Game Changer review: Ram Charan and SJ Suryah make this political tug of war worth watching

Over the years Shankar has created a niche for himself as a director tackling issues of corruption and presenting social crusaders of different natures. Some of his protagonists take extreme measures like the extremely popular Gentleman (1993) and Anniyan (Aparichitudu) (2005).

On the other hand, you have Mudhalvan (1999), in which a television presenter becomes a chief minister. He ends up repairing the rotten system while staying within his powers.

Despite repeatedly tackling corruption themes in different forms, Shankar has enjoyed a huge fan base in not just Tamil but also Telugu. His Tamil dubbed movies have many admirers, in the recent past though the celebrated director has lost his mojo due to certain datedness, Bharateeyudu 2 (2024) being the best example.

The recent release Game Changer comes with a lot of pressure for Shankar, as there are doubts about his abilities to adapt to the present audience.

Synopsis

With Game Changer, Shankar proves that he has still got it, particularly the way in which he has designed the different shades of Ram Charan’s character and some solid moments between the protagonist and the antagonist.

He also discusses vote bank politics, in which poor people are given money to vote for a candidate belonging to a specific political party.

The storyline of Game Changer focuses on the battle between Ram Nandan and his father Appanna. It is about a generational fight between a father and son against societal injustices. SJ Suryah plays the chief antagonist Bobbli Mopidevi.

Bobbli has major aspirations of being a chief minister. To fulfil those dreams, Bobbli can go to any extent. Senior actor Srikanth also plays the grey-shaded character of Bobbli Satyamurthy. In the flashback portions, Bobbli is initially shown to be an admirer of Appanna, but things take a very drastic turn.

Strong aspects

Game Changer is a political drama
‘Game Changer’ is a political drama. (X)

As already mentioned a strong aspect of Game Changer is how Shankar has designed the dual roles of Ramcharan. The character of Ram Nandan on the one hand is high on swagger and Ram Charan pulls it off in a charismatic manner.

He brings in the required authority to command the screen, particularly in the confrontation scenes with SJ Suryah. As Appanna he brings in an emotional depth. Appana is a man who suffers from a serious stutter.

In spite of his inability to deliver powerful speeches, Appanna is driven by a single-minded goal of changing the corrupt political system. Ram Charan does a very good job of bringing out the various nuances.

SJ Suryah has emerged as a wonderful character artiste in the last few years and in this one too, the actor makes for an extremely formidable antagonist. SJ Suryah does a terrific job of portraying the obsession of Bobbli Mopidevi.

His trademark dialogue delivery coupled with the mannerisms is a delight to watch. Srikant in a grey-shaded role also deserves appreciation for his effective portrayal of a guilt-ridden man. The way he showcases the transition of Bobbli Satyamurthy from an admirer to a backstabber has been wonderfully written and enacted.

Among the two female leads Anjali as Appanna’s wife leaves a significant impact. Her role as Parvathy is an important emotional anchor and this has come out very well despite having less screen time. The mother and son scenes in the second half are another major asset.

Weak aspects

Ram Charan in Game Changer
Ram Charan in ‘Game Changer’. (X)

A major drawback of Game Changer is the insipid love story between Ram Charan and Kiara. All the sequences featuring the two have been weakly written.

Kiara doesn’t bring much to the table, other than looking beautiful and dancing energetically. Also, the portions featuring the likes of Priyadarshini and Satya among others are a major misfire. Despite their proven abilities, the comedic situations lack the required punch.

The climax is also too elongated with repetitive action sequences. The movie needed a much crisper edit in the closing portions. The cat-and-mouse game between Ram Charan and SJ Suryah though well-written gets repetitive.

Technical aspects

Thaman’s songs also enhance the narrative. On one hand, there is the upbeat “Jaragandi” and “Raa Macha Macha”. On the other hand, there is also the soulful “Arugu Meedha” picturised on Ram Charan and Anjali. Thaman has also delivered a thumping background score, particularly the portions elevating Ram Nandan.

Like most of Shankar’s movies, this too is visually grand. Cinematographer Tiru does a very fine in capturing the grand visuals through his lens. Sai Madhav Burra’s dialogues are also quite effective particularly the ones featuring Ram Charan and SJ Suryah.

The portions where Ram Nandan talks about the dangers of accepting money from a political party and subsequently voting for a particular person deserve a special mention.

Final take

Overall Game Changer is a passable political drama majorly enhanced by Ram Charan’s double role and S J Suryah’s antics. Don’t expect vintage Shankar and chances are you won’t be disappointed. For die-hard Ram Charan fans though the movie would be an absolute treat.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

Best of Tollywood web series 2024: A solid showcase for the evolving OTT space in Telugu

Web shows in Telugu have witnessed a slow yet steady growth both in terms of quality and quantity. The last few years have seen numerous impactful web series.

In 2023, there were two great shows Dhootha and Newsense. Both explored the topic of journalism through a different lens. Vikram Kumar’s Dhootha had a supernatural touch with a newspaper cutting playing a pivotal role. The Naga Chaitanya starrer made some important points on the dangers of intersecting politics and journalism, a relevant issue even today.

Newsense on the other hand directed by Sri Prawin Kumar was an insightful take on the nexus between media and rural politics. The story written by journalist Priyadarshini Ram reflected the lived realities.

2024 too gave us numerous web series, covering important social topics like Surya Manoj Vangala’s Brinda starring Trisha in a non-glamorous role. Using the genre of an investigative drama Surya Manoj Vangala explored the side effects of extremism both religious and otherwise.

Similarly, Paruvu directed by the duo of Siddarth Naidu and Rajesekhar Vadlapati was an engrossing social thriller focusing on different issues like caste, greed and communal harmony. The use of the funeral background also kept the viewers hooked adding to the tension.

Apart from thrillers, the second season of Save The Tigers went deeper into marital problems faced by today’s couples while maintaining the entertainment quotient.

This year also saw Telangana’s first detective web show Vikkatakavi: The Chronicles of Amarigiri led by an excellent Naresh Agastya.

