‘Modern Love Chennai’ review: Well-crafted stories of love and heartbreak

Six separate tales, one warm fuzzy feeling. Amazon Prime’s latest anthology series, Modern Love Chennai, captures this feeling while blending in the charm of Chennai’s streets and lifestyle.

From a young baker to a married man, Modern Love Chennai explores the complexities of human relationships. The combination of timeless Tamil movies and songs transports viewers to the days of past glory. With Ilayaraja’s classic tunes, director Bharathiraja has managed to portray a controversial yet intriguing subject in his film. In Lalagunda Bommaigal, we see the heartaches one must endure before meeting the one person who accepts us for who we are.

Immaigal on the other hand shows us the surreal beauty of what love truly entails and the lengths to which your loved ones could go. This well-crafted love story is portrayed in such a way that everyone yearns for one just like that of Nithyanandan (Ashok Selvan) and Devi (TJ Bhanu). Selvan and Bhanu elevate the experience with their on-screen chemistry.

Krishnakumar Ramkumar’s Kaadhal Enbadhu Kannula Heart Irukkara Emoji is a visual treat for 90s kids raised in the era of innocent Tamil romance flicks. Ritu Varma’s character Mallika, the protagonist of the story, is obsessed with films and yearns to have the same romantic occurrence. From the rain encounter from Minnale to the iconic train scene in Mani Ratnam’s Alai Payuthey, the episode was a complete success in deepening our love for Tamil cinema.

The mood of the anthology suddenly changes with the last two films—Paravai Kootil Vaazhum Maangal by Bharatiraja and Ninaivo Oru Parvai by Thiagarajan Kumararaja. Kumararaja’s film shines light on a forced union between two strangers who just so happened to fall in love. The psychological anguish that each person experiences in an unsatisfactory relationship, as well as the idea that love can be both beautiful and terrifying at the same time are portrayed well. Shoba (Sri Gouri Priya) has effortlessly played the role of a sharp-tongued yet heartbroken baker who is on a quest to find true love.

Modern Love Chennai shows us the downfalls and yet the impeccable emotions one goes through on the journey of love. The multitude of perspectives offered by all segments of the anthology broadens an ordinary viewer’s perspective on love and what it entails.

Series: Modern Love Chennai

Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video

Rating: 3.5/5