March 3: In the movie “Por,” the narrative unfolds with a promising premise of two warring protagonists, Prabhu (Arjun Das) and Yuva (Kalidas Jayaram), engaged in a physical altercation. However, as the story delves into their past through flashbacks, the film’s structure, divided into chapters, fails to provide clarity, adding to the overall confusion rather than enhancing the plot.
The character portrayal in “Por” is notably criticized, particularly focusing on Prabhu, depicted as a lackluster individual who struggles to move on from his college days despite his seemingly comfortable lifestyle running a beach restaurant. His romantic interest, a social activist deeply rooted in college activism, fails to add depth to the narrative, with themes of rights and student politics coming across as superficial and lacking substance.
On the other hand, Yuva’s character, haunted by past abuse linked to Prabhu’s actions during their school days, lacks authenticity and fails to evoke genuine empathy from the audience. The film’s attempt to create conflict and drama falls short due to poorly developed characters with shallow motivations and forced emotions.
Por is it worth watching?
Comparisons drawn between “Por” and acclaimed works like Mani Ratnam’s “Aayudha Ezhuthu” highlight the stark differences in character development and storytelling quality. While the film attempts to build towards a climactic showdown in its final chapter, the execution falters, leaving viewers with a visually appealing yet hollow cinematic experience devoid of emotional depth or meaningful engagement.
In conclusion, “Por” emerges as a film that prioritizes style over substance, relying heavily on technical prowess such as drone shots and visual aesthetics while neglecting crucial aspects like character authenticity and narrative depth. Director Bejoy Nambiar’s focus on creating a visually striking film overlooks the importance of crafting compelling characters and engaging storytelling that resonates with the audience on a deeper level.