Star Cast: Adarsh Gourav, Shanaya Kapoor
Director: Bejoy Nambiar
Tu Yaa Main Movie Review Synopsis:
Tu Yaa Main is about two lovers and a crocodile.
Avani Shah, played by Shanaya Kapoor, is an influencer with 2.3 million followers and her online handle is called Miss Vanity. On the other hand, Maruti Kadam, played by Adarsh Gourav, has nearly 20,000 followers and his online name is Ala Flowpara. They come from different social backgrounds but when they meet, things start to feel special. Maruti wants to work with Avani on a project. Avani’s sister Tara, her brother-in-law Vikram, and her manager Lyra all try to stop her from getting involved, but she agrees anyway. Soon after, the two fall in love. However, they soon face reality. Avani lives in a big house that is 10,000 square feet, while Maruti comes from a poorer neighborhood in Nala Sopara near Mumbai. Despite their differences, they decide to try the relationship and go on a bike trip to Goa. The bike breaks down, and they end up staying at a scuba diving center in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. They get stuck in an abandoned, remote place and end up in a swimming pool. Things get worse when they are attacked by a crocodile. What happens next forms the rest of the story.
Tu Yaa Main Movie Story Review:
Tu Yaa Main is based on the 2008 Thai film titled "The Pool" written by Ping Lumpraploeng.
Himanshu Sharma's story is exciting. Abhishek Arun Bandekar's screenplay is not bad. However, the romantic parts in the first half could have been more clear. The first half's dialogues could have been more funny. But in the end, the one-liners are fun and relate well to youth.
Bejoy Nambiar is a good director.
Since his first film, "Shaitaan" back in 2011, he has shown he knows his way around making films. In Tu Yaa Main, he takes his skills a bit further. The writing is focused on young people and Bejoy makes it even more engaging with the way it's executed. The love story has some charm, like when Maruti follows Avani's car, or when Avani talks about her parents, or when she feels comfortable in Maruti's neighborhood. It's often said that Indian films don’t do horror and jump scares well. However, Tu Yaa Main is an exception. There are scenes that will make you jump and gasp, and this experience will only make the film more exciting when seen in the cinema. The climax is very intense and the film ends on a strong note.
On the other hand, the film runs for 145 minutes, which feels a bit long for this kind of movie.
It's clear that the creators wanted the audience to care about Avani and Maruti so that when they are stuck in the pool, the audience will root for them and feel their pain. But the love story should have started more quickly. This is because the audience comes to the theater to watch not just the protagonists, but also the crocodile. Though the crocodile appears terrifying in the beginning, it's not really involved much in the early parts. This could make some viewers feel restless as the creature's terror doesn't command attention until the break. Additionally, there are too many songs and only some of them stick with you. Lastly, some moments feel a bit strange or unconvincing.
Tu Yaa Main Movie Review Performances:
This is Adarsh Gourav's biggest film so far, and he makes the most of it.
He looks like the type of person you'd see in a small part of Mumbai and he steps into his role well. He does the emotional scenes really well. Shanaya Kapoor shows off her acting skills and gives a great performance. This wasn't an easy role to play, and yet she handles it well. Parul Gulati provides solid support. Amrutha Srinivasan and Rajat Kaul act according to their character's needs. Kshitee Jog, as Maruti's mother, and Rajsi Anant Kinjalaskar, as his sister Sonali, are reliable. Ansh Vikas Chopra, who plays Fabric, is highly entertaining. Rajendra Gupta, as the driver, and Parvathy Thiruvothu, who is a silent guest, leave an impression. Shrikant Yadav, as the cop Tavde, is well-casted. Sagar Muralidhar Bhandgar, as the caretaker Vasanta, and Vikram Dahiya, who also plays the Chinese food delivery guy and serves as the action director, do their part well.
Tu Yaa Main Movie Music and Other Technical Aspects:
The songs match the film's theme, but only a few are memorable like 'Fame Us', 'Jee Liya', and 'Chandni'.
The best song is a reworked version of 'Aankhein Chaar', which is well done with impressive remixing, visuals, and transitions. Another retro song that is nicely used in the film is 'Tum Hi Hamari Ho Manzil My Love'. Prateek Rajagopal's background music is strong and helps build fear and tension.
Remy Dalai's cinematography is quite strong.
Special praise should also go to Phantom FX and the team behind the crocodile effects. Vikram Dahiya's action scenes look real and even a bit graphic.
Gopika Gulwadi's costumes are stylish and realistic.
Pooja Palan's set designs are appealing. Priyank Prem Kumar's editing could have been more precise.
Tu Yaa Main Movie Review Conclusion:
Overall, Tu Yaa Main is a decently made survival thriller that benefits from Bejoy Nambiar's competent direction, good jump scares, and solid performances by Adarsh Gourav and Shanaya Kapoor.
However, the long runtime and slow build-up, especially before the crocodile action kicks in, reduce the film's impact. The film’s success at the box office will largely depend on word of mouth, especially from the younger audience.