Director Pradeep Maddali immersed the viewers into the world of Amaragiri. The director skilfully blended Telangana folk beliefs with the subplot of a bio-war

Following is the list of the best web shows in Telugu in 2024.

Brinda

Trisha in Brinda
Trisha in ‘Brinda’. (X)

Brinda opens with a disturbing prologue set in the mid-1990s, where a young girl becomes a scapegoat in a ritual to satisfy a goddess. This unsettling start sets the tone for the main plot. The story follows Brinda, a newly appointed sub-inspector, portrayed by Trisha.

Initially confined to desk work, Brinda suffers from anxiety and relies on medication. When a series of murders occur, she defies her superiors, leading to life-altering consequences.

A key strength of Brinda is how Surya Manoj Vangala expands the story beyond Brinda’s character. While Trisha is central, Ravindra Vijay, playing fellow cop Sarathi, also plays an essential role. Sarathi is waiting for a breakthrough in his career and personal life. The evolving dynamic between Brinda and Sarathi creates some of the show’s most compelling moments.

In addition to themes of extremism and blind faith, Brinda also addresses gender discrimination in the workplace and the importance of child care in juvenile prisons. Trisha breaks away from her glamorous image to deliver a nuanced performance. Alongside Ravindra Vijay, Indrajith Sukumaran also stood out as the charming yet calculating Dr Satya/Prof. Kabir Anand.

Save The Tigers Season 2

A poster of the series Save The Tigers Season 2
A poster of the series ‘Save The Tigers Season 2’. (X)

Save The Tigers Season 2 successfully took off from the immensely popular first one. New director Arun Kothapally did a great job maintaining the entertainment value while delving deeper into marital issues.

The theme of the seven-year itch stood out, through the character of Vikram, played by Krishna Chaitanya. Vikram works on a project with Harika (Darshana Banik). What starts as a professional relationship soon turns into mutual attraction. However, Vikram realizes that understanding his wife is more important, and a better sense prevails.

As in Season 1, the interactions between Abhinav Gomatam and the house help were a highlight. A memorable scene occurs when Rohini discusses her business aspirations, joking about what captions to write on an auto rickshaw, leading to some hilarious moments. The director also made some valid points about people who blindly believe gossip spread by news channels, particularly about actresses.

Priyadarshi, as Ghanta Ravi, continued to shine with his impactful performance, excelling in both comedic and emotional scenes. Among the female cast, Jordar Sujatha made the biggest impact.

Vikkatakavi The Chronicles of Amaragiri

Still from the series Vikkatakavi
Still from the series ‘Vikkatakavi’. (X)

Vikkatakavi, directed by Pradeep Maddalli, was a highly engaging detective thriller with a strong Telangana flavour. The story followed Naresh Agastya as Ramakrishna, also known as Vikkatakavi. Apart from being a brilliant student, Ramakrishna is renowned for his exceptional investigative skills. Due to certain circumstances, he embarks on a dangerous mission in the village of Amaragiri.

One of the standout aspects of Vikkatakavi was its world-building. Cinematographer Shoeb Siddiqui’s work was particularly impressive. The rustic village atmosphere, combined with thrilling night sequences, drew viewers in. The series also succeeded due to the constant tussle between superstitions and rationalism.

Naresh Agastya’s performance in the title role further elevated the plot. He brought the right mix of boyish charm and intensity to his character. Among the supporting cast, singer-turned-actor Raghu Kanche also impressed with his remarkable performance. His ability to convey negative traits through subtle expressions was a delight to watch.

Paruvu

A still from the series Paruvu
A still from the series ‘Paruvu’. (X)

Paruvu, directed by Siddarth Naidu and Rajasekhar Vadlapati, is a well-crafted thriller that tackles various social issues. While the core plot revolves around the theme of honour killing, what makes the show gripping is how the directors blend different aspects into the central narrative.

The story centres on Nivetha Pethuraj’s character, Dolly (aka Pallavi), and her husband Sudheer (Naresh Agastya). Dolly had married Sudheer against her family’s wishes and now returns to her native village, Guntur, to pay respects to her deceased uncle. Her cousin, Chandrasekhar (Chandu), picks them up. Dolly is heavily pregnant but this doesn’t soften Chandu. There is an exchange of heated words leading to a big turn of events.

A major strength of Paruvu is its well-written characters, beyond just the leads. Each character has shades of grey, with Sudheer and Pallavi occasionally appearing opportunistic.

The funeral setting adds to the drama, with the relatives insulting each other while settling old scores. At times, it seems like no one cares about the departed soul, enhancing the narrative.

Both Nivetha Pethuraj and Naresh Agastya delivered brilliant performances, fully embodying their characters. In the supporting cast, Naga Babu surprised with his portrayal of MLA Ramayya, bringing out the impact of caste-based politics in rural Andhra. Praneetha Patnaik also gave a noteworthy performance.

Bahishkarana

Anjali in Bahishkarana
Anjali in ‘Bahishkarana’. (X)

Bahishkarana, directed by Mukesh Prajapathi, is an intense rural drama that effectively transports viewers to the era of feudalistic landlords.

Anjali plays the mysterious Pushpa, who arrives in the village of Peddapalli. She then becomes involved with Shivaya (Ravindra Vijay), who assigns his right-hand man, Darshi (Sritej), to look after her. As the story unfolds, Darshi and Pushpa fall in love, with many twists and turns along the way.

A strong aspect of Bahishkarana is its period setting. Cinematographer Prasanna Kumar does an excellent job capturing the rustic landscape of Peddapalli. The love story between Darshi and Pushpa is well-developed, making the viewers hope for a happy ending.

The dialogues, written by Shayam, are perfectly in sync with the story. They offer impactful social commentary on the exploitation of the poor, while also addressing how society views women like Pushpa.

The performances of the three main characters were captivating. Anjali delivered a bold and compelling performance. Ravindra Vijay’s portrayal of Shivaya, with shades of legendary actor Rao Gopal Rao’s roles, was excellent. Shivaya appears to be a do-gooder but is, in fact, a womanizer, and Vijay brought this subtle menace to life. Sritej also impressed with his rugged portrayal of his character.

