Movie: Uyyala Jampala
Rating: 3/5
Banner: Sunshine Movies, Anapoorna Studios
Cast: Raj Tarun, Avika, Anitha Chowdary, Punarnavi, Ravi Varma, Kireeti and Others
Music: M R Sunny
Editor: Marthand K Venkatesh
Cinematographer: Viswa D.B
Producers: Akkineni Nagarjuna, P Ram Mohan
Story, Direction: Virinchi Varma
Release Date: 25/12/2013
A few big names can generate a lot of publicity that a small film can never dream of. And when the big names mean Akkineni Nagarjuna and D Suresh Babu, then, the expectations are bound to go sky high. That’s exactly what happened to Uyyala Jampala. From the trailer, it looked like a sweet film. Now let’s check out how it shaped up:
Story:
The hero Suri (Raj Tarun) sells chicken poop manure in his village. He does not get along one bit with his uncle’s daughter Uma (Avika). Little realizing their love for each other, they fall in love with others. When Uma’s lover tries to cheat her, Suri comes in and teaches him a lesson. Cupid finally strikes and Uma realizes her love for Suri. But Suri is still unaware of his feelings for Uma. The rest of the story tracks when Suri feels his love.
Artistes’ Performance:
Raj Tarun is not your quintessential hero, nor does he have any mannerisms of a typical Tollywood hero. In short, he is what one can safely label as ‘the boy next door’. For the film, he has an easy-going Godavari accent and good expressions.
Though this is her Tollywood debut, Avika is known to the audience as the lead actress in Chinnari Pelli Kooturu. She suits her character and performs well.
Anita Choudhary and Ravi Varma as the hero’s mother and heroine’s father have substantial roles which they play with conviction.
Another noteworthy performance is by Second Hand Subbarao Kiriti. He manages to leave a mark with his brief role.
Punarnavi, who plays the girl in love with the hero entices with natural expressions.
A mention needs to be made of Gangadhar, who plays the hero’s friend in the film.
Technical Team:
Music by MR Sunny is OK, but the background score is really good. Viswa’s cinematography takes this small film to a different level. He captures the splendour of village greenery beautifully. The editing is good. A special mention has to be made of the dialogues.
It’s a known fact that the film has been supported by good producers who believe in good cinema.
Director Virinchi Varma had made many short films in the past. However, he uses a simple approach to present an equally simple film. He has steered clear of the temptation of touching upon a complicated subject in his very first film. And this is where he succeeds. He sticks to the basics and treats the subject with ease without going overboard or stretching the plot.
Highlights:
- A story and narrative that is relaxed
- Background music
- Raj Tarun’s acting
Drawbacks:
- Second half is too predictable
- The climax lacks depth
Analysis:
If you had watched Nuvve Kavali, you are bound to see some similarities between that film and Uyyala Jampala. The story of two people growing up together without realizing the love they have for each other forms the crux of both the stories. But Uyyala Jampala stands out in the way the director has handled the story. It’s a story set in a village that has dialogues from every day life. It is this natural feel that makes the film appealing. You don’t realize when the first half ends.
The love-hate relationship between both the protagonists has been deftly handled by the director. You almost feel as if you were watching two real-life characters from the window of your house. The first half provides ample entertainment. It’s only by the time the film reaches the ‘conflict point’ that it loses pace. And that’s when you feel the need for some fun.
A weak climax is the biggest weakness of the film. As the director is adept at making short films, he seemed more focused on making a simple film without any thrills and frills. But the audience does miss the drama and melodrama that one expects from such stories.
However, if that does not bother you, then Uyyala Jampala is worth a watch. On the other hand, if you are the kind who enjoy mass entertainers, then you can give it a miss. Take the final call!
Bottomline: Uyyala Jampala... Sweet and Simple
(Venkat can be reached at [email protected] or https://twitter.com/greatandhranews)
