Movie Review - Hum Tum (Telugu) - String of SMS jokes!!

Hum Tum is a rare breed of cinema which stupefies the viewers with an overdose of SMS jokes. When you take a respite in a song and dance sequence and want to sync and emote with the characters, there’s another joke waiting around the corner. Director Rom Bhimana (famous for his short film asl plz) tried to pump in disproportionate potions of love, romance, emotions and comedy in this long string of SMS jokes, or scenes inspired from SMS jokes. Even in this film, you will witness the famed ‘Condom of Suresh’ joke. Amid all this cheesy humor, the debutante director tried to inject some soul into the characters and the proceedings.

At the heart of Hum Tum, there is an engineering college and the lives of two students – Charan (Manish) and Pallavi (Simran). The story runs in a flashback mode when Pallavi, a successful fashion designer, narrates about the inspiration in her life and how a not so beautiful gal transformed into a stylist for celebrities. Manish plays a Mr. Do Good and he’s always been the apple of every girl’s eyes. Pallavi is smitten by his earthly charms and tries to make a cut. Here, the make-up man took an extra effort to add soot to deglamorize her. She breaks all hell loose to bring out her inherent beauty and surprise Manish. There is a sudden red herring kind of twist in the interval and after that the film rides on an emotional trajectory and drags for most of the time.

The setup of the film is a dig on urban engineering colleges infested with quirky characters – both students and lecturers. M S Narayana, the English professor, does a literal translation of Telugu lines to English to evoke laughter. Dharmavarapu, the Math lecturer, is famous for his soporific lessons. A student is an alter-ego of Posani and the gals have only one job to woo guys (taking tips and tricks from a book given by some Jyothi Malini akka). Adding to this the students quickly learn classical dance and theatre art to perform at their college fest. With each passing scene, the movie piles more layers of unrealistic set-pieces. 

Rom Bhimana shined as a dialogue writer at many places. Few jokes bring out genuine laughter and few lines tug at your heart strings. Some English translations like Temple steps water king, principal just passed away in the corridor were hilarious. Even some creative touches like Madonna hostel and ‘Marchipoya’ password tickle your funny bone. And one character mimicking the kite flying expertise of our heroes makes you fall off your chair.

Hero Manish looked like a caricature and had a limited role to play as the entire film revolved around the heroine, and the way she tried to amend her looks and get close to him. The most endearing moments are the Vikramarkudu spoof by ‘Allari’ Subhashini and the song Love You Raa, for which the producers might have spent half of the film’s budget. The point of view established in this song is similar to that of Telusunaa from Sontham.

Although the film has its downside, it’s a valiant effort by new comer Rom Bhimana. He delivered a quality product, in terms of aesthetics, on a shoe string budget. He brings out his funny and emotional side in his dialogues. Had there been decent performances from all the actors, the movie would have definitely spelled success. Hum Tum is a love story where you dig deep to find love in this story. It crosses the paths of films like Nuvvu Nenu, Anandam et al and harps on a point of not to leave ‘love’ for your career. It may go to the back burner for some time, but it gives you enough motivation to help you emerge as a winner.

My Rating: Expectation – 6/10; Reality – 5/10

This review was originally written for Metro India newspaper.

1 Nenokkadine – Unanswered Questions!!

After seeing so many people, including film directors, showering praises on 1 Nenokkadine, I have thought of getting answers to few questions that puts me back in calling this film a marvel. Firstly, I admire the great director Sukumar, so that reflected in my rating of 2.5/5 for 1 Nenokkadine. I couldn’t digest the fact that ‘Master story-teller’ and ‘Master of detail’ Sukumar has left few loose ends in the film.

Few people told me that I was generous in my rating and the movie only deserved a 1/5 or 1.5/5, and some said how you can like a movie where the entertainment factor is zilch. I don’t want to discuss about them as their definition of entertainment is definitely flawed. My concern is those people who called film critics as useless and baseless. Some even used extreme language and labeled us as ones who don’t understand the nuances of cinema. I take that statement with a pinch of salt. If someone can suggest a good course in 'film criticism' or 'review writing', I will enroll for it.

