Harikrishnans - Hare Ram!

 

Harikrishnans

Malayalam, 1998

Directed by Fazil

Stars Mammooty, Mohanlal, Juhi Chawla, Shamili, Kunchacko Boban

Mohan's Measure ✲✼✼

I find something so refreshing about watching Juhi Chawla onscreen.  Unlike other beauty queens, Ms. Chawla doesn't come across as a diva or a sex symbol.  Instead, she always comes across as this charming, likable, young woman who men could befriend as well as love.

Her two handsome suitors are in a struggle to find out whom will be friend and whom will be lover.  Both named Harikrishnan, the lawyer duo are working on a murder case when they become smitten with one of the usual suspects.

The movie is typical of the Indian genre of throwing too much into the mix and hoping for the best.  It starts off as courtroom drama, wanders into detective thriller, only to wind up being a love triangle and morality play.  But, there is something of the rom-com mystery genre which was really popular in American film of the 40s.  And, all the while, there is clean, family-friendly  humor and the inimitable charm of three great actors who make Harikrishnans very much worth the watch.