Official Trailer:

Based on the trailer, I expected yet another run-of-the-mill 27^th adult comedy. I sat up and realized this movie is going to be different when Rita says My bungalow, my rules, only entry and exit. Movie is bold and has that FU attitude till the end. Don’t get misled by the trailer. Yes, you do get those scenes and dialogues, but they don’t stand out as sleazy when they happen in the movie, on the contrary I found them to be staged well, and funny. When Rita, who lives her life on her terms, enters the life of other four women, Thamarai, Paru, Kajal, and Suganya, they get drawn to her after initial shock. They meet and talk about marriage, sex, and joke about their bodies, over lots of drink, and smoke. They also try ganja and go on a psychedelic ride. Don’t go expecting a story on feminism or female empowerment or solving big women issues, 90ml doesn’t claim or pretend to be one. Its focus is on immediacy, women’s daily concerns. Right is at the center of what these girls do in 90ml, right to do what they like, right not have to do what they are expected to, right to do things they are not allowed to, and yes, right to have pleasure.

Rita is in a live-in relationship with Venkat. Venkat comes across as any women’s dream guy, he doesn’t judge women, cooks, and supplies half-boiled to women’s drinking get-together. Defining moment of Rita’s character comes when she says no to Venkat’s request to marry. She doesn’t see marriage as a commitment. Paru’s bungalow is locked, her husband is in love with someone else.  Kajal’s husband left the bungalow after their first child and has an affair. Suganya is in love with someone and thinks they can never live together. As their bond gets stronger, they find an avenue to get their life back and express themselves.

I felt the conversations between the women to be organic, and spontaneous. Full credit to the director, handling was sensitive and mature you don’t notice the same sex relationship. It doesn’t standout. Curious queries about same-sex relationship flowed natural in the conversation between the women. Movie takes a nice poke at other directors when Rita says you don’t need a sob backstory to be in a live-in relationship. Another pleasant surprise, there is no male gaze camera angles, or objectification of women, a double thanks to Department of Photography and the director. Kudos to the players who played the five women roles, their acting came across as natural. 90mls isn’t perfect, it does take easy solutions to the problems, but what worked is the unapologetic tone it takes till the end.