Super Sharanya Explained

Director:Girish A.D.
Narrator:Anaswara Rajan
Cinematography:Sajith Purushan
Editing:Akash Joseph Varghese
Music:Justin Varghese
Distributor:Central Pictures
Country:India
Language:Malayalam
Gross:[1]
Runtime:164 minutes

Super Sharanya is a 2022 Indian Malayalam-language coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by Girish A. D.[2] The film stars Anaswara Rajan in the title role, while Mamitha Baiju, Arjun Ashokan and Naslen K. Gafoor plays the supporting roles. The film was produced by Shebin Backer and Girish A. D. and the music is composed by Justin Varghese.

Super Sharanya was released on and became a commercial success despite receiving mixed reviews from critics.

Synopsis

Sharanya Vasudevan moves from her small town in Palakkad district and enrolls in an engineering college in Thrissur city. She starts attending classes and meet her roommates Sona Thomas, Sherin and Devika. Sharanya is an anxious and insecure individual who tries to avoid any anxiety inducing situation. She has to deal with her college seniors ragging and has trouble fitting in. However, she and her roommates navigate through college while trying to enjoy a social life through food and outings.

In college, Sharanya has to deal with the unwanted affections of multiple men. These include an annoying senior, Ajith Menon, an impudent and tactless professor, Arun Raj and a shy classmate Sangeeth. She constantly tries to avoid the first two and maintains a platonic friendship with Sangeeth. Ajith is a violent, tempermental and feared senior who is much older than most of the other students. One day he confronts and proposes marriage to Sharanya. However, she is unable to refuse him immediately due to her fear of him and tells him to give her a 6 month time to think about her answer. Similarly, the professor writes a love letter to her and proposes to her in the middle of an assignment checking. She tells him that this is an unethical and immoral situation and refuses him. From that point onwards, Arun tries to make life difficult for Sharanya by grading her work harshly.

One day, on one of their outings in Ernakulam, Sharanya and her friends literally bump into a young man named Deepu. While Sona and Deepu argue with each other, he gets immediately attracted to Sharanya. Later, he tracks her down via Instagram hashtags and sends her a friend request. Deepu, his friend Varun and brother-in-law Abhilash run a fried goods business. Sharanya is initially skeptical but eventually accepts his request and they soon start chatting online regularly. Sona, who calls herself Sharanya's guardian, is not in favor of this friendship and tries to dissuade her. However, Sharanya and Deepu become closer and meet up at a wedding where she accepts his proposal.

Ajith, who now is impatient for an answer, beats up Sangeeth thinking that he is the reason for Sharanya's hesitation. Professor Arun gets accidentally electrocuted while trying to make things difficult for Sharanya during a lab exam. Deepu, who has an unsavory past, is able to help Sharanya get rid of Ajith by beating him up. With these annoyances out of her life, Sharanya, slowly begins to find her voice and is able to overcome most of her anxieties. She is able to become a more confident person who makes her own decision which includes standing up to Sona to defend her choice to have a relationship with Deepu.

Cast

Production

Super Sharanya was announced in August 2020 as Gireesh A. D.'s second directorial after Thanneer Mathan Dinangal with Anaswara Rajan, Arjun Ashokan, Mamitha Baiju and Naslen K. Gafoor in lead roles. Kunchacko Boban shared the first look character posters of the film. A second-look poster has been revealed by the filmmakers, announcing the January 2022 release of the film in theatres.[3] Shebin Backer is producing the film, which is co-produced by Girish A. D.. Sajith Purushan did the cinematography, while Akash Joseph Vargheese did the editing. Justin Varghese, who was also the composer of Thanneer Mathan Dinangal composed the music.[4] The film's production was stated to begin in April 2020 but instead started in December 2020 due to the Covid outbreak.[5] The film was shot in Palakkad, Ernakulam and Government Engineering College, Thrissur.

Release

The film was released on 7 January 2022.[6] [7] [8]

Reception

Critical response

Anna Mathews of The Times of India gave 3 out of 5 stars and wrote "Super Sharanya isn't a very meaningful film that will move or stir you, but if you are in the mood for light entertainment, this can be fun to watch particularly with friends."[9] Goutham V. S. of The Indian Express wrote "A few narrative flourishes notwithstanding, the film tells the same love story all over again. It never explains its title either."[10] Cris of The News Minute wrote "Girish AD's second film is not as adorable as his first, Thanneer Mathan Dinangal, but it ticks a lot of boxes."[11]

Sajin Shrijith of The New Indian Express gave 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote "Unlike in Thanneer Mathan Dinangal, the female characters manage to outshine the boys this time around."[12] S. R. Praveen of The Hindu wrote "The typical old-school romantic drama is partly enjoyable, but misses the spark or sensibility that marked director Girish's debut film."[13] Ajish Jimmy George of Onmanorama wrote "Each character in Super Sharanya leaves a mark and the story flows without drag for the entire two hours and forty minutes. This one is definitely a major improvement over Thanneer Mathan Dinangal."[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jacob . Jeemon . Why small is beautiful in Mollywood . 2023-09-23 . India Today . en.
  2. News: 'Super Saranya' goes on floors - Times of India. 2021-12-18. The Times of India.
  3. Web site: Thanneer Mathan Dinangal team's next, Super Sharanya, to arrive in January 2022. 2021-12-18. Cinema Express.
  4. Web site: 2020-08-24. 'Thanneer Mathan Dinangal' team's next is 'Super Sharanya'. 2021-12-18. The News Minute.
  5. News: Anaswara's character in Super Saranya is exciting: Girish AD - Times of India. 2021-12-19. The Times of India.
  6. Web site: 2021-12-16. Super Sharanya സൂപ്പര്‍ ശരണ്യയായി അനശ്വര; ചിത്രത്തിന്റെ റിലീസ് തീയതി പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു. 2021-12-18. News18 Malayalam. ml.
  7. Web site: Super Sharanya Movie : അനശ്വര രാജന്റെ 'സൂപ്പര്‍ ശരണ്യ'; ജനുവരിയില്‍ തിയറ്ററുകളിലേക്ക്. 2021-12-18. Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. ml.
  8. Web site: Super Sharanya Movie Review & Rating: സൂപ്പർ ശരണ്യയും കൂട്ടുകാരികളുമെത്തി. 2022-01-07. Indian Express Malayalam. ml.
  9. News: Mathews . Anna . 2022-01-07 . Super Sharanya Movie Review : A college story too caught up in its own cuteness . The Times of India . 2023-09-23 . 0971-8257.
  10. Web site: V. S. . Goutham . 2022-01-07 . Super Sharanya movie review: Why is Sharanya Super? . 2023-09-23 . The Indian Express . . en.
  11. Web site: Cris . 2022-01-07 . Super Sharanya review: Starts promisingly but deviates from the plot . 2023-09-23 . The News Minute . en.
  12. Web site: Shrijith . Sajin . 2022-01-11 . 'Super Sharanya' review: Girish A D returns with another charmer . 2023-09-23 . The New Indian Express.
  13. News: Praveen . S. R. . 2022-01-07 . 'Super Sharanya' movie review: Campus drama does not live up to its name . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-09-23 . 0971-751X.
  14. Web site: Jimmy George . Ajish . 2022-01-07 . 'Super Sharanya' movie review: An adorable blend of fun, campus romance . 2023-09-23 . Onmanorama.