At times, the show felt reminiscent of Rangasthalam, but overall, it remained engaging.

(Edited by Sumavarsha)

35 Chinna Katha Kaadu: A small film with a big heart

Notwithstanding the slow pace and the predictable nature writer and director Nanda Kishore Emani makes some important points on parents and educators explaining concepts in an interesting manner rather than dismissing a child’s curiosity

  • Starcast: Nivetha Thomas, Vishwadev Rachakonda, Priyadarshi Pulikonda, Arun Dev, Gautami, K Bhagyaraja and others
  • Writer and director: Nanda Kishore Emani
  • Producers: Srujan Yarabolu and Siddharth Rallapalli
  • Presenter: Rana Dagubbati
  • Production Companies: Suresh Productions, S Originals and Waltair Productions
  • Music: Vivek Sagar
  • Running time: 2 hours and 30 minutes

35 Chinna Katha Kaadu focuses on a conventional Brahmin family residing in Tirupathi. Prasad (Vishwadev Rachakonda) is a bus conductor. Nivetha Thomas in a breakthrough role plays a traditional housewife. Her life entirely revolves around the spouse and children. Her character ironically called as Sarswati is a 10th fail. She has given up on studies a long time back. Arun Dev as Arun is a curious student who exasperates everyone with his constant questioning. Like many school children Maths is Arun’s least favorite subject, not surprisingly his marks in that subject are atrocious. Frustrated about Arun’s lack of interest in Mathematics and the appalling marks Prasad decides to enroll Arun in the Tirumula Tirupati Devastam Vedic school. This leads to a major upheaval at home, a certain distance comes between Prasad and Sarswati. Priyadarshi plays a teacher who remembers students only by their marks and not names. He constantly keeps calling Arun a zero. Things take a huge turn when Sarswati takes it upon herself to generate some interest in Arun towards Mathematics along with making sure that he at least gets passing marks

Nivetha Thomas in a breakthrough role

It has been a long time since you have had a mainstream movie with the backdrop of school. A major chunk of the film plays out in the classrooms of fifth and sixth class. Director Nandi Kishore Emani does a very fine job in creating an authentic atmosphere. Scenes of how a class monitor behaves and how some students don’t include their fellow classmate in their inner circle will definitely resonate with the school going population. Even the pranks that the children play particularly the ones of Arun on Priyadarshi’s Chanakya doesn’t feel out of place.

The ups and downs in Sarswati and Prasad’s marriage have also been depicted realistically. At one point their marriage reaches a dead end because of their different viewpoints about what to do with Arun. Many married couples would relate to it. Prasad at no point is portrayed as a villain even when Sarswati gets little help from her husband in teaching Arun.

The ups and downs in Prasad and Sarswati’s marriage have also been depicted realistically

Priyadarshi’s Chanakya represents a typical snobbish teacher, a complete anthesis to Aamir Khan’s Ram Shankar Nikumbh in Taare Zameen Par. Priyadarshi does a fine job in making the viewers hate Chanakya. He is so perfect that the viewers side with the children even when Chanakya becomes the victim of Pranks

Priyadarshi’s Chanakya represents a typical snobbish teacher

The second half of 35 Chinna Katha Kaadu is definitely more gripping than the first half. The portions of Sarswati fighting her inner demons and eventually emerging victorious has many heartwarming moments. The on-screen bond between Arun Dev and Nivetha Thomas has come out very well. Senior actress Gautami plays Sarswati’s mentor. Gautami has a pleasing presence; she lends a lot of warmth, but the role feels underdeveloped. The same applies to Bhagyaraj. Both the characters could have done with more meat.

Vivek Sagar’s music and background score also uplifts the movie at many junctures. My favorite song in the album is Neeli Meghamulalo. The production design also goes perfectly with the atmospherics. A lot of care has been taken on creating an authentic atmosphere.

Performances wise Nivetha Thomas and Arun Dev are the major backbone of the movie. Nivetha delivers an award-winning performance as a typical housewife who has to rise above the odds. She portrays the inner strength of Sarswati in a beautiful manner. Her dialect is also praiseworthy. Arun Dev as Arun also does a fine job in portraying the different emotions. Some of his expressions bear a slight resemblance to Darsheel Safary in Taare Zameen Par but there is no denying that he is a promising talent. Vishwadev Rachakonda also excels as the concerned father. His chemistry with Nivetha is top notch.

35 Chinna Katha Kaadu is a must watch for those who like slice of life films. But for those who prefer mass cinema certain patience is a must.

Save The Tigers 2: Deeply Explores Marital Problems With The Right Mix Of Humour And Drama

In spite of some hitches, this Arun Kothapally’s directorial is a good follow-up to Season 1 (‘Save The Tigers’).
  • Main Cast: Priyadarshi, Abhinav Gomatam, Chaitanya Krishna, Jordar Sujatha, Pavani Gangi Reddy, Deviyani Sharma, Gangavva, Seerat Kapoor, Darshana Banik, Venu Yaldandi, Satya Krishnan, Rohini, and Aarthi Ganeshkar
  • Director: Arun Kothapally
  • Producer: Mahi V Raghav and Chinna Vasudeva Reddy
  • Music Director: Ajay Arasada
  • Cinematography: SV Vishweshwar
  • Genre: Comedy Drama
  • Rating: 3.5/5
  • Episodes: 7
  • Published in: Southfirst

Director Teja Kakumanu’s web series Save The Tigers (2023) was a hilarious show about three frustrated married men — Ghanta Ravi (Priyadarshi), Rahul (Abhinav Gomatam), and Vikram (Krishna Chaitanya).

There is nothing common among them in terms of backgrounds. But still, there is a connecting factor that binds them.

In spite of the obvious similarities with Anil Ravipudi’s F2 (2019), the first season was very much its own beast. The director was successful in creating conflicts that have substance.

For example, Vikram’s wife is an activist-cum-lawyer. Their daughter is the emotional anchor just like many other children.

The first season also subtly touched upon important topics like workplace harassment. Not surprisingly, Save The Tigers become a huge success. It was easily one of the most loved shows of last year.