Here’s the link to my review

http://www.desimartini.com/reviews/raja-satish-1-nenokkadine-/rd23847md3028.htm

Alongside praising the film, I wrote few lines bringing out the negatives of the film. As every review of mine, I wanted to keep this spoiler-free, so didn’t want to get into the details at the time of writing it.

My questions are as follows:

1) When the news of rockstar Gautham (Mahesh Babu) broke on the TV, it has alerted Nasser living in London but not Kelly Dorji in Goa. During the entire stretch of the first half, Kelly (The industrialist) tries to kill Sameera (Kriti Sanon) but not Gautham. When Nasser has a close aide and partner in crime staying in India, why would he and his team try to contact Gautham. The same job could have been delegated to Kelly.

2) Why Nasser needs to create a set-up of some small company and carve wooden statuettes in Pune. I know this is to shift the focus of audience from his character but isn’t it fooling them. He is an industrialist and can stay in some hotel and oversee the operation. Nasser coming to India is again baseless. If my first question is valid then it can be done by Kelly himself.

3) In the yacht and fire episode, what’s the need for parasailing? Gautham can take Sameera to the boat and I don’t know how the parachute opened up after traveling such a small distance? After they accidentally reach an island, Gautham finds Sameera’s camera lying on the beach. Now don’t say that skimpily-clad Sameera brought it from the yacht.

4) Kelly paints all his murders as accidents. Then after a futile attempt to kill Sameera in Goa, why did he plan to attack her in Hyderabad. He should have created an accident to kill her. It’s shown that he also has a local gang in Hyderabad, so what’s the need to send his henchmen all the way from Goa (they also kill a police officer at the check post – why all this?). In the fight that follows, the goons get multiple chances to kill Sameera but they wait for Gautham to hit them and fight with them. That really suspended my disbelief. Hence, I wrote this in my review “There are few staples that are typical of a Telugu film and some of them gleam so much that you scratch your head in disbelief.” When you are making a thriller that’s touted to be on par with Hollywood standards, please stay with it and avoid force-fit commercial elements.

5) In the song London Babu, Gautham is seen dancing with Sophia to get a key and opens a locker and sends an SMS to Michael. Why? Anyways he would be coming there, right. The director felt that the song is needed to drive some story. However, it’s unwarranted and stands as a sore thumb.

6) In the pre-climax, Nasser says he and Gautham’s father used to work as co-scientists in a company and later parted their ways. However, in the climax, Gautham says his father was not a biologist / farmer / scientist. Now isn’t it a contradiction?

7) The director piles another layer of disbelief when he shows that streets of Belfast don’t change even after 20 years. And Gautham’s house still exists with his belongings.

8) In the interval bang, Gautham fires a bullet, which no one hears but the heroine. She reaches him and after confirming that he shot Kelly for real, he fires few more bullets. Surprisingly, no one, including Sameera's boss, hear these gun shots. Later, they take his body to a forest and throw it into a well. How did this happen without the notice of anyone?

9) Now coming to the famous ‘plant-and-payoff’ Rubik’s cube and its clues. It’s simple and understandable that whenever Gautham finishes the cube he leaves four different color cubes in the middle. Yes, his father knows this and writes the clue on it. This is beyond the comprehension of the villain. But when Gautham looks at the cube in a flashback-intercut-real-time-scene in the second half, he sees the storage bank’s logo on one of its faces, which is a yellow square inside a green square. The objective is to make him recognize the logo, then what’s the point in showing his (dis)ability to arrange the cube right. Another million dollar question – the pass code consists of 8 characters written on four faces of the cube. How does Gautham know the correct sequence – clockwise or counter clockwise? In the film, he is shown turning the cube counter clockwise. What if he does it other way around?!

1 Nenokkadine is a valiant attempt by Sukumar to blur the difference between mainstream cinema and art house classics. However, some masala staples and unanswered questions made it unpalatable. That’s not all. Few moments add a new leaf to ‘Suspension of Disbelief’.  

I am waiting for the answers..!!

Movie Review – Krrish 3 (Hindi) – A wet firecracker for this Diwali

Krrish 3 marks Krrish’s struggle to save humanity from Kaal.

My Review marks my struggle to save humanity and their kaal (time) from Krrish 3.

