The Post Covid Internet frequents, Comedians Nirmal Pillai and Abhishek Kumar had a breakthrough during the fleeting period of Pandemic and boomed into Stand Up Comedy tours worldwide. The former is now set to shift bases as a filmmaker as Nirmal Pillai’s ‘Bata Boy and Crocs Girl’ premiered on YouTube on Saturday.
‘Bata Boy and Crocs Girl’ is Nirmal Pillai’s maiden directorial. It’s a film of 40 minutes length and tells the story of Gokul and Ishita – two very different people who in their words, “like each other, hang out with each other and have sex. But aren’t in a relationship.” Do they have any idea what they’re doing? Absolutely not. Set in the New York of South India, Bangalore – this film is an ode to the hope and dream of fleeting romances in new cities’ is the description from the makers. The Mumblecore Modern take on Gen- Z relationships that are fleeting, baseless serves the core for this Romantic short film.
The story follows the introduction, friendly and quick take off of Gokul and Ishitha who are tangled in their own minds about relationships or ‘situationships’ and their dilemma of ‘labelling’ their situation. Their romantic predicament mixed with humorous Podcast Conversation cutaways hosted by an equally confused Boomer Malayali Uncle sets the map for the story that is narrated as a Mumblecore blabber of Contemporary relationships. The duo from Nirmal Pillai’s short reel story ‘If Senthil met Sundari’ exhumes connection with Model Kripali adding largely to the chemistry.
Kadhalikka Neramillai Trailer paints a OK Kanmani -esque Love: Here’s the ReviewThe positives that will easily rope in audiences into the film is the stunning visuals that follows a soothing colour palette, something similar to the current Instagram trends and Pinterest Mood Boards – a proper scope for the young audience of Nirmal Pillai who has directed and Co- Written the film. Not a fresh but a different take on complex and confusing relationships from the mumbling introspect of the prominent characters. Gathering his usuals – Abhishek Kumar, Manoj Mani in key roles for the comedy, ‘Bata Boy and Crocs Girl’ gags up the viewers with visual narration in a good way while the realistic dialogues seem unbalanced in threading attention with the viewers. While references like ‘Vainko’ score brownie points for setting the mood, Music by Honey Moon Henny from The F16s also scores big in setting the mood. A snack watch for the consolidated showcase of Lively City Head romance and a good debut for Nirmal Pillai in his next venture.