Save The Tigers 2

A still from the Telugu web series ‘Save The Tigers 2’. (X)

Now, we have Save The Tigers 2 with a new director Arun Kothapally. Coming to Season 2, Arun Kothapally adds new flavours by going deeper into marital problems but at the same time maintaining the entertainment quotient.

Season 1 ended up with Ghanta Ravi, Rahul, and Vikram being detained by the police on the suspicion of having a hand in the disappearance of actress Hamsalekha (Seerat Kapoor).

The trio indeed meet Hamsalekha, though unintentionally, on the particular drunken night. But the fact is they had nothing to do with her disappearance.

Fortunately, for the trio, Hamsalekha comes to their aid and the three are released from jail. Hamsalekha also ends up forming a bond with them, particularly Ghanta Ravi. This doesn’t go well with Ghanta Ravi’s wife Hymavathi (Jordar Sujatha).

The wives are fed up with the antics of their respective husbands and seek help from a psychiatrist (Sathya Krishnan). The rest of the story is about the three men navigating marriage while facing new problems.

Additionally, you also have individual journeys. For example, Ghanta Ravi has ambitions of becoming a corporator.

On the other hand, Rahul is penning a script for Hamsalekha.

An underlying theme of Season 2 is how people easily believe the gossip spread by news channels, particularly news about actresses and come to a negative judgment about them. This comes out strongly in the track of Priyadarshi and Seerat Kapoor.

There is gossip about Ghanta Ravi and Hamsalekha having an affair even though there is not an ounce of reality in it.

Analysis

Pavani Gangi Reddy, Jordar Sujatha, and Deviyani Sharma in ‘Save The Tigers 2’. (Screengrab)

The web series makes some strong points on how people are easily influenced by rumours and come to a conclusion without having the patience to verify.

Among the marital problems explored, there are the themes of “seven-year itch” and “seeking the easy way out”. For instance, Vikram is working on a new project with Harika (Darshna Banik).

It starts as a purely professional one but they end up getting attracted to each other. Fortunately, better sense prevails as Vikram realises the need to understand his wife better.

Director Arun Kothpally also takes some jibes at the advertisement industry on how they sell lies beautifully.

Talking about the comic sequences, the portions of Abhinav Gomatam and the house help played by Rohini are a major highlight. Their scenes bring the house down much like the first season.

A special mention must be made of the conversation where Rohini’s character talks about her business aspirations with Rahul. She asks him about what captions can be written on an autorickshaw, it is simply hilarious.

There are a couple of things which bog down Save The Tigers 2. One of them is an episode involving how the system of marriage came about. There is nothing wrong with the humour per se in these portions but the brief subplot comes across as an unwanted guest breaking the flow.

Also, the portions involving the allowance of pets in an apartment feel patchy.

Performances

Chaitanya Krishna, Priyadarshi, and Abhinav Gomatam in ‘Save The Tigers 2’. (X)

Talking about the performances,  Priyadarshi  leads from the front once again. His character has an arc that showcases both his comic and dramatic skills.

The emotional sequences of Ghanta Ravi with the daughter have come out brilliantly. There is a heart-touching scene when the daughter opens up about how she was earlier ashamed about her father being a dairy farm owner, but now that has changed.

Abhinav Gomatam continues to leave the viewers in splits with his comic timing. His delivery of the liners in particular deserves a special mention.

Krishna Chaitanya provides able support although he doesn’t have as much scope as the other two.

Among the female leads, Jordar Sujatha leaves the biggest impact with her strong act. There are occasions when she may come across as too loud for some but still her no-holds-barred manner is a delight to watch.

Additionally, she also shares a good chemistry with Priyadarshi. Her emotional scenes with Priyadarshi give the show some of its best moments.

Deviyani Sharma’s role is softer in comparison to the first season. But still, the actress has done a fairly decent job.

Pavani Gangi Reddy as the doctor-wife does her part well.

Final take

Keeping aside the small niggles, Save The Tigers 2 is very much bingeworthy.

Best Of Tollywood 2023: These Telugu Films Not Only Made Good Business But Also Won The Hearts Of Audiences With Their Content

In 2023, the Telugu film industry did not have any monstrous successes on the scale of RRR (2022) but there are many decent hits like Hi NannaMiss Shetty Mr PolishettyBhagavanth Kesari, and Virupaksha headlined by stars and tier-2 actors.

Small-budget films like Writer Padmabhushan and Balagam also struck a chord with audiences and critics alike.

Further, in 2023, several new and unconventional themes have been explored in Tollywood.

For example, Balagam was a human drama set against the backdrop of a funeral in rural Telangana. The practices of a specific region were portrayed with authenticity and this majorly contributed to the audience’s connection with the film.

Writer Padmabhushan delves into the struggles of both an aspiring writer and the unfulfilled aspiration of a housewife who wanted to become a writer. This is again a theme that we don’t see in Telugu cinema.

Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty explored the concept of a young man falling in love with an older woman in the backdrop of sperm donation.

Hi Nanna is about the trials of a single father and a complex love story that ends happily. Both these films worked well with their target audiences.

The biggest surprise of 2023 though is the transition of Balakrishna from a macho hero to a father hero. In Bhagavanth Kesari, the actor played a foster father with a salt-and-pepper look that went with his age.

Lastly, Virupaksha was a paranormal thriller that raised some important points about the prejudices and superstitious beliefs set against the backdrop of a particular village.

Now, let us delve a little more into these Tollywood releases:

Hi Nanna

First-time director Shouryuv delivered a riveting emotional saga about a single father and his daughter, along with a mother who battles her inner demons. Hi Nanna moves at a slow pace and is definitely not for those who prefer high-octane entertainers.

A poster of the film Hi Nanna
A poster of the film ‘Hi Nanna’. (X)

The trio of Nani, Baby Kiara, and Mrunal Thakur were simply splendid in their respective parts. For Nani, the role of Viraj is a cakewalk. But still, the actor was a delight to watch — whether it was the boyishness of a young lover or a determined single father in the later stages.

