It's not necessary for every movie to have a complex plot. Sometimes, a simple emotion can be turned into a brief narrative and portrayed on screen. 'Angry Tales' is an example of this approach, where the focus is on simplicity and directness.
Prabhala Tilak, the director and co-writer of the Telugu anthology 'Angry Tales' currently available for streaming on Disney+ Hotstar, explores the diverse ways in which individuals react to different sources of irritation. Together with his co-writer Karthikeya Karedla, he delves into the theme of anger and its impact on human behavior.
Throughout our lives, we encounter numerous situations that evoke our anger. This anthology comprises four stories that explore the theme of anger, each set against a unique backdrop.
1. Benefit Show: (main cast: Venkatesh Maha and Suhas)
The tale follows a fan who organizes charity events but finds himself destitute after all is said and done. When his favorite celebrity fails to offer assistance, he takes revenge by expressing his anger. Despite being the standout story of the collection, it is marred by vulgar language. If only the profanity had been omitted, this entire series would have been suitable for family viewing.
2. Food Festival: (main cast: ,adonna Sabastian and Tharun Bhascker)
The narrative revolves around a woman who is prohibited from consuming eggs in her vegetarian household. Despite receiving medical advice to incorporate eggs into her diet, her orthodox cohabitants forbid her from doing so. The climax of the story depicts how she rebels against this restrictive belief system and expresses her anger.
3. An Afternoon Nap: (main cast: Bindu Madhavi and Ravindra Vijay)
The story features a conventional homemaker who enjoys taking afternoon naps, but is frequently disrupted by the loud music emanating from the upstairs neighbors. As a result, she begins to experience migraines. However, she eventually confronts her neighbors in her unique way, venting her anger and frustration towards them.
4. Helmet Head: (main cast: Phani Acharya)
The final tale in the series centers around a bald man who takes legal action against a helmet manufacturer for causing his hair loss. Although peculiar, the story elicits a degree of humor. It portrays how the man expresses his anger towards the company in an amusing fashion.
Regarding the positives, "Anger Tales" showcases strong performances and effectively explores the human emotion of anger. Among the stories, the one featuring Venkatesh Maha stands out due to its relatable character and emotional elements. The story featuring Madonna and Tharun Bhascker conveys a simple message about food freedom. The performances by Bindhu Madhavi, Phani Acharya, and Ravindra Vijay are noteworthy. Additionally, the series highlights incidents of damage to theaters during re-releases.
On the downside, the conclusion of the stories featuring Bindhu Madhavi and Phani Acharya is the biggest drawback of the anthology series. Poor execution hampers the impact, and the plot of the story featuring Phani Acharya ends in a silly manner. The narration of the story featuring Bindhu Madhavi is dragged for no reason, with repetitive scenes and a ridiculous climax. The series could have been better if these two stories had concluded neatly, and the show moved at a faster pace.
The music is good and enhances the impact of a few sequences. The cinematography and production values are fair. The first episode has neatly written dialogues and a natural fun angle. However, the editing is below-par, and