Laila review: Vishwak Sen’s latest film ‘Laila’ created buzz due to his first-ever lady getup, but the real attention came from the boycott trend initiated by YSRCP supporters after actor Prudhvi's controversial comments at the pre-release event.
Laila storyline
Set in Hyderabad’s Old City, Sonu (Vishwak Sen) runs a beauty parlour and is widely loved for his makeup skills. Women praise him, much to the annoyance of their husbands. One day, the wife of SI Shankar (Babloo Prithviraj) demands a free makeover, claiming her status. Sonu, however, exposes her lie, leading to public humiliation for Shankar.
Meanwhile, local strongman Pahalwan Rustum (Abhimanyu Singh) is obsessed with Chiranjeevi and wants his future daughter-in-law to be as beautiful as the heroines in his films. After rejecting many girls, he is impressed by a woman’s (Kamakshi Bhaskarla) beauty, thanks to Sonu’s makeup skills. However, when he sees her real face without makeup, he is enraged and seeks revenge on Sonu.
Adding to Sonu’s troubles, his name gets entangled in an adulterated oil scam, making him a target of both Rustum and the police. With people out to get him, Sonu disguises himself as Laila. How does he navigate these threats? What roles do Jenny (Akanksha Sharma) and Sunishith play in his journey?
Laila banks on gimmicks rather than substance
Watching Laila, one wonders how director Ram Narayan convinced Vishwak Sen to take on this project. The first half is filled with routine comedy scenes, while the second half raises the question—what exactly attracted Vishwak to this story? The only standout aspect is his lady getup, which, unfortunately, doesn’t fully suit him.
Despite being marketed as a Vishwak Sen film, Laila often feels like it belongs more to Abhimanyu Singh and Sunishith. While Abhimanyu’s character has equal screen space as the protagonist, Sunishith’s role carries significant weight. The film’s core sentiment—why Sonu became a makeup artist—is weak, and the love track lacks depth. Apart from a few scenes featuring Abhimanyu Singh, there’s little to engage audiences.
Commercial elements, including routine humour and forced glamour, feel overdone. Some scenes are solely designed for skin show, with Akanksha Sharma even donning a bikini despite no narrative necessity. The comedy fails to land effectively, and despite the attempt to blend action and humor, the execution falls flat.
Performances
Vishwak Sen plays two characters—Sonu and Laila. While he delivers an energetic performance as Sonu, his transformation into Laila isn’t entirely convincing. Though his commitment to the role is commendable, he struggles to carry the lady getup convincingly.
Abhimanyu Singh delivers a solid performance as Rustum, bringing a comic touch to his villainous role. His character's obsession with Chiranjeevi and reactions in marriage sequences add humor. He even dances in one of the songs, which adds to the fun.
Akanksha Sharma has minimal acting scope and is primarily present for glamour. Sunishith plays a version of his real-life persona, but the comedy around his character fails to land. Babloo Prithviraj plays a typical villain role, and his character has more social media controversy than actual impact in the film. Kamakshi Bhaskarla takes on a de-glamorized role, while other supporting actors deliver adequate performances.
Direction, Writing, and technical aspects
Ram Narayan’s direction lacks novelty, and the screenplay struggles to engage. The dialogues contain an excessive amount of double entendres. Aditya Dhar’s screenplay and dialogues, while aiming for entertainment, fail to create an impactful narrative.
Leon James’ music is forgettable, with no song having repeat value. Even the background score lacks the punch required for a commercial entertainer. Richard Prasad’s cinematography is decent, capturing the commercial aesthetics well. Shine Screens’ production values are visible, with extravagant sets and foreign locations for songs. However, grand visuals alone cannot compensate for a weak script.
Final verdict
Laila is a classic example of how a lady getup alone cannot make a film entertaining. A strong story, screenplay, and engaging comedy are essential, but Laila delivers none of these. While a few scattered laughs exist, they aren’t enough to make up for the film’s shortcomings. Weak music and predictable storytelling further hurt its appeal.
Skip this one in theatres—it’s a waste of time and money.