema and is madly hoping to recreate such a romance in real life, this short carries a certain vibe and charm. Be it the filmy references or the spoof like treatment at times, this one gets everything on point.

Margazhi (Adapted and Written By Balaji Tharanatheeran, Directed by Akshay Sundher)

A coming-of-age story of a teenager with a terrific score by Illayaraja, Margazhi showcases a director in complete command. The entire episode has a lived-in feel to it. It is as though you are going through the emotions along with the protagonist Jazmine. Everything about this short feel real. The lead actress is terrific. In fact, none of the actors in this film come across as though they are acting for a camera. This is a film that keeps it simple and poetic, just like its title.

Paravai Kootil Vaazhum Maangal (Adapted and Written by Pratheep Kumar S., Directed by Bharathiraja)

Centered around 3 mature and honest individuals, Paravai Kootil Vaazhum Maangal has you glued right through. This is a complicated relationship story or if you see it in another way, a simple love story if those involved have empathy for each other. It is about what happens when someone falls in love outside marriage. This short doesn’t treat this as an ‘unholy’ relationship. It is also a difficult watch in a way because you know all the characters are genuine with honest emotions, but their actions are hurting each other. Even the elder character played by Delhi Ganesh is full of empathy. During the uneasy interactions inside the house, the camera remains still, it is the characters that keep moving. Bharathiraja had said in an interview that he cannot relate or probably doesn’t approve of the decisions of the characters in the story but he directed it. It is as though just like the camera, he let the characters do their thing and captured the emotions. Dedicated to Balu Mahendra, this does feel very much like a film from him.

 Ninaivo Oru Paravai (Adapted, Written and Directed by Thiagarajan Kumararaja)

Thiagarajan Kumararaja plays out of the box once again and what we have is short that is open to interpretations or maybe if we pay undivided attention it is bound to be clear. Personally, I could not really decipher and come to a conclusion in a single watch but I assume most of what is shown is happening in the film within the film. The colours, art work and Illayaraja’s score combine to deliver a work that looks and feels like a painting. This is a film that is rich in texture but whether I was invested in the lead characters and their emotions is a question mark.

Overall, Modern Love Chennai is a very interesting collection of shorts. Each one has something going for it and I guess as a package, this works.

P.S.  I am a bit confused about what to make of the climax in both Lalagunda Bommaigal and Kaadhal Enbadhu Kannula Heart Irukkura Emoji. Both films end with the girl finding the right guy through an arranged marriage set up. That is fine. But in both these films the girls fall in love with the wrong guys at an impressionable age and finally leave it to the elders to find a match for them. Given that the Lalagunda Bommaigal is from someone like Rajumurgan and how in Kaadhal Enbadhu Kannula Heart Irukkura Emoji there is a scene which mocks at a supposedly ‘modern’ guy who doesn’t care if his girl is a virgin but ends up asking ‘neenga enna aaaluga?’, I am sure both these films aren’t proposing arranged marriage as a better alternative, but it also does feel a little odd in a series titled Modern Love! Also, I am not sure how much of Chennai comes through in this anthology. That isn't an issue, but again, given the title, this too felt a little odd.