Baby Kiara more than held her portraying innocence and vulnerability like a pro.

Mrunal Thakur as Yashna/Varsha delivered a performance that was a step ahead of last year’s Sita Ramam (2022) in many ways.

On many occasions, she conveyed various feelings with just her expressive eyes, proving yet again why she is a bundle of talent.

Overall, Hi Nanna proved to be a perfect balm for those traumatised by the violent father-and-son dynamics of Animal.

Another strong aspect of Hi Nanna is the mostly soothing soundtrack of Hesham Abdul Wahab. My favourite songs in the album are “Samayama”, “Gaaju Bomma”, and “Ammaadi.

The one song that sticks like a sore thumb though is “Odiyamma” featuring Shruti Haasan in an extended cameo, which the film could have easily done away with.

Sanu Varghese’s cinematography is icing on the cake, particularly the portions where Viraj talks about his wife in a fairy tale format.

Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty

P Mahesh Babu’s Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty is a romantic drama filled with many layers. On one hand, you have an older woman Anvitha (Anushka Shetty), who wants children but not through marriage. She wants to go for IVF, that too, by choosing her sperm donor.

Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty best telugu films 2023
A poster of ‘Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty’. (X)

On one level, the movie has a distinct hangover of Ayushmann Khurrana’s Vicky Donor (2012). But Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty is very much its beast.

A big strength of the film is how P Mahesh Babu has sketched his two protagonists.

Anvitha comes across as very stubborn, at times cold-hearted too, but having said that, the viewers also understand why she is the way she is. The inner trauma of Anvitha was both well-written and enacted.

The director was successful in creating an authentic middle-class milieu through the characters of Murali Sharma and Tulasi playing Siddhu’s (Naveen Polishetty’s) parents.

Miss Shetty Mr Polishetty benefitted immensely from its two primary actors — Anushka Shetty and Naveen Polishetty.

Anuskha fits perfectly into the part of an older woman who is scared of getting into relationships.

Naveen Polishetty was an absolute livewire. His real-life experience of doing standup comedy came very handy. However, he was equally good in the more dramatic portions.

Jayasudha had an extended cameo as Anvitha’s mother, and her fan act of Balakrishna raised some chuckles. A couple of flaws include the rushed transformation of Siddhu’s parents, particularly the father.

Also, the likes of Nassar could have been utilised better.

Bhagavanth Kesari

In Bhagavanth Kesari, director Anil Ravipudi successfully moved away from his regular style of filmmaking and delivered an emotional drama that showed a different side to Nandamuri Balakrishna. At the same time, he satisfied his hardcore fans.

Balakrishna in Bhagavanth Kesari
Balakrishna in ‘Bhagavanth Kesari’. (X)

Bhagavanth Kesari is primarily about an ex-police officer turned foster father to Vijji (Sreeleela).

As a young child, Vijji meets Bhagavanth in a jail where her father (R Sarathkumar) worked. Bhagavanth feels an emotional connection with the child from the beginning. After the sudden death of Vijji’s father, he takes over her responsibility.

The biggest USP of Bhagavanth Kesari is easily the emotional drama between Bhagavanth and Vijji. The thought processes of Bhagavanth and Vijji are vastly different from each other.

Vijji’s interests lie more in marrying the love of her life. Bhagavanth, on the other hand, wants to raise her like a lion. In that process, he pushes Vijji to do certain things.

In these portions, the attitude of Bhagavanth reminds the viewers of Aamir Khan’s Mahavir Singh Phogat in Dangal (2016).

Director Anil Ravipudi also made some important points about good and bad touch through a rousing monologue of Balakrishna.

Both Balakrishna and Sreeleela delivered powerful performances. Balakrishna’s command over the Telangana dialect was also commendable. Arjun Rampal made for a worthy opponent.

He brought in the right amount of swag and ruthlessness. It is not the most innovative character, but Arjun Rampal still made it work.

Virupaksha

Karthik Varma Dandu’s Virupaksha is a solid paranormal thriller that scores equally on both the atmosphere and the content.

The filmmaker proved to be a worthy successor to his master — the hugely successful filmmaker Sukumar, who is also the screenplay writer for this film.

best of tollywood 2023 telugu films virupaksha
Sai Dharam Tej’s ‘Virupaksha’. (X)

Virupaksha is one of those movies that instantly draws the viewers in with its ambience. It has some genuine jump scares; on more than one occasion, the viewers would want to close their eyes.

Sukumar’s screenplay is filled with many layers. He, along with his director, comes up with valid arguments against prejudices and superstitious beliefs that stem from ignorance.

They also deserve credit for not making their protagonist Surya (Sai Dharam Tej) larger than life. There are no unnecessary songs or comedy tracks that deviate the audience’s attention.

The twists and turns are engrossing till the end.

A special mention must be made of the climactic punch regarding the character of Samyukta Menon’s Nandini.

On the performance front, Sai Dharam Tej delivered a convincing performance. But it was Samyukta who stole the show with a complex character.

The supporting cast comprising Rajeev Kanakala, Ajay, and Sai Chand were also fine in their respective parts.

Hello Meera (Amazon Prime)

Hello Meera, directed by Srinivasu Kakarala, is a well-made experimental film.

The story revolves around a single character. Gargeyi Yellapragada played the titular role.

Meera is all set to marry a man called Kalyan and is busy finalising the last-minute formalities for her big day in Vijayawada.

A poster of the film Hello Meera
A poster of the film ‘Hello Meera’. (X)

She is on her way back home, but at that exact moment, a cop from Hyderabad calls her to report to a police station at the earliest. The reason is her ex-boyfriend had attempted suicide mentioning her name in the suicide note.

What follows is a story that is not just high on thrills but also dwells on the prejudices that a modern woman faces.

It is not an easy task for any filmmaker to write and engage the audience with a script with only a single actor at its centre. But Srinivasu Kakarala more than rose to the occasion. He ensured that the audience was invested in the plight of Meera. As viewers, you want her to come out safe from this ordeal.

Hello Meera has a series of voice conversations. At times, it does get monotonous, but these voice characters also have a variety.

