Love stories in Malayalam films normally involve a 25 year old boy and a 20 year old girl. And if acted by a superstar the hero’s age stretches a bit to the higher side which is only out of respect to the audience’s logical comprehension. The relationship between a 40-something man and a 35-something woman hasn’t really been thought of as something worth telling let alone be considered as a Love Story. Here is where the film ‘Salt n Pepper’ starts to differ from the stereotypes. This extends right from the selection of protagonists and to their respective careers and to the type of characters played by the supporting casts. The film treads an off beaten path and the director Aashiq Abu who has only ‘Daddy Cool’ to his credit has carried off this with ease. The result is a refreshingly entertaining film which portrays love which transcends beyond age.The story of a relationship between the archeologist Kalidas (Lal) and the dubbing artist Maya (Swetha Menon) has been narrated beautifully. Right from the respective careers of the protagonists to the selection of the leading actors, the film surprises you. Getting introduced through their common love for food (that too over the phone), they turn into good friends who have never met and slowly their relationship goes through the phase were both of them wants it to be taken to the next level, but still is unsure about it. Eventually deciding to meet, but worrying over their looks and age, both send in different persons to act on behalf of them – Lal sending in his nephew Manu (Asif Ali) while Maya sends Meenakshi (Mythili) who in turn fall in love not knowing the true identities of each other. The resulting confusions are what take the story forward.
Lal is not your typical hero material. But as a raw but matured individual who has fallen in love he is the best. With all the subtle expressions and the comic timing he makes the role of Kalidas a memorable one. At the same time, Swetha Menon is in a role which couldn’t be more different than her last released film Rathinirvedham. She’s mature, demure and still displays the feminine vulnerability of a single woman with ease. While Asif Ali and Mythili just has to portray what is expected of them as youngsters, it is Baburaj in an image shattering and maybe career redefining role as a cook who steals the show in a well written role. Never would I’ve believed if someone told me he’s capable of handling comedy and communicating emotions. Kalpana as a beautician is wasted with nothing to do.
The story by Shyam Pushkaran and Dilesh Nair is wonderful. The dialogues are funny which doesn’t fail to tickle your funny bone and it really is something considering the film doesn’t have a single regular comedy artist. Although comic scenes are less post-interval, the film doesn’t turns out to a tear-jerker. The film subtly shows the different stages of love. Manu & Meenakshi is a young couple who are newly in love while Vijayaraghavan carries the love for his old flame in his heart despite getting old and she being a widow of another person with a grown up son, a Muslim woman who wears a pardah covering her whole face shaping her eyebrows just for her husband to see, the lonely Kalidas and Maya for whom each other is a solace in the lonely life they lead. The movie also touches (although on the periphery) on the problems that single women face – from ogling passersby to male counterparts suggesting at a relationship.
The two songs by Bijibal are slow romantic numbers which are good and have been picturized very well. The song by ‘Avial’ is not upto the mark – this with a younger crowd who cheered for the movie and laughed at the jokes, but didn’t even create a buzz when the song was being played. 70% of the crowd who watched the film inside the theatre was youngsters. And yet there were no catcalls, no booing, no cheering for stars and yet they clapped at the right places. I hope it is high time the directors understand that, for the younger crowd, having superstars or skimpily clad women is just not enough. That’s not their idea of a good film. What they really hate is bad films which have been served to them so far. And that is where Malayalam films should change. Salt n Pepper is a refreshing change.
