Jay (Ehan Bhat) is a college-level musician who works for his event-manager super-rich girlfriend Sophie (Edilsy Vargas). He loves her so much he even composes a song titled on her name (such novelty, much wow moment in the first 15 minutes). Sophie, who cannot speak, asks Jay to meet her father (Ranjit Barot, who looks astoundingly similar to Ram Kapoor).

Breathtaking frames, postcard locations, a beautiful cast and soul-soothing music make 99 Songs a perfect escape to a world not ravaged by a virus. The feel-good vibe is overwhelming and often distracts you from the sketchy screenplay and bland story. Unfortunately, A R Rahman's debut into film production just can't get past the style to focus on the substance.

While Hollywood has given us films around music, loss and redemption like Mr Holland's Opus, Sound Of Metal and La La Land, when we talk of Bollywood, we do not have movies that instantly come to our mind. Of course, we have Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Khamoshi and something like Saaz. So when we hear of a story about music, healing, redemption and love being written by none other than AR Rahman, our expectations are instantly sky-high.

Music is powerful. It is soothing, can heal and effect a change across the world. AR Rahman, the writer and composer of 99 Songs, is living proof. Unfortunately, on the evidence of 99 Songs, writer Rahman does not yet possess the nuance required to seamlessly translate that concept to the big screen.

99 Songs begins with a father telling his son, "Indha ulagathula irukkara ketta pazhakkangal vyaadhigal ellathayum vida kodumayanadhu... music." It is the kind of shocking statement that makes one sit up and pay attention straight away, especially because the film's story is by AR Rahman!

Painterly frames, an artfully fragmented narrative structure, deliberate pacing, restrained acting and a lush musical score combine to give 99 Songs, based on a story written by A.R. Rahman, a distinctively elegant quality. Unfortunately, none of it seeps beneath the surface. Music cannot be seen, it can only to be felt, a character intones in the course of the film.

A whole lot of music, one terrific song, and a busload of cliches about tortured artists mark AR Rahman's debut production. 99 Songs, based on a story by Rahman and a screenplay by director Vishwesh Krishnamoorthy, revolves around a musician who goes through a trial by fire before emerging pure and shiny.

A story and production by composer AR Rahman will, characteristically, be a musical. The narrative of this romantic drama is fused together with not 99 but 14 songs. The story of a struggling musician with a tragic backstory determined to overcome a challenge in order to be worthy of the approval of his lover's wealthy father is as old as the hills.