| Directed by | Roshan Andrews |
|---|---|
| Written by | Naveen Bhaskar |
| Produced by | Vinayaka Ajith |
| Starring | Nivin Pauly Siju Wilson Aju Varghese Saiju Kurup |
| Cinematography | Aslam K. Purayil |
| Edited by | T. Shivanandeeswaran |
| Music by | Jakes Bejoy |
| Production company | Ajith Vinayaka Films |
Gist of the Story
Four best friends embark on a trip to research the enigmatic figure and learn the actual meaning of friendship after discovering the fourth buddy, Stanley, to be utterly different and mysterious.
Plot
‘Poocha’ Sunil, Justin, and Ajith are among his group of buddies, but Stanley serves as the glue that holds them all together. Conflict between the two develops over a female and quickly gets out of hand to the point where Stanley and Sunil are frantically attempting to find a solution. Stanley stands behind Justin and Ajith in the face of cautions from people who have seen them fail. But something happens that, particularly for Stanley, has far-reaching effects. The group only learns what happened and completes Stanley’s long-cherished plan when they reunite years later.
Performance
In this instance, Nivin Pauly repeats his distinctive delivery method for humor, and it mostly worked. Though it is Siju Wilson who surprisingly adds more funny elements to the movie, it is encouraging to see the Nivin-Aju Varghese pairing back on screen. As Sunil, Aju Varghese did ok. It’s difficult to root for any of the main characters, and even when they do finally get along in the third act, their camaraderie still feels forced. In the movie, there are a few female characters. There was no depth to any of these characters.
Direction / Technical Side
We have appreciated and adored the concepts that Saturday Night incorporates into its screenplay in films like “Dil Chahta Hai,” “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara,” etc. Onscreen, the compelling plot, however, becomes flat. The filmmakers, especially scriptwriter Naveen Bhaskar, fall short in preventing the plot from veering off course. Even though Stanley is so fixated on his friendship, we are unable to feel its depth. While Saturday Night makes an attempt at a similar concept, it misses the spark that should have drawn us to this friendship in the first place. Anees Nadodi’s production design and Jakes Bejoy’s score may be the only two positive aspects of this movie. Maybe tighter editing would have prevented the loose ends.
Verdict; Rosshan Andrews attempts to make a feel-good movie about friendship in Saturday Night, but he is unable in forging an emotional connection with the audience that would make the picture a hit. The movie’s only two redeeming qualities might be its production design and musical score. The film’s weak narrative prevents Nivin Pauly & Gang from carrying it adequately, despite their best efforts.