Laila Movie Review: A Disappointing Attempt at Comedy
Duration: 02 Hrs 16 Mins
Genre: Action
Release Date: 14 February 2025
Cast:
- Vishwak Sen
- Aakanksha Sharma
- Kamakshi Bhaskarla
- Abhimanyu Singh
- Vineet Kumar
- Babloo Prithiveeraj
- Prudhvi Raj
- Sunishith
Director: Ram Narayan
Producer: Sahu Garapati
Banner: Shine Screens
Music: Leon James
Plot Summary
Sonu Model (Vishwak Sen) is a popular beauty parlour owner in Hyderabad’s Old City, known for his makeup skills. In an attempt to help a customer with her husband’s struggling cooking oil business, Sonu allows her to use his name as a brand ambassador. Things take a bizarre turn when Sonu must disguise himself as a woman named Laila. The story unfolds as Sonu navigates the chaos caused by his transformation, ultimately leading to a series of comedic and action-packed events.
Performances
- Vishwak Sen: Takes on a challenging role, appearing in a female getup for the second half. While his performance is decent, the poorly written role does not allow him to shine.
- Aakanksha Sharma: Delivers a below-par performance, with her character heavily leaning on skin show rather than substance.
- Abhimanyu Singh: Manages to generate a few laughs in his lengthy role but remains largely inconsistent.
- Supporting Cast: Babloo Prithiveeraj and Vineet Kumar’s loud performances fail to land. Kamakshi Bhaskarla delivers a decent performance, while Sunishith’s character, intended for comedy, falls flat. Even Prudhvi Raj, known for his comedic timing, fails to impress.
Technical Aspects
- Music: Leon James disappoints, with none of the songs standing out. “Icchukundam Baby” is marginally better than the rest.
- Cinematography & Editing: Richard Prasad’s cinematography and Sagar Dadi’s editing are average at best.
- Direction & Writing: The film’s biggest flaws lie in its outdated writing and direction. Ram Narayan and writer Vasudeva Murthy fail to deliver a coherent or engaging narrative.
- Production Values: Shine Screens’ production values are commendable, with a well-crafted Old City set. However, the visual quality cannot compensate for the lack of substance in the film.
Positives
- A couple of comedy sequences in the first half.
- Decent production values.
Negatives
- Outdated and uninspired script.
- Below-the-belt comedy that fails to land.
- Poor characterization, particularly of the lead actress.
- Excessive fights and unnecessary songs.
- Weak direction and execution.
Analysis
After back-to-back flops with Gangs of Godavari and Mechanic Rocky, Vishwak Sen was expected to deliver a comeback with Laila. Unfortunately, this film continues his streak of poor choices.
The film’s premise of a man disguising himself as a woman had potential for both comedy and social commentary. However, the execution is riddled with outdated tropes and crude humor. The romantic subplot between Vishwak Sen and Aakanksha Sharma is poorly written, relying heavily on skin show rather than meaningful interactions.
The second half, which focuses on Laila’s character, is filled with tasteless double-entendres aimed at generating laughs but ends up being cringe-inducing. Despite having experienced actors, the poorly written roles leave them with little to work with.
The film’s pacing is another major issue, with unnecessary fights and songs padding the runtime. The lack of creative ideas is evident throughout, making the movie feel like a missed opportunity.
Verdict
Laila is a poorly executed film with outdated humor, weak performances, and a lackluster script. It’s a forgettable outing for Vishwak Sen and his team. Skip it in theatres and wait for a digital release if you’re curious.
Bottomline: Laila – A Comedy of Errors That Fails to Entertain.
Rating: ⭐½ (1.75/5)