They say Krrish 3 is an ambitious effort to give India their own super-hero. Firstly, who asked for a super-hero and secondly, if culling set-pieces from various Hollywood and Kollywood sources can be called ambitious, then this film is also ambitious.

Krrish 3 starts with a montage of Koi Mil Gaya and Krrish in the voice-over of Amitabh Bachchan. This is for those who missed the previous ones. Then it slips into the introduction of Mehras – Rohit, Krishna and Priya, and an Optics class about reflection of light with proper alignment of mirrors to tap life-saving sunlight.

Then the movie shifts gears to Kaal (Vivek Oberoi) and his maanvars – that’s a portmanteau of maanav and jaanwar. One of them steals ice-cream scoops from cones. They are mutants and are results of fusion experiments carried by Kaal’s team, who remarks that ‘fusion is future’. That’s so close to X-Men series.

More on Kaal… He is bound to a wheel chair and uses his power of Telekinesis – Professor Xavier and Magneto rolled into one. You can even bring in the traces of Stephen Hawking (for the two fingers only work thing). He stays in a den on a snow-capped mountain. Does that remind you of Blofeld from the George Lazenby’s only Bond flick – On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Kaal’s objective is to wreak havoc on mankind by spreading virus and leading to biological war. And Rohit and Krrish’s is to stop him. Simple! If you want to draw a reference from many films including Mission Impossible 2, you are welcome.

Spiderman pitches in:

When the director wanted to show Kaal’s tainted childhood and how he turns evil.

Superman pitches in:

When Krrish’s towering machismo needs to be surfaced with an intro scene to save a plane from crash landing. This one is from Superman Returns.

When the climax tries to show some imagination, it drifts away with Man of Steel like wreckage and Mumbai skyline biting the dust.

So we have covered X-Men, Spiderman, Superman and a James Bond villain. Now let’s venture down south and probe into some Tamil stories. Rakesh Roshan tries to be Murugadoss and Shankar by borrowing stuff from 7am Arivu (Tamil) / 7^th Sense (Telugu) and Enthiran (Tamil) / Robot (Telugu). Thanks Rakesh sir, we are honored.

High-lights of the film:

You must be kidding me.

Wait, there's one. The scene where Kaal connects with two helicopters flying high in the sky and blasts them. Then I realized that everyone is on CLOUD, so this is possible!

Low-lights of the film:

The story of virus and antidotes has been done to death. The audience needs something new.

This is a super-hero film sans the fun element. 

Hrithik Roshan – a Greek-God-ish super-hero with 8 pack abs– is forcibly thrown into an ill-written, shoddily-executed film. What can he do, for everyone family comes first, right!

The second half of Krrish 3 drags in such a way that even a snail may feel ashamed of it.

When you feel the role of Kanagana Ranaut’s Kaaya is a bundle of surprises and is taking a transformation, the director pops up a song, which is the most irritating part of the film. That’s so routine and so boring.

Why people still accept Priyanka ‘Plastic’ Chopra as an actress.

Rajesh Roshan hits the last nail in his coffin and Salim-Sulaiman desperately try to pull some Zimmer-ish overtures.

Nothing can beat this one. There is Krrish 4 too!

Bottom-line: Have a safe Diwali and only buy crackers that sparkle and spread light & joy. Please avoid this wet firecracker brand called Krrish 3.

P.S. For the first time, I want to praise SRK’s Ra.One. With a decent music and SRK on screen, that was a better Diwali offering than Krrish 3.

My Rating: You must be kidding me, again!

Movie Review - Besharam (Hindi) - Strictly for popcorn addicts!!

Abhinav Singh Kashyap is a bundle of talent. He proved his mettle with Dabangg, and now he’s back with a bang with Besharam. The way he has brought the entire Kapoor family to the table is a testimony for his negotiation skills. And these actors bring the movie back on track, with their finest performances, when it loiters around. Kashyap extends his Dabangg hangover and his Chulbul can be found in most of the characters. This time, more than the writers and directors, it’s the actors who take the entire cake.

