A Potpourri of Vestiges Feature
By Rohith Raju
1. Kshanam
By Rohith Raju
1. Kshanam
The potboiler which is loosely based on Anurag
Kashyap’s “Ugly” made an impact in Tollywood due to its contemporary and
up-to-the-minute suspense drama.
Though it is just the plot line Adivi Sesh has adapted from “Ugly” or “Gone Baby Gone”, the entire movie takes shape to distinct drama in terms of screenplay and story. First of all, catching an uncommon thought to materialize a film in this genre needs lot of guts, especially in Tollywood. Secondly, Prasad V Potluri, who invariably likes funding non-commercial films under “PVP Cinemas” production, deserves a big round of applause for making this movie happen which, at any point, won’t assure him huge profits.
Though it is just the plot line Adivi Sesh has adapted from “Ugly” or “Gone Baby Gone”, the entire movie takes shape to distinct drama in terms of screenplay and story. First of all, catching an uncommon thought to materialize a film in this genre needs lot of guts, especially in Tollywood. Secondly, Prasad V Potluri, who invariably likes funding non-commercial films under “PVP Cinemas” production, deserves a big round of applause for making this movie happen which, at any point, won’t assure him huge profits.
Thirdly, the debut
film maker Ravikanth Perepu and Adivi Sesh, who resembles Robert Pattinson to
some extent, must be lauded for bestowing us with a nail biting flick which
will keep you at the edge of your seat till the completion of the film. While
the former has brilliantly written the screenplay, making us in an open-mouth gesture for
most of the scenes, the latter is incredible with his consummate screen
presence, intimating the audiences that he’s here to settle in industry for
some time. The movie’s plot-line, up to interval bang, keeps you in a strange
dilemma making you think if there’s any girl or not. While in second half, it
clears that confusion and again puts another question regarding the mystery of
that little girl.
2. Manamantha
An Anthology from unorthodox film maker Chandra Sekhar
Yeleti excites every atypical viewer in spite of having no commercial factor.
Yeleti, who has achieved cult status for his neo-noir films
“Aithe” and “Anokokunda Oka Roju”, came up with a challenging story to tell to
everybody via “Manamantha” which stars Mohanlal, Gautami, Viswanth and Raina
Reddy. These four characters have different lives and life styles, but are
connected together through ‘butterfly effect’ in the end. Here, there’s
Mohanlal, who’s greediness to become a manager puts him in a serious danger. There’s
Gautami, a typical middle-class housewife who perceives the significance of
respect. There’s Viswant, a great believer of saying ‘sky is the limit’, who foots
one wrong major step in his life which leads him to attempt suicide. Finally,
there’s Raina Reddy, a curious school girl who’s in search of her lost
four-year-old friend. Taking these four plotlines, Yeleti somehow impressively
constructed the whole movie expect the Viswant’s story which lags a bit.
3. Pellichupulu
An awe-inspiring eye-opener which has went on to become a
massive sleeper hit in recent past.
Vijay Devarakonda, the novice actor who’s struggling to mark
his debut, has opened his account in a very surprising way. And the credit goes
to debutant TharunBhasckerDassyam for making him confident enough to stand on
his own feet. Cult film “Pellichupulu”, has come as a dumbfound, but emerged as
the one of the biggest block busters in 2016, putting a big smile on the face
of every viewer almost in every part, making us to feel emotional for the lead
at climax, showcasing the weird things and professions chosen by unemployed
graduates, suggesting every parent to give their children enough time to settle
themselves rather than urging them to get married. This ‘rom-com’, besides, remains
as perfect example to state how a mainstream movie should be conceived
irrespective of the rubbish called ‘mass factor’.
4. Mana
Oori Ramayanam
The apt adaptation of Joy Mathews’s“Shutter” by the multifaceted
actor Prakash Raj generates a decent suspense, providing us with the offbeat
performances.
Prakash Raj, whom I personally regard as the Naseeruddin
Shah of South India, came with this third directorial flick, failing to make it
a commercial success. Now, moving to the movie “Mana Oori Ramayanam”, it’s
absolutely Prakash Raj and Priya Mani who has lived soulfully in their performance
driven characters throughout the movie. The actor-turned director has seemed
very convincing in his eminent yet apprehensive persona while Priya Mani has
finished chewing her part in the movie with ease. The film’s plot is very
vivid, it’s about a middle-aged man who, unfortunately, gets caught up inside a
shutter with a prostitute. There they happen to establish a bond and get to
know each other and finally they are set free. Though the movie is beautifully
crafted with Raja sir’s song and Sreekar Prasad’s editing, it remained as a
commercial flop. AndI still remember watching this movie with not more than
about 15 viewers in the theater which resembles the typical attitudes of
moviegoers.
5. Lajja
An another bold ‘Parallel’ movie from Narasimha Nandi acts
as a treat for someone who’s expecting a different kind of cinema.
I think anyone who
reads this post may possibly feel regret for including this movie in the list
as many haven’t heard of this movie or come across. Narasimha Nandi, the only Parallel film maker in Tollywood,
has once again narrated a quite interesting novel “Maidanam” of Chalam despite
tasting failure in this genre with his earlier films. I think he’s a misfit in
the industry directing art films, while other film makers have entered
mainstream putting a lot of money into their pockets. He needs to set his ‘new
wave’ to the current on-going trend to keep things going for him. When talking
the film’s plot line, Nandi, as it seems, didn’t make much modifications to the
original novel “Maidanam”. It’s a story of married woman who is always being
tormented by her companion. So, she develops intimacy with her friend and
elopes with him thinking she can be happy. But soon, she realizes some shocking
facts about her new partner which reveal that she has made a wrong step
marrying him. A little later, another person enters in her life and they both
form a doubtful yet healthy relation which puts her life in even more trouble.
6. Oopiri
Vamshi Paidipalli’s good-sensible-offbeat adaptation of Olivier Nakache
and Eric Toledano’s “Intouchables” created a decent emotional impact, leading
it to become an untypical cult movie. It was very hard to believe that the film
maker Vamshi Paidipalli, who entertained us with commercial “Yevadu”, had
directed the technically made “Oopiri” because of the
film’s fresh essence, jollity, humor sense, captivating screenplay and
sentimentalism which Vamshi didn’t demonstrate in his previous flicks. Further
in Oopiri/Thozha, he offered an awe-inspiring character to Nag, which involved
so much of agony, hope, sufferings, and celebration. But Oopiri being a buddy
film, his screen presence was limited and Karthik, who was another lead, had
stolen the entire show making everyone laugh, stirring the viewers to react
emotionally and at the same time romancing with Tamannah. Musically Gopi
Sundar’s soundtrack, which touched my heartstrings, must be applauded in
particular. Let it be “Oka Life” or “Epudu Okalaundadu” song, we seldom hear
these kinds of songs which conveyed a good message. P. S. Vinod’s visuals
incorporated with Vamshi’s picturization made them even better. Also, Gopi
slated an absorbing BGM using Violin which was very uplifting. Besides, Nag too
delivered an impeccable performance soulfully which made him proud, and which
would stay in the hearts of many moviegoers till the next decade.
Readers, please feel free to share your opinion by leaving your comments. As always your valuable thoughts are highly appreciated!
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