Solo movie review: Different from the word go

Cast: Dulquer Salmaan, Dhansika, Arthi Venkatesh, Sruthi Hariharan, Neha Sharma
Director: Bejoy Nambiar

It begins with World of Shekhar, where Dulquer Salmaan is a college student and has a stammer. He is in love with a blind girl (Dhansika). A love story, water is the theme of this segment. Scenes that go back and forth weave the story. After Shekhar, we come to the World of Trilok, where Dulquer is a veterinarian and air is the element.  A thriller, it involves the death of a young woman (Arthi Venkatesh) and the drama that unfolds. Next is World of Shiva, where Dulquer wears the garb of an angry young man, who is setting out to take revenge. In the final one World of Rudra, where fire is the theme, the leading man is seen as an army officer and falls in love with Akshara (Neha Sharma).

So, the pattern goes like this — the hero appears in different names of Shiva and the four stories are linked via the five elements of nature. The sky is missing, perhaps because it is void. And, the hero, somehow, becomes alone. He is a solo traveller. The ink illustrations that introduce each story and the graphics in the concluding part are quite alluring. Director Bejoy has succeeded in establishing the pattern. He deserves applause for attempting something different. 

We have watched anthologies in the past. Solo becomes different as its four stories have the same actor playing the lead. There is great scope to get bored. But, Dulquer has tried to do justice to his four get-ups. It will be a milestone in his career. However, the climax of Rudra can be distasteful. Things would have been different if the answer to Rudra’s haunting question was something else. 

Among the four, World of Trilok and World of Shiva appear to catch your attention more, though Trilok, at some points, may remind you of Dulquer’s Harsha Vardhan in Theevram. The plots of Trilok and Shiva are good. Musician Govind Menon, who dons the role of Shiva’s aide is also good. The movie has some nice songs too. 

World of Shekhar sends out a good message, but lack of good editing may leave the audience a bit confused. Dhansika is unconvincing at many points. However, Neha Sharma has done a good job in World of Rudra. Only the love stories project female leads.

Watch Solo if you want to experience a different viewing.