For example, there is her conservative mother, a father who stands by his daughter, and a future partner who comes across as slightly insensitive.

Teja Paruchuri of Vismai Foods has given his voice to the future spouse.

Gargeyi Yellapragada as Meera is thoroughly impressive. Her reactions to different situations do not come across as staged at any point. She is supremely natural. Her character of a modern woman who is forthright and owns up to the mistakes she has made in the past is something that many modern women can relate to.

Saalar: Part 1-Ceasefire

Saalar: Part 1-Ceasefire directed by Prashanth Neel is an important movie for its leading man Prabhas. The Baahubali star has been struggling big time to maintain his image as a pan-India star.

Prabhas in Salaar
Prabhas in ‘Salaar’. (X)

Many thought that Om Raut’s Adipurush (2023) would bring back the lost glory, but nothing of that sort happened. In fact, the movie only added to Prabhas’ misery.

With Saalar: Part 1-Ceasefire, Prashanth Neel delivered a masala treat which should appeal to the fans of Prabhas.

The biggest strength of Saalar: Part 1-Ceasefire is the intense brotherhood showcased between Prabhas’ Deva and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Vardha.

Deva’s intense affection for Vardha is visible right from the first scene, and this brotherhood only becomes stronger as the film goes on. Not surprisingly, Prabhas shares most sparks with Prithviraj.

Shruti Haasan played the role of Aadhya. She speaks in a heavily accented American accent, which is irritating, to say the least. Prabhas and Shruti do not have many scenes and aren’t romantically paired at least in this first part.

Prabhas doesn’t have many dialogues, but the actor is successful in portraying the raw aggression reminiscent of Chatrapathi (2005) days.

Prithviraj is also wonderful in portraying both the vulnerability and determination of a future successor caught in the power struggle.

The world of Saalar: Part 1-Ceasefire is similar to Game of Thrones in terms of drama and character dynamics.

Some of the themes explored by the film are the right to leadership and loyalty among others. Prashanth Neel has done a good job of depicting these themes.

Saalar: Part 1-Ceasefire ends with a cliffhanger that sets a good base for the second part.

Apart from an irritating Shruti Haasan, the KGF (2022) hangover does play a spoilsport. Also, the bloodshed in the second half gets too gory much like Animal which was also released in December.

Save The Tigers: A Solid Entertainer With Good Treatment And Performances

A binge-worthy watch!

Save The Tigers (Telugu)

  • Cast: Priyadarshi Pulikonda, Abhinav Gomatam, Krishna Chaitanya, and Harsha Vardhan
  • Director: Teja Kakumanu
  • Music: Ajay Arsada
  • No. of episodes: 6
  • OTT platform: Disney+ Hotstar

Films about marital discord and frustrated husbands have a universal (should I say, male) appeal because of the way marital relationships have changed over the years.

Several films have humorously portrayed this and they have been hugely successful, too.

Director Teja Kakumanu’s Save the Tigers also follows the same route.

The husbands here come from three vastly different backgrounds but share one commonality – issues with wives. More than the story, what makes this show work is how the director used the background of his respective protagonists.

Synopsis

Ghanta Ravi (Priyadarshi) is a dairy farm owner, Rahul (Abhinav Gomatam) is an aspiring writer, and Vikram (Krishna Chaitanya) is a creative ad writer.

They meet at a school where their respective children are studying. Soon, they become friends and start bonding big time.

As mentioned above, they are frustrated married men. One day. they get arrested in a drunk-and-drive case.

Meanwhile, a noted actress gets kidnapped. The rest of the story deals with several aspects. Do the trio have any connection with her disappearance? What made these three men drink so much, and finally why do they call themselves “tigers”?

Highly entertaining

The title Save The Tigers here refers to how married men should also be saved from extinction as much as tigers.

The web series hits the ground running from the first frame. There are a lot of scenes that tickle our funny bones.

The case in point is the servant character played by Jabardasth-fame Rohini. Her interactions with Abhinav are an absolute laugh riot. What makes this track even more refreshing is the absence of body-shaming jokes.

Director Teja Kakumanu is also successful in creating conflicts that have certain credibility, more so if you are a male.

For example, Vikram’s wife is an activist-cum-lawyer who has issues with his mother. Like many children, Vikram’s daughter is the emotional anchor between them.

Save The Tigers also touches upon issues like workplace harassment, but without being preachy.

This comes out through the track of Sunaina who is a harassed employee working in the same office as Vikram. Harsha Vardhan plays the toxic boss.

These scenes are both poignant and entertaining.

There is also a passing comment on how literary standards are falling in recent times.

By the very nature of its story, Save the Tigers isn’t very high on logic.

Sometimes illogicality does come as a deterrent. The case in point is how the husbands bump into each other and realise that all their children study in the same school. The same thing happens to the wives, too.

Also, the kidnapping subplot needed to be etched far better.

Characterisation and performances

Priyadarshi’s Ganta Ravi has the trait of over-talking but this trait is never milked for stereotypical comedy.

On many occasions, his character repeatedly uses the word “paalu” which is similar to the pressure cooker obsession from the film Jathi Ratnalu (Jewels of The Nation, 2021).

The wife characters have also been written with some care.

A particular mention must be made of “Jordar” Sujatha who plays Priyadarshi’s wife. Her aspiration of wanting to live in a gated community has been well-written.

Out of the three men, Priyadarshi and Abhinav Gomatam are the best.

Priyadarshi gets the body language of a dairy farm owner spot on. The actor makes a huge impression starting from his body language to the way he delivers his dialogues in a particular accent.

Abhinav Gomatam is equally good with his satirical humour. The scenes where he is struggling to get over his writer’s block are hilarious, to say the least.

Krishna Chaitanya does not have many comic punch lines but the actor is still mighty impressive in whatever he does.

He is particularly good in the scenes when Vikram expresses his frustration on being sandwiched between his boss, mother and life.

Final take

Overall, Save the Tigers is an absolute binge-worthy watch. It is just six episodes and the duration of each episode is short. Have a fun weekend!