Besharam is an attempt to inject creativity into a clichéd story-line. Ranbir Kapoor is a happy-go-lucky guy and his flamboyance adds gloss to the movie’s template. The film is devoid of many WOW cinematic moments, but if movies are your excuse for a jolly outing and enjoy lots of popcorn, then this one is for you. There are too many colorful songs and that’s another reason to cherish.

The film has lot of dough but the screenwriters couldn't mold it into a properly baked bread. Most of it is forcefully loud and the humor is cheeky and deliberately bizarre. The story’s core is appealing but the random and strewed sub-plots play spoilsport. The film moves at a slow pace in the first half and picks some speed post interval when all the sub-plots converge into the main. Here you get to watch the most defining moments and the entire actors brigade fires all the cylinders.

There is a lot of variation between the two principal characters – Bubbly and Tara. Bubbly with his edginess saves the film and Tara (Pallavi Sharda) is shallow and always tries to puncture Bubbly’s pomposity bubble. There are hardly any romantic moments between them and the most endearing one comes in the later half – in the hotel room and the one that follows.

The crackling chemistry between Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh Kapoor is laudable. Off-screen couple reprising their roles on-screen is a treat to watch. Any other actors couldn't have played the Chautala cops so effortlessly. Rishi Kapoor gyrates his belly for Battameez Dil number, and brings into him Sunny Deol ki aatma to do a Gaddar like scene. That’s so cool. The song during the end-credits with all the three Kapoors is to die for.

Javed Jaaferi as the antagonist fizzles out in the film. His bravado introduction creates the menace that couldn’t be pulled forward. Barring a comical touch in a FANtastic scene, there’s nothing much he could offer. In that particular scene, Kashyap gets into the shoes of Guy Ritchie. Blame it on the screenplay that couldn't hold Jaaferi well and capitalize on his acting prowess.

Besharam is Gone in 60 Seconds with loads of slapstick and desi tadka. Abhinav Kashyap fills the movie with his leftovers from Dabangg. Ranbir's tapori-ish antics and emotional baggage spearheads the movie. The movie’s piece da resistance is its climax; which is funny, emotional and too slapstick. Despite its short-comings, Besharam emerges as a glossy, masala entertainer with some glorious and some dull moments.

My Rating: Expectation – 7/10; Reality – 5/10

Attarintiki Daredi Telugu Movie Full Dialogues

1) Ekkada neggaalo kaadu… Eppudu taggaalo telisinode goppodu.

2) Ilage chesi chesi IIT ani cheppi evado sadist gaadikichi chestaru, vaadu telivitetalanni eellani torture cheyadaniki vadutadu.

3) Aadu evadara, Lakshmi Devi edhuruvasthanante Road ki left lo raavali, Red light daggara aagali antaadu.

4) Nuvvu gap icchinanduke nenu irritate avutunte... Inkaa daanni explain chesthaaventi raa!

5) Andhuke ra evadidhi aade pattukovali.

6) Adi aadapilla ra abhimanam unthadi… Nenu kodukuni nanna naaku kopamuntaadi.

7) Chudappa Sidappa nenu simham laantodini… Adhi geddam geesukoledhu nenu geesukogalanu anthe theda migatadantha same to same… Ah!

8) Ayinaa last punch manade ayithe aa kicke verappa.

9) Bagundadam ante baaga undatam kaadu… Naluguritho undatam navvuthu undatam.

10) Daanni pattukunte nannu kottinatte... Pettukunte nenu chacchinatte. Idedho baavunde!

11) Naa question lo clarity vundi… Nee answer lo surety vundaa?

12) Gaali vosthundani maname talupu teesthaam nanna... Daanitho paate dhummu kuda vasthundi.

13) Ninnu Harvard pampiddam anukunte… Ilaa Hall lo nilapettesavente nannu.

14) Annaniki aritaaku, sunnaniki tambaku, punyaaniki swami paadham taaku taaku taaku.

15) Mee venaka edho power undhamma… Adhi undaga mimmalni evaru emi cheyaleru.

16) Anandam ekkada dorukutundi? Dabbulona, andamaina ammayi velle play club lona, valla sareeram meeda jaarey sabbu lona?

17) Aa eyebrows chudu, Nike symbol ni reverse lo gisinattuga.

