Joe (Tamil)

Casts: Rio Raj, Bhavya Trikha, Malvika Manoj, and Anbu Thasan  
Director: Hariharan Ram S  
Producers: Dr D Arulanandhu and Mathewo Arulanandhu  
Music: Siddhu Kumar  
Runtime: 2 hours 27 minutes

Director Hariharan Ram presents a refreshing romantic drama that manages to capture your heart.

The film primarily centers on the titular character Joe, portrayed by Rio Raj. While the first half focuses on the early part of his life when he falls for a girl in college, the second part explores what happens when he eventually gets married.

Hariharan Ram excels in the first half, making you empathize with the main characters.

The second half, although not as convincing or as captivating as the first, still keeps you engaged, ultimately leaving you with a mild sense of contentment.

Synopsis

Joe (Rio Raj), the only son of a prosperous couple, lives a carefree life with his close set of friends who have been with him since school days.

In college, Joe becomes infatuated with his classmate Suchi (Malavika Manoj), a gentle and reserved girl from Kerala. Eventually, Suchi reciprocates his feelings, and the two decide to get married once they graduate.

When the time comes, and the couple graduates, Joe goes to Suchi’s place to ask for her hand in marriage. An unexpected and emotionally moving set of events unfolds. Disaster strikes.

Time goes by, and Joe, who is devastated, struggles to recover and move on. He finds it hard to let go, much to the concern of his parents who believe that getting him married is the only way to help him get out of the rut he is in.

They urge him to wed Shruthi (Bhavya Trikha), a girl of their choosing, and to appease his parents, Joe consents.

However, he is unaware that Shruti has no interest in this marriage. Despite both their reservations, the two get married. What follows constitutes the core of Joe.

A shaky start

The film begins with a shaky start as Rio plays a school student. Just when you begin to squirm in your seat, the plot advances, and the real story begins.

From that point onward, Hariharan Ram captures your attention and keeps you engaged for the next hour or so with a fantastic romantic drama.

The first half works wonderfully as you can emotionally connect with the developments on screen. One reason why this part works so well is that it is based on real-life events.

Performances

Malayalam actor Malavika Manoj, who debuts in Tamil cinema with this film, delivers a spectacular performance as Suchi. She fits the role perfectly and seems to be a promising talent.

Two other significant reasons why the film works well are music director Siddhu Kumar and cinematographer Rahul KG Vignesh.

Siddhu Kumar, who crafted the melodious hits in Sivappu Manjal Pachai, delivers an exceptional performance in this film too.

The songs are so impressive that they make you sit up and take notice. The background score is fitting and elevates the atmosphere the director intends to create.

Rahul Vignesh’s visuals in this film are breathtaking. One is unsure what other films he has worked on before this, but his visuals in Joe are nothing short of spectacular.

Each scene is like poetry on screen. Now, Tamil cinema boasts this skilled cinematographer to offer.

Final take

Overall, for those with a romantic inclination, Joe is certainly worth both your time and money.