Rating: 2/5
Plot in a Nutshell
Sonu Model (Vishwak Sen), a kind-hearted beautician, runs a popular beauty parlour in Hyderabad’s Old City. His talent and selfless nature earn him admiration from the local women, but his life takes a drastic turn when he becomes entangled with local goon Rustum and SI Shankar. To escape the trouble, Sonu disguises himself as Laila. But why does he take on this new identity? What danger is he caught in, and how will he find his way out? The plot holds promise but falters due to weak execution.
Performances to Remember
Vishwak Sen delivers a solid performance, but his character doesn’t stand out in any major way. His portrayal of Laila in disguise, however, adds some much-needed humor and makes both roles engaging.
Abhimanyu Singh shines as Rustum, adding a comic edge to his villainous role. His antics bring some genuinely funny moments to the film.
Moments to Watch For
The interval scene where Sonu decides to transform into Laila is a standout.
The pre-climax and climax scenes featuring Laila, Rustum, and SI Shankar offer some good moments, keeping the humor intact.
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| Vishwak Sen as Sonu Model |
Where It Fails
The biggest downfall of the film is its weak writing. The narrative feels underdeveloped, and most scenes lack originality. Almost 90% of the film is predictable, making it a dull experience. While the core plot has potential, the poor execution ruins it. There aren’t enough impactful moments to justify the ticket price, this is purely a failure on the director’s part.
Casting is another major issue. Poor choices make even good scenes fall flat. When watching a film, the audience should feel that the actors fit their roles perfectly, but that isn’t the case here.
The entire second half is a disaster. The protagonist unknowingly falls into trouble, but the film never conveys the seriousness of his situation. Even in a comedy, the audience should feel that the hero is struggling to prove his innocence, but this aspect is completely missing.
Watching the film feels like scrolling through two hours of Instagram reels. Maybe the makers thought it would be trendy to show the hero as an Old City influencer, mimicking the behavior seen in social media clips. But apart from that, there’s no real reason for the story to be set in the Old City. A different backdrop could have completely changed the film’s outcome.
The plot itself is decent, but wrong casting, poor storytelling choices, disengaging songs, and even though mother sentiment scenes lack emotions, drag it down. That’s how weak the writing is. The film is a complete mess—except for Viswak Sen and Abhimanyu Singh’s performances.
Verdict & Rewatch Value
Laila has a decent premise, but its poor writing and execution prevent it from being a successful film. It’s not cringe-worthy, just underwhelming. The film lacks rewatch value, with only Vishwak Sen and Abhimanyu Singh's performances standing out amidst an otherwise forgettable experience.