Oke Oka Jeevitham: A Good Attempt At Mixing Time Travel And Mother Sentiment

Time Travel as a concept has been much used in western novels and movies. If we talk about Telugu Cinema Aditya 369 directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao was a successful fantasy film. In Oke Oka Jeevitham director Shree Karthik uses time travel as a background to explore the lives of three close friends. The director mixes different genres like science, sentiment, thriller etc. Oke Oka Jeevitham could have been crisper as it does drag in the second half; also Sharwanand comes across as a weak link. But all things considered, Oke Oka Jeevitham has its heart in the right place and is consistently watchable.

Amala brings certain grace to the character of a strong mother

The film begins off with an experiment that a quantum physicist (played by Nassar) conducts along with fellow scientific partner and friend. This experiment is regarding a time machine, but unfortunately for Nassar and his friend it turns out to be a disaster. From there we move to the introduction of Adi (Sharwanand), Sreenu (Vennela Kishore), and Chaitu (Priyadarshi). Each of them has their own set of problems. For example Adi suffers from severe stage fright which is related to the death of his mother (Amala) at an early age. He has lot of passion for music but he starts getting nervous when he is in front of public. Ritu Varma is the supportive girlfriend whose sole purpose is to prod her boyfriend and make him get out of this stage fright (Similar to Ayan Mukerji’s heroines). The father, on the other hand, feels that Adi is wasting his time.

Sharwanand, Akhil Akkineni, Amala and Nagarjuna

Vennela Kishore plays a house agent who constantly regrets on not taking his studies seriously. Unfortunately for Sreenu, his marriage with his uncle’s daughter gets cancelled because of his job status. Chaitu on the other hand is not able to get married; he finds faults with every girl he meets. During his childhood there was a girl who liked him but Chaitu didn’t care for her much. Now that girl has grown into a beautiful woman and is going to get married. It is at this stage that the three friends come into contact with Paul through Sreenu. Paul first convinces Adi to go back in time, after Adi gets convinced Sreenu and Chaitu also decide to join in. Apart from the above mentioned characters there are also three children who play the younger version of Adi, Sreenu and Chaitu. What follows is an emotional drama set against the backdrop of time travel.

Shree Karthick, the director who excelled in mixing time travel

The best thing about Oke Oka Jeevitham are the scenes featuring Amala. Amala brings a certain grace to her part. She does well in her role of a strong mother who cares for her son and tries to help him overcome his shortcomings. She is particularly good in the key emotional bits.

The dialogues by Tharun Bhaskar are another major win for the film. There are a lot of witty-one liners, especially the ones between Vennela Kishore and Priyadarshi. The humor brings a smile to your face. My other favorite bit in the time travel are the scenes where Vennela Kishore pleads with his younger self played by Nithyaraj, to focus on his studies. Both Vennela Kishore and Priyadarshi hold the film afloat and keep you engaged even in the stretchy second half.

Adi, Sreenu and Chaitu characters played by youngsters very ably

The cinematography by Sujith is good as he successfully showcases the difference between the two time zones the 1990’s and 2019. Director Sree Karthik is also successful in integrating the twists and turns which keep you engaged. The scenes featuring the three children are also good, my favorite though is Nityaraj.

Oke Oka Jeevitham fumbles from the middle of the second half where things start getting convoluted. The track of Nassar doesn’t add much to the film beyond a point. He only serves as a catalyst for the three protagonists to overcome their fears and nothing else.

Nitu Varma, the supportive girl friend

The love story between Sharwanand and Ritu Varma is thankfully kept to a minimum but it is something that the makers could have done away with. Sharwanand as Adi is strictly one note in both characterization and performance. The actor looks rather tired and this proves to be a roadblock.

Also the cameo of Ali comes out from nowhere and you are left scratching your heads about why the senior actor is taking up these parts, first Liger and now this.

Final word: Oke Oka Jeevitham is a competent experiment particularly for the audiences of Telugu cinema.

Telugu Biopics: Catching Up Slowly

Unlike Bollywood the trend of biopics is not so common in Telugu Film Industry. Biopics in Telugu can be broadly divided into three categories. First category is mythological biopics, second one is historical and third one is on recent persons either alive or dead. Examples of mythological biopics are films on Ramayana, Mahabharatha characters, which we have in galore and which brought great recognition and appreciation to Telugu film industry. Historical biopics include Alluri Seetharamaraju, Gautami Putra Sathakarni, Rani Rudrama Devi, Saira Narismha reddy etc. These mainly cover kings, queens, poets and famous singers etc, who are real but a century or two old. With not many details available about their life film writers seem to have taken lot of liberties in bringing them alive on screen.

The third category, that is the flesh and blood biopics, include Mahanati on Savitri, Kadhanayakudu and Mahanayakudu on NTR, Yatra on YSR etc. Some of these biopics are on commoners like Mallesham (weaver), brave soldiers like Major (Sandeep Unni Krishnan). Earlier also we had a few biopics like Mayuri produced by Usha Kiran movies. Recently RGV has also done some biopics. These are Raktha Charitra based on Paritala Ravi, Lakshmi’s NTR, Vangaveeti and Konda.

One can’t say how much of these biopics are true to the life of the persons and how much of it is fiction labeled as director’s creative liberties. Most of these biopics avoid controversial aspects of the person’s life. Some of them are huge hits, others haven’t done so well. I will confine myself to the films in the last category alone.

1. Mahanati (2018) – Making a biopic on a legendary actress is not an easy task. Savitiri is an actress with immense recall value. Generations of Telugu audiences, for that matter other audiences of south Indian languages, have a huge emotional attachment towards her. Capturing her eventful life is daunting but director Nag Ashwin made an exemplary biopic which not only won rave reviews, but also made it a money spinning venture.

Keerthy Suresh got a role of a lifetime and the actress grabbed it with both hands. The status of Keerthy Suresh changed dramatically overnight. Dulqer Salman as Gemini Ganeshan also stood tall and made the character more charming than the actual person.

