Ravi Namburii takes an interesting hook line of a female Devdas and healing from heartbreak. The first half more or less does justice to the central core, post interval though things change significantly. An interesting supernatural twist on paper doesn’t completely land because of the uneven writing. The closing portions get too melodramatic for its own good and the culmination involving a reunion feels rather forced. Kiran Abbavaram and Sri Gouri Priya manage to rise above the sketchy writing giving heart felt performances. Mani Sharma’s soulful music also helps
Starcast: Kiran Abbavaram, Sri Gouri Priya, Trigun and others
Genre: Romantic drama
Screenplay and direction: Ravi Namburii
Writer: Sai Rajesh
Music: Mani Sharma
Cinematography: Viswas Daniel
Producers: Sai Rajesh Neelam, Vishal Datla etc
Production houses: Mass Movie Makers and Amrutha Productions
Running time: 2 hours and 59 minutes
Certain films give you the impression of watching two different movies for the price of one ticket. Ravi Namburii’s Chennai Love Story perfectly fits this category; the first half has an earthy nature perfectly establishing the characters and the conflict points. But in trying to be a sweeping romance the film gets into a very convoluted territory especially a melodramatic stretch involving the heroine’s on-screen mother. By the end the viewers feel a sense of exhaustion with the umpteen crying and dragged scenes. This is not to say that Chennai Love Story is unbearable. It has certain things going for it primarily the acting and the music. But you get the feeling of how the film could have been much better.
Chennai Love Story without giving much spoilers focuses on Sri Gouri Priya’s Nivedita and Kiran Abbavaram’s aspiring filmmaker Steven Shankar. The film begins with Nivedita dumped on the marriage alter leading to a severe heartbreak. Trigun plays Ajay the man responsible for Nivedita becoming a female Devdas. She relocates to Chennai with her friends, but the pain caused by Ajay is burning her deep leading to major alcoholism. At this point Steven Shankar enters in as a young man desperate to make a place for himself. How the worlds of Nivedita and Steven collide forms an important core of Chennai Love Story.
It goes without saying that Chennai Love Story largely depends on its leads, thankfully Kiran Abbavaram as well as Gouri Priya deliver commendable performances even when the writing fails them. Kiran nails the desperation of an aspiring director as well as the emotions of insecurity, helplessness etc. The portions where Steven talks about the role of cinema in his life and why he wants to see his name on the big screen is quite relatable for any aspirants entering into movies in different capacities.
A mention must also be made of a crucial moment with Nivedita getting molested and Steven desperately thinking on how to save his love. The combination of helplessness with strong determination has been excellently portrayed by the actor. Gouri Priya is also wonderful in spite of the emotional scenes feeling too heavy handed. Whether it’s her act of a female Devadas or gradually coming out of the heartbreak Gouri Priya does a very good job.
The chemistry between Kiran and Gouri also elevate the bumpy writing. Whether its the conversational type or the dramatic tones the two look together with perfect synergy. By the movie ends the viewers feel that story writer Sai Rajesh and director Ram Namburii should have ended the interval point in a different manner and probably avoided the supernatural route compeletly.
Among the conversational scenes a mention must be made of the portion where Nivedita encourages Steven to write stories having his own soul, rather than mixing styles like his name Steven Shankar. Talking about the movies dialogues the film comes with its share of poignant lines. There is a scene of Steven mocking Nivedita in jest about her constant heartbreak face, he goes on by saying that failure in first love isn’t the end of the world and is merely a prelude to finding the best love.
For a romantic drama of this nature music is a very part, Mani Sharma delivers some soulful songs along impactful background score. Whether its Vadalene, Nammichi Chesava Mosam or Jigithara the tunes have a melodious feel, the film definitely marks the comeback of a music composer who has been struggling for some time.
The most glaring flaw of Chennai Love Story is its integration of Ajay return; the movie doesn’t spend sufficient time in developing his regret. Trigun’s character comeback feels haphazard in more ways than one, it feels like a manipulative device. Cannot reveal much details here but those who have seen the movie will understand.
Another problem with Chennai Love Story is Nivedita’s mother character suddenly developing a serious health issue. The mentality of Steven when he questions Nivedita about hiding certain things related to Ajay leaves a bitter after taste.
The final nail in the coffin is the hospital scene with the mother emotionally manipulating Nivedita to not remain single, its like putting a sword on someone’s neck at gun point. The melodrama post this in spite of some good acting makes the closing portions a slog to sit through.
Final word: Chennai Love Story works for fans of weepy melodramas, for the rest it will leave a bitter aftertaste especially after a good foundation.