Director Ram often talks about how his films are theses. You could say that about Ranjit Jeyakodi’s second film, Ispade Rajavum Idhaya Raniyum, which begins with Socrates’ quote: The hottest love has the coldest end. The film’s an attempt at introspection upon the nature of romantic love, on broken men, on unhappy women. How does the average male behave in love? What’s in it for the woman? The lead male, Gautham (Harish Kalyan), grapples with a few more questions: When does love transform into hatred? What prompts a lover to turn into a killer? IRIR is about love and its tragedy. Quite naturally, there’s a dedication card at the end to films like Blue is the Warmest Colour, Romeo Juliet, Tamasha, Kaatru Veliyidai… all films that deal with complications arising out of contemporary romantic love.

Director: Ranjit Jeyakodi
Cast: Harish Kalyan, Shilpa Manjunath

This film can also be seen as a take-down of the superficial romances we get, in which the sun shines bright and rainbows flash forever. IRIR shows much interest in trying to understand the psyches of both parties, Gautham and Tara (Shilpa Manjunath, whose awkwardness begins to be less of a problem as the film progresses), characters who are extensions of your stereotypical male and female. Gautham is aggressive, ego-centric, and above all, in need of love. Tara is full of love and patience. Gautham is a taker; Tara is a giver. The relationship is between a man who is consumed by his darkness and a woman who tries desperately to kindle light within him. Ispade Rajavum Idhaya Raniyum.

For the remainder of this review (and there’s a lot more left, I assure you), please visit https://www.cinemaexpress.com/reviews/tamil/2019/mar/15/ispade-rajavum-idhaya-raniyum-review-harish-kalyan-shilpa-manjunath-ranjit-jeyakodi-10551.html