18) Tegipoyetappude daaram balam telustundi... Vellipoyetappude bandam viluva telustundi.

19) Paamu paradhyanamga vundani padaga meeda kaaleyyakudadu ro.

20) Adhrustam talupu tadutunte... Daridram master bedroom lo musugu tanni padukundanta.

21) Intha possessive ayithe iddaru ammayilini ela kannaaru cheppand… Ayinaa vallu chupisthe glamour memu chupisthe vulgar.

22) Simham padukundhi kadha ani cheppi joolu tho jada veyakudadhu ra… Alaage puli palakarinchindhi kadha ani pakkana nilabadi photo teeyinchakudadhu roi.

23) Biryani endhuku tintaam? Balam kosam… Mari kidnap endhuku chesthaam… Paisal kosam.

24) Ee kadha 3 months kritham Milan lo modhalaindhi... Adhedundhi? Italy lo. Adhedundhi? Europe lo. Gadhedundhi? Neeku daani Geography kaavala, naa History kaavalaa??!

25) Aha nuvvu pedda andagathevana nee feeling oho digochindandi queen Victoria… Brahmadevudu ninnu chesthu chesthu ‘lunch break’ lo ardhaantaranga ala vadilesi vellipoyade!

26) Ramudu bridge kattalanukunnadi samudram daggariki vacchinappudu, adavi lo kurchoni plan cheyyaledu.

27) Prameela garu ila randi… Adddde aa vinayam aa videyatha aa vadhika aa kallu choodande, Aa kallalloki ye magaadainya lup ani dooki ala eedukone vachestadu. Aa Prameela garu meeru kallu dinchakandi… Dinchithe maalanti fans hurt ayi potharandi.

28) Laksha kotlante 1 pakkana enni sunnaluntayi?

29) Rey baalu gaa… “Attani venakki theeskuraavadam elaa” aney pusthakam emaina raasaanaa nenu.

30) Neeku bus dorikundadu aadu lift icchuntaadu… Car door open ayyundadu aadu open chesuntaadu… Dust padithe aadu clean chesuntaadu… Deenike Spain lo steel gottam, Sunanda maa chuttam!

31) Swami nadhiki vellaledha? Madhi lo meerundaga nadiki ela pogalanu… Manam gadhi ani raasthe vaadu madhi antaadenti... Improvise chesaademo sir.

32) Babu… Meerenduku kottadam… Vallunnarukada… We are paying them salaries you know.

33) Naaku music antey ishtam... Naaku ladies antey ishtam… Evadishtaalu vaadikuntaay… Dheeniki mallee statement okati.

34) Vealayithe kshaminchu, ledha sikshinchu, kaani memu unnamani maatram gurthuinchu.

35) Bullet arangulame untundi kaani aardadugula manishini champutundi, Adhe bullet-u aaradugulunte ela untundi. Naa manavadu Gowtham Nanda alaa untaadu!

36) Nenu expressioney isthaanu… Panulu meerey cheyyaali.

37) Naa mines-u naa diamonds-u… Naa currency naa arrogance… Naathoney undetatlu choodandi swamee.

38) Manchi vaallani hurt cheste edustaru… Naalanti vedhavalani hurt cheste edipistaru. Daani daggara kerchief leni time chusi edipisthaanu.

39) Tissue vundaa… Mundu ee issue settle cheyyi.

40) Kantiki kanapadani shathruvutho bayataki kanapadani yuddham chesthunnaanu.

41) Orey alternatives lennappudu criticize cheyyakudado roy... Jeethalicche vaadi meeda jokelu esthe emavuthundo telusaa.

42) Nuvvu medicine laanti vaadivi Siddhu kaani daaniki expiry date untundi.

43) Meeru dabbunollu kada… Problem mee intlo vundaali kada. Deeniki mind dobbindi kaani logic kaadu.

44) Ivvanni nenu tinadaanike… Patient em tintaado naakela telusthundamma.

45) Balu koncham encouragement kaavali... Meeru chuste tempt ayipoddi, maatladithe melt ayipoddi, muttukunte connect ayipoddi, inka ikkade vunte late ayipoddi.

46) Board meeting lo pakkana koorchopettukundhaam anukunnaa... Bodi gundu kottesav kadhey!

47) Vaadikem kaavaali? Aa kurchi kaavaalata... Ohh! Aithey 60 euros petti konukkomanandi.

48) Nee table meedha apple thintey neeku balam vasthundhiraa... Adhey nee pakkanodi table meeda apple thintey idhigo ilaagey balavanthamgaa theeskuraavalsi vasthundhi.

49) Nenemainaa Benhur cinemani burrakadha laagaa chepthunnanatraa, okkadiney vaaguthunnaanu? Yesunatha.. Appu ivvadam dheniki... Hurt avvadam dheniki.

50) 'XL' size vaadiki 'Small' size shirt vesthey elaa untadho thelusaa raa.

51) Akka MBA ni chesukuntundi... Daani pillalu Oakridge lo chaduvutaaru. Nenu driver ni chesukuntunna... Naa pillalu Municipality school lo chaduvutaaru.

52) Neeku Urdu vacchaa... Aadi kottudu chusthe Urdu emiti Chinese, Chitralekhanam kuda vacchundaali.

53) Sir... 1970s lo drivers ilaa vundevaaru, aa taruvaatha topilu pettukovadam modhalu pettaru. Ippudu valla ownerlaki topilu pedutunnaru.

54) Yesunathaa! Balavanthamga laakkunnappudu, endhuku laakkunnaavu ani okkallu koodaa adagaledhu... Alaantidhi manchi gaa maari thirigi ichesetappudu endhukandee inni questions vesthaaru??!

55) Zip pettadam pedda thappanipinchaledhandi... aa vishayam mimmalni andharni inthagaa baadha pedthundhani naaku theliyadhandi.. ventaney correct chesesthsanandi.. Elaa??.. Ilaa!

56)  Ayya.. idhigo ticket.. idhigo physically handicapped certificate.. last time meeru kottinappudu naa rendu pallu oodipoyaayi.. devudichia dhaantlo edhi poyinaa physically handicapped kadhandi.

57)  Meeru expect chesinatlu ladies vasthe memu expect cheyyanatlu tirigi vasthunnaru... Em disappoint ayyinatlunnaru.

58) Ee briefcase theeskellisthey neekemosthundhi? Emundhi prathee nela laagey jeethamosthundhi. Adhey maskisthey 70 lakhs car vasthundhi. Emti aalochisthunnav? Maatlaadthunnaru kaanee keys ivvstledhentaa ani.

59) Ayinaa... Driver ga chesthey aththayya.. cleanerga chesthey mamayya.. endhukosthaaru sir.... raaruu...

60) Meerevaru... Aa pakka bed meeda patient ni.. Sorry sir... Meekinka pillalu puttaru... Naaka vishayam telusu.

61) Rey seenuga.. nenu kathilanti vaadini.. kooralu tharagadaaniki panikosthaanu.. peekalu narakadaaniki panikosthaanu. Sir, ee sitiationki dialogue ki match avvsledhanukuntaa! Rey baalugaa, nee mohaaniki aa pilli geddam suitaindhaaraa? Ayinaa memu choodatley.. idhikoodaa, mooskuni vinu!

Compiled by: 

Aditya Yellajosyula

Fayaz Md

Pradeep Kumar

Raja Satish

Suresh Sistla

Surya Vinay Kumar

Movie Review - Attarintiki Daredi (Telugu) - Right dose of sugar and spice!!

There are movies which dazzle you with their visual brilliance and there are movies which disturb you or make you cry. Some make you think and some make you wish you never bought that ticket. Some movies shake you and some numb you. Attarintiki Daredi borders on most of the above and makes you happy and walk out with a smile. The movie became the most sought after one owing to the crackling combination of ‘Power Star’ Pawan Kalyan and Trivikram. The director proves his hallmark style of film-making by embedding a simple story in multiple layers of entertainment. His creative treatment for a stereotypical story-line gives the movie a master-stroke that surfaces its comic and emotional core.