Unlike other biopics Mahanati is not narrated in a linear fashion. We see her life at different stages from the eyes of a young journalist played by Samantha. The film never gets judgmental; it depicts her more as a victim of circumstances.

2. Kadhanayakudu and Mahanayakudu (2019) – Krish Jagarlamudi got the best out of Balakrishna in both these films. It was refreshing to see the actor step away from his mass characters. It is true that Balakrishna was playing his own father but still it is no easy job, considering the legend that NTR is.

The graph of the character is immense both physically and emotionally. He nailed both the attributes. He made us also cheer for the young NTR in his journey to become a big star. Similarly the emotional turmoil before NTR became a politician was also wonderfully brought out by the actor. Though the movie is crowded with NTR’s images (real and fictional) which is understandable, still director Krish managed to show NTR’s life from the perspective of his wife Tarakam played by Vidya Balan. She of course did a thorough job. Krish’s homework is laudable given the extraordinary life of NTR both as an actor and also as a politician.

3. Yatra (2019) – There is no denying that Yatra had a big political agenda behind it. It was meant to be an emotional tribute to the late Chief Minister Y.S Rajeshekhar Reddy, which it perfectly achieved. The film is not on his entire life. It covers only his Padayatra leading to his Chief Ministership. It was directed by Mahi V Raghav, a relatively new director, but did a good job.

A major reason for this film’s success is Mammootty’s performance. He has always been a great actor. And as YSR he gave one of his best performances in his career. He showcased the pain and spirit of YSR in a simple yet effective manner.

4. Mallesham (2019) – Irrespective of the controversies around the film Mallesham, there is no denying that this was a well made biopic. Priyardarshi who generally does comic and supporting roles got a promotion as a leading man.

The story of Mallesham revolved around a Padmasri award winner by the same name. Mallesham became famous for inventing the Asu machine. His motive behind inventing this machine is to help his mother played by Jhansi. The story of Mallesham was primarily about the difficulties that he faced while inventing this machine, along with the success that followed.

There were several reasons why Mallesham won appreciation. The director Raj R did a splendid job in capturing the aesthetics of the Telangana culture. The plight of the handloom weavers was also realistically depicted. Priyardarshi as Mallesham captured the various nuances of the character without missing a single beat. An aspect of Priyardarshi’s performance that stood out was his body language.

5. Major (2022) – The story of Major Sandeep Unni Krishnan isn’t an unknown one. Most of us are aware about how he died while combating the terrorists on 26/11.

But Adavi Sesh’s Major was not just about that day. It showed Sandeep as a complete human being. Adavi Sesh excelled big time both as an actor and also as the story writer of the film. His performance was brilliant both in the action scenes and also the emotional ones. We can give credit to director Sashi Kiran for not making it jingoistic though there is lot of scope for it in the story.

These are recent ones. Now I will go back a bit.

6. Sri Ramulayya (1999) – N Shankar’s Sri Ramulayya is based on the life of Paritala Sriramulu. Sri Ramulayya tells about a man who spent his life fighting for the rights of the landless poor in a very backward area of Rayalaseema.

Sri Ramulayya presented actor Mohan Babu in a completely different light. It was devoid of the typical antics that we have come to associate with the actor. Mohan Babu surrendered to the part, he came up with the best performance of his career.

7. Mayuri (1985) – Sudha Chandan’s Mayuri is one of those biopics that has aged really well. The film talks about a young college girl who becomes paraplegic after an accident. It is about how she overcomes her handicap and resumes her career as Bharatanatyam dancer.

What makes Mayuri unique is that you have the real life person playing herself instead of an actor. Sudha Chandan gave an immersive performance. She was particularly good in those scenes when the character is determined to make a comeback as a Bharatanatyam dancer. Singeetam Srinivasa Rao’s direction made it a memorable film. In a way it was a trend setter as it opened a new genre.

This list is no way complete. I just picked a few films that are more popular. Wish someone would do a more comprehensive analysis of biopics in Telugu films.

Unheard

Aditya KV’s “Unheard” is a series which packs in a lot. It addresses many issues like the ideological standoffs between the revolutionaries, differences centred on the rule of Nizam, varied opinions on the British rule and Indians who supported them as well as the dichotomy of individuals who are against the mighty empire. It is a lot to focus on but to the credit of the director he goes a good job of keeping you invested.

The series starts off with an idealistic young Gandhian Padma (Chandini Chowdary). She seeks help for an injured comrade played by Priyadarshini. Padma takes the help of doctor Chalapati (Bala Aditya). The night passes with Padma and Chalpati debating the benefits and banes of Nizam rule along with the price of freedom. The next episode is about a heated argument between two revolutionaries with different ideologies. Apart from Priyadarshini this episode also features Ajay who plays a blacksmith called Mallesh. Both of them want freedom for the country but the approaches are different. The rest of the episodes mostly bring back the familiar characters. Through the six episodes you have six different themes being talked about.

The biggest USP of Unheard is the way it introduces the struggle in Hyderabad on the eve of Indian independence. The director refers to many aspects of that time which aren’t really talked about. For example you have the topic of Vetti Chakiri (bonded labour), a system which exploited the poor peasant. The angst in the populace comes out perfectly in a scene when Padma questions how the killing of an Archbishop in Europe concern India.

The history of Hyderabad is something which is important at this stage. The reason being the BJP are trying to make their way in the southern state with their own lopsided version of events. Unheard makes an honest attempt at presenting different points of view: This includes the aristocracy which wants the status quo and the young rebels demanding freedom.

The makers also deserve praise in the way they present the conversations. The series is heavy on dialogues as the characters are frequently in the midst of letting out their points of view. The dialogues by Aditya KV and Anirudh are powerful. These dialogues aid the performances of the actors and also the script.

All the cast members are in good form led by Baladitya. His character is the most interesting of the lot. Technically also Unheard is a pretty solid product with particular mention to the background score. The background score lends in the right amount of emotion.

Where the show suffers somewhat is the stage like atmosphere. It takes some time to get used to this kind of presentation. Also the handling of the diverse plotlines could have been better at some places.

Unheard is a good watch particularly for those who are interested in history.