‘Yaan’ lacks a convincing screenplay

While a golden frame might draw attention to a painting it holds, what makes the art a masterpiece is its quality of the art. So too in the case of a film. Without a strong content, can a film survive?
‘Yaan’ the debut directorial venture of noted cinematographer Ravi K. Chandran carried high expectations. Chandran has worked in  Bollywood films like ‘Fanaa,’ ‘Rabne Bana Di Jodi,’ and ‘Dil Chahta Hai,’ to mention some. But it failed to deliver.
Sure, the visuals of ‘Yaan,’ are a treat but they end up like the golden frame of a painting.
Poor scripting is the major flaw, despite the story opening with a well-staged shoot out scenes. Amidst this violence, Chandru (Jiiva) falls in love with Sreela, (Thulasi Nair) when they both bump into each other at an ATM.
While Chandru is head over heels for Sreela, a driving school instructor, she does not take him seriously initially. Trying to build up their romance takes the first half of the story and even then, you just don’t’ feel they are in love.
Post interval, the story gets a thrust forward after Chandru is arrested in Basilistan for possessing drugs. Innocent and tricked into this situation by a travel agent, Chandru is now on the death row.
What next? The obvious! Send Sreela to Basilistan to rescue her lover. From then the narrative becomes a joke.  Predictable and with logic taking a backseat ‘Yaan,’ reminds you of those empty Bollywood films that boasted only of glamorous heroines, exotic locales and stylish action scenes.
Entertaining me during the second half were the guffaws from the audience around, who could not help themselves as they watched Chandru bash an intimidating prisoner guard and escape. It gets funnier when a fellow prisoner hands over a bunch of keys to open the main gate and lo behold, a two wheeler is parked there for Chandru to zip off. Is it really so easy to escape from a prison and that too in a country like Basilistan that has strong laws for possessing drugs? Chandru arrives spot on at the hotel where Sreela is staying and rings her room door bell.
But then ‘Yaan’ does not end with that, Chandru needs to settle scores with the travel agent who is in hand with a wanted terrorist. There is more to keep you chuckling. Let me leave that for you to discover.
 Jiiva looks dashing but the good actor has been wasted in a role that has nothing to offer. Even Nasser, a veteran suffers from the same fate. Thulasi Nair after ‘Kadal,’ is seen in a mature character, but she needs to work on her expressions.
‘Yaan’ fits well into the Bollywood template. Haven’t we watched similar stories before? ‘Yaan’ is another yawn.