A touching story about Vijay (Anil Kapoor) and his relationship with two women. Having pledged his love for Madhu (Kiran Vairale), Vijay finds himself entwined in a close friendship with Anu (Lakshmi), a married woman separated from her husband. Vijay grapples with the definition of love, treading the fine line between trust and attraction, amid tremendous societal pressures. He's confused whether he loves Anu, an older woman, yet knows there is Madhu ready to accept him as a husband. Amid all this is his youthful streak of rebellion, ready to take on the world despite the taboos attached.
Mani Ratnam captures the mood of the '80s quite brilliantly, bringing out the angst that several men confronted. He deftly handles a sensitive issue like divorce - at a time when South India hadn't come to terms with it - blending it beautifully with educational dilemmas and working pressures. Illayaraja's magical melody brings several scenes alive while Balu Mahendra's photography sets a template for several Mani Ratnam films (like Agni Nakshatram) in years to come. The depiction of Bangalore and Markara - two places where the movie is set - adds a fine texture to the narrative.
There are also several sub-plots - the relationship between Madhu and her father, between Anu and her son, between Vijay and his parents - that are weaved in seamlessly. The climax arrives gradually and the full effect is felt in the last scene, when one is told that all stories don't necessarily end in fairy tales. All in all, a masterpiece from the early '80s and, like most of Mani Ratnam's classics, a film that's way ahead of its time. A debut most memorable.