Trivikam and his Hollywood hangover are packed so tightly that he can’t live with it. The way Pawan cooks a story from the objects lying around reminds you of the film The Usual Suspects. And, hold your breath, the Gyaana 'Abaddam chepithe chasthaavu' Vruksham episode from Eddie Murphy starrer A Thousand Words is by far the greatest rip-off of all time. But that doesn't stop you from singing encomiums for Trivikram. Within the first few minutes of the film, you can tell this product exudes class. The dialogues, the locations, the scene compositions, the pace, the pauses and the precision of editing – everything builds the stage for the coming events in the film.

The premise may be old as mountains. The second half drags a little and slips into some loopholes. And when the hero's conflict is internal and his job is to get his aunt back to his family, then why the introduction song Aaradugula Bullet... Bhairavudo Bhargavudo... gives a saving-the-society flavor to his character. Though the movie is replete with many such intriguing questions, Trivikram's execution makes them passable and brings the house down. The way he effortlessly plays with his ‘patented’ rewind-and-forward-button and intermittent black & white visuals makes it inventive amid few clichés. Deva devam track has been plugged in at right time and its rendition in the climax adds a traditional tinge to the end-credits. And the way he cuts the sepia-toned flashback and uses it to full effect in three scenarios leading to a 'paradigm shift' is quite interesting.

Pawan Kalyan owns the film. He pulls off a tailor-made role with multiple shades of an arrogant businessman, a subdued worker, an effeminate dancer, a humorous baba, an emotional person, and tops it with his towering machismo. He also does few Rajnikanth-ish stunts in a well choreographed, stylish fight to grab his glasses. Samantha plays a free-spirited gal full of life. At the start, her character is underplayed but she gets into the groove post interval. Her appearance as a saree clad gal in Ninnu Chudagaane is to die for. Pranitha makes you wonder where she has been all this time. The song Bapu gari Bomma stands as an avowal for her beauty.

The comedy buttons on the movie’s list are ably checked by Brahmanandam, Ali, M S Narayana, Posani and the hero himself. Brahmi’s Radiator and Bascars make you fall from your chair and also the four act play – Ahalya Amayakuraalu. The characters of Rao Ramesh, Nadhiya and Kota Srinivasa Rao need some fine tuning as at times they become hollow.

Devi Sri Prasad’s music is seductive. His background score falls on two extreme sides of the spectrum. At times his usage of strings seem to be inspired from that of 'Maestro' Ilayaraja and some times he takes the 'Western' route by re-creating Ennio Morricone. DSP also does a cameo in the film.

Prasad Murella’s cinematography knows no bounds and the introduction scene of Pawan with aerial shots, montages and vignettes, proves his mettle. The effective use of soft lighting, the way he bathes the frames with sunlight and addition of multiple hues is laudable. But the overdone CG work in couple of songs makes them look artificial.

Albeit the movie clocks a runtime of 3 hours, Prawin Pudi’s slick editing never lets boredom to seep into the narrative. 

Attarintiki Daredi brings something to Telugu cinema that comes rarely with so much effect. Trivikram's magical wand wards off some dull moments in the film. He shines both as a writer and director, and on a candid note, this time the director in him outsmarts the writer. After an endearing climax, during the end-credits, the family is seen tasting the soup, but this scene (again with Deva devam track in the background) is like a tasty little dessert after a hearty meal. Do yourself a favor by watching this film.

My Rating: Expectation – 8/10; Reality – 7/10

Sahasam - Plot holes galore!!

A great piece by Jayasimha that unleashes the plot holes and bloopers in the movie Sahasam.

Disclaimer:

--------------

This is not a review . With due respect to the unique director Chandrashekhar Yeleti, I don’t intend to question his directorial skills, this is a brief analysis of the plot holes in the movie - Saahasam. This content is meant for movie critics and reviewers. For an ordinary movie goer, the following content may look inappropriate. Please read the following after watching the movie :)

                                                                                                         - njayasimha@gmail.com

I am an ardent fan of treasure hunt theme and this excitement made me watch the trailer of Sahasam a repeated number of times to know “what could be the story of this movie?”. As a result I wrote the following article (published in one of my friends blog) about my guess on the story of the movie Sahasam:

http://insidethecelluloid.blogspot.in/2013/05/sahasam-story-let-guessing-game-begin.html?showComment=1368172894774#c4062519862169336643

I am glad that more than 90% of my prediction has come true but what has disappointed me in the movie is its drag in the narration and a numerous plot holes. These are some unanswered questions. Please feel free to reply if you got answers:

1. When the main character believes in “Naadi kaanidi naakoddu, Naadi annadi adogoddu”, why does he rely so much on luck (by buying lottery tickets)? You can claim that something is yours when you earn it by working hard. What comes by luck is not yours. When he was so excited dreaming of 10 lakhs as reward, then he can negotiate for huge money when the terrorist asks for the locket. The contrasting point here is, if he believes in that dialogue then he cannot aspire for lottery money. This dialogue is justified at the end though, because he takes many pains to earn his ancestor’s diamonds.

2. Gopichand’s father doesn’t know what his father was doing? He even quotes that his father had an old cycle. I agree that if he doesn’t know about diamonds but at least the profession of his father should have been known.

3. How the heck the old bag containing the diary and the papers related to Suman’s property was hidden in the old house in Hyderabad? Suman hadn’t visited this house. Even if you take it as granted that Suman came to the house and hidden it in the rooftop, why the hell, he doesn’t inform his son/any other relative directly that he has property in pakistan and his son is sole owner after him? From the diary, his intention was to make sure his property reaches his son then why to hide it in the roof?

4. Suman gives the locket but not the diary having info about treasure. C'mon!!

5. The artificiality factors -

a. Taapsee organizing a camp to invite people to visit temple in Pakistan.

b. Calling friends by seeing Yellow Pages (in the times of FB, Twitter, WhatsApp etc). 

On top of that, she says "Neeku devudante ishtam kada anduke adugutunna" - Hilarious :D

c. Parents giving permission to a girl to go to Pakistan with a stranger to visit temple.

d. Only one person accepts to visit (though his intention was different). Director should have sent at least 3-4 people and by seeing the danger with terrorists, those people should have returned and Gopichand should have carried it forward.

e. Ali’s character was introduced as a head of a security agency, but his behavior was like a regular resident.

f. The Hinglaj Devi temple was shown deserted without any devotees or pujaris though it was told that it was a famous temple.

6. Suman narrates that he saw the secret entrance only once but the traps to treasure were laid during the Kanisha dynasty time. So, how does Suman solve the traps to enter the door present in the well? Suman crosses the bridge, cracks the ‘sound room’ mystery to enter the place - a pillar with swans - that leads to the repository of Kanishka's treasure. He does all this without an iota of knowledge about the hidden dangers and comes out effortlessly.

7. This plot point has a missing logic. To open the box having the map, you need the Garuda locket which acts as its key. It is shown that while searching for the box (having map), one Britisher, David, died inside the cave (with locket on him). But how did he enter the cave? He can enter only if he sees the map and does the 5 stage alignment of the round rock present inside Hinglaj Devi temple. This is a major blooper in the film.

8. Any treasure hunt movie should get into the business as soon as it creates a quick premise but here there is no intense moments till the last 30 minutes of the movie. At some time after the interval, it feels like its not a hunt for treasure but villains hunt for Gopichand to get the locket..!

9. When Ali narrates the rules of Buzkashi sport, Gopichand was lying unconscious. He doesn't know the rules of the game that the game is won if the dead lamb is kept in the circle. When he wakes up, he rides the horse (quick learner!) and then, in an utmost heroic way, he puts Taapsee in the circle and says its your rules. He is not only quick learner but also good listener in unconscious state of mind..!

10. I didn't understand why did the director/story writers create the shortcut pipeline (that gets opened when appropriate weight was kept on swans) to the main treasure room? The main entrance to the treasure is just one room behind..! They show lot of machinery cranking when swans move. If the answer is to send all the things then how did a big golden statue went through that shortcut pipeline? If the answer is to send only small jewellery then why to maintain so much machinery when the main entrance is just behind it. OK..got it..Kanishka might be lazy enough to open the main locker every time to keep small jewellery? :)

On an ending note, I highly appreciate Chandrasekhar Yeleti for attempting this genre and the last 30 minutes in the movie proves his real talent. The writers of this movie deserve a special mention for sketching the traps and the way to solve them.This appreciation is again for last 30 minutes only...:)