'Premier Padmini' review: This family drama is a fun ride
'Premier Padmini' review: This family drama is a fun ride

'Premier Padmini' review: This family drama is a fun ride

The well-written film is about a man and his love for his Premier Padmini car.

A lot of middle class and lower middle class people develop an emotional bond with their personal vehicles – be it a car or a bike or even their bicycle. Some even go ahead and give names to their bikes and cars. And these automobiles mostly mark their firsts – first car, bike or bicycle and it will always be close to their heart and make them nostalgic every time they think about it.

Premier Padmini starring Jaggesh, Sudharani and Madhoo in pivotal roles is based on one such premise - Jaggesh aka Vinay aka Vinayaka’s special bond with his Premier Padmini car and how the car takes him on a new journey of life with his favourite companion – his driver.

Driver Nanjundi (Pramod), a villager, comes to Bengaluru to start a new life. Vinay (Jaggesh), a single middle-aged man hires him to drive his favourite car - Premier Padmini. The car is old and has been with him for years. It has seen him through the ups and downs of his life. Vinay and Nanjundi soon become very close and develop a special bond. Other than the employer-employee equation, there is more to the rapport that they share. And for the first time, Vinay opens up about himself - his wife Shruthi (Madhoo) and how she left him for another rich man (Rajesh), Vinay’s caring and sweet neighbour Spandana (Sudharani) and his present turbulent life.

Coming from a television background, both – producer Shruthi Naidu and director Ramesh Indira - have caught the pulse right. The movie steers clear of cinematic clichés. Though the movie is based on turbulent relationships, it doesn’t get too preachy. The film has numerous elements and has something for people across ages to connect  with. The characters are not glorified for the heck of it and remain relatable.

If you are looking for Jaggesh’s double-entendre jokes here, let us tell you beforehand that he’s got nothing for you. Instead, you will witness a mature, polished, reserved Jaggesh, who, we can say, has reinvented himself through Vinayaka’s character. The movie makes us crave for more such roles in the future for this Navarasa Nayaka.

Madhoo and Sudharani are aptly cast. Madhoo aces her role with ease while Sudharani, the woman next door, fits in well.

A boy and a girl can remain platonic friends for life and Vivek Simha and Hitha’s characters prove that. There is also the misconception that life lessons can only be learnt from elders. But here, Hita and Vivek have better lessons to teach the seniors about relationships.

Nanjundi’s character is very well written. How he comes from a village and gets adjusted to the turbulent relationships around him, without being judgmental, is what makes his character special.

All three youngsters have performed well in the family drama. Dattanna and Bhargavi Narayan also have small but pivotal roles. The movie has something for every generation.

Ramesh Indira’s direction keeps the film entertaining all through and we must say that he has done enough homework to get the family drama genre right. Arjun Janya’s music is soothing, and the album which has four songs is pleasant on ears.

If you want to get high on an emotional roller coaster ride, reserve a seat for yourself in Premier Padmini.

Disclaimer: This review was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the film. Neither TNM nor any of its reviewers have any sort of business relationship with the film's producers or any other members of its cast and crew.

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