Mad Obsessions and Bitter Truths: A Deep Dive into the Chaos of ‘Cult

The plot:
Madhav, from Krishnapura, and Geetha fall in love during their college days. This is an innocent love story, untainted by the confusion and complications of the current Gen Z generation. The story follows what happens in the lives of these two “love birds” as they head to different cities for engineering college after finishing PU (Pre-University). Love, breakup, and social status change both their lives. Who gets cheated? Who does the cheating? Who finds true love, and whose life becomes a mess? What is the value of the trust parents place in their children? What is the plight of the youth who break their parents’ hearts when they don’t find love? The story also explores the changes brought into the lives of these separated lovers by a character named Ithihasini and another boyfriend.

The director, Anil Kumar, has succeeded in portraying the various types of relationships and situations involving Gen Z—including love and friendship—without simply labeling the boy or the girl as “bad,” but instead blaming the circumstances. Even though the story lacks novelty, the execution passes the test. Zaid Khan carries the entire film on his shoulders, transitioning from a village lad named Madhav to a “playboy” avatar (a trend currently popular in Indian cinema) and eventually to a heartbroken lover, Maddy. The shades of Geetha’s character—who loves Madhav madly but eventually drives him crazy—serve as a surprise package for the audience. The character of Ithihasini, played by Rachita, and the two sides to her role, touch upon a topic that is and should be debated in society.

While Arjun Janya’s songs act as the invitation drawing people to the theater, the popular song by Alok and the composition by Vasuki Vaibhav are well-suited to the film. There is richness in the production values (making), but the story lacks originality. In terms of acting, Rachita Ram is at her best as usual, while Malaika and Zaid pass with first-class honors. This film proves that Zaid can handle any kind of role. For today’s college youth, the scenes and dialogues will taste like delicious snacks to be savored. The songs linger in the mind even after the movie ends. It is worth a one-time watch.