Marali Manasaagide Movie Review : a surrogacy thread in a familiar romantic framework

By Susmita Sameera



Marali Manasaagide follows the journey of Vikas, also known as Vikky (Arjun Vedanta), and his relationship with Chitra (Nireeksha Shetty). The film opens with Vikky staying at his sister’s home, emotionally withdrawn. The narrative then moves into flashback, detailing how he meets Chitra, forms a close friendship with her, and eventually proposes. She informs him that she is already committed to her childhood friend, leading to their separation.



The story shifts between past and present, gradually revealing that Chitra later realises her feelings for Vikky. Before she can express them, she dies in an accident. This becomes the emotional turning point of the film.



In the second half, Vikky’s focus shifts toward becoming a father using Chitra’s frozen eggs through surrogacy. During this process, he meets Spoorthi (Smruthy Venkatesh), who develops feelings for him while being part of his plan to have a child. The film attempts to combine romance, grief, and assisted parenthood into a single narrative thread.



The premise is unconventional, but the storytelling feels uneven. The emotional developments move quickly, and the transitions between love story, tragedy, and surrogacy drama lack smooth progression. The screenplay appears cluttered, with multiple intense plot points placed back-to-back without sufficient buildup.



Technically, the film remains average. The cinematography offers nothing distinctive, and the music feels dated, reducing the emotional impact of several scenes. The lead performances by Arjun Vedanta, Smruthy Venkatesh and Nireeksha Shetty are decent, and the film is supported by senior actors such as TS Nagabharana, Manasi Sudhir, Swathi Gurudutt, Sangeetha Anil, and Bhojaraj Vamanjoor, who add familiarity to the overall cast.



Overall, Marali Manasaagide presents a dramatic romantic arc with an unusual second half. While the idea is bold, the execution leaves the narrative feeling crowded and inconsistent.