To have the audience fully invest in the characters of a 30-minute segment within an anthology film is a monumental task and it take a mix of pointed writing, impactful performances, and chemistry between the characters to achieve the same. PPKV is a mixed bag with only 2 of the 5 films leaving any lasting impact on me.
A spiritual sequel to 2020's lockdown anthology Putham Pudhu Kaalai (Bright New Dawn), the stories take a more pragmatic and more serious tone here, with the same reflected in the title also, with the word Vidiyaadha changing the meaning to the more morose "Will this New Dawn Rise Again?".
We start off with the breezy "Mugakavasa Mutham" starring the immensely likeable Gouri G Kishan and the charming Tejeenathan Anunasalam as a pair of cops tasked with overseeing a key traffic checkpoint during the city-wide lockdowns as part of the second wave of Corona. Love blossoms amongst them despite the pressures of the job and despite the story's cheesiness and lack of nuance, the sparkling chemistry between the lead pair ensures that by the climax, you are left with a smile on your face.
The second segment, "Loners", falters despite having two immense talents in Lijomol Jose and Arjun Das, due to a preachy narrative and a forced and inorganic romance. They are introduced as a pair of strangers who bond over a chance online encounter and grow to develop feelings for each other over their joint sense of loss and loneliness brought about by the lockdown. The story moves forward primarily through video calls and their sharing of experiences from their past comes across more like narrations than actual conversations. A well-intentioned attempt, but one that does not create the desired impact.
Now to the best segment of the series. "Mouname Paarvayai" is a commendable case study in how an astute filmmaker like director Madhumitha can portray an intense love story with little to no dialogue. Joju George and Nadhiya Moidu deliver towering performances as a couple who have drifted apart despite living under the same roof and how they find love again after one of them contracts Covid during the lockdown. The infusion of music and the culinary arts as protagonists to further add sheen to their sparkling chemistry is pure joy to watch. Two thumbs up for this highly enjoyable effort!
Unfortunately, Putham Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadha goes all downhill from here. Surya Krishna's "The Mask" again has its heart in the right place, telling the story of a happy-go-lucky youngster mulling over how he will come out to his parents about his homosexuality. While Sananth puts in an earnest performance, the pretentious scenes where he is seen breaking the fourth wall and the tacky writing of the secondary character played by Dhilip Subbarayan, make this a painful watch.
Finally, we come to Aishwarya Lekshmi-starrer "Nizhal Tharum Idham". What should have been a telling story of "letting go" and coming to terms with bereavement and lost memories becomes a dull, boring drag due to poor narrative choices. An all too visual depiction of the lead characters 'inner demons' and the use of animals as analogies (can someone tell filmmakers this is not cool anymore please?) makes this another tiresome experience to sit through.
All in all, "Putham Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadha" is a middling experience much like its predecessor but the two standout stories here are superior to the Sudha Kongara and Gautham Menon-directed segments in the original anthology that I found enjoyable. I would urge everyone to try all these five stories as the experience might vary basis your mood, experiences, tastes and preferences.
Recommended-"Mugakavasa Mutham" (Segment 1) and "Mouname Paarvayai" (Segment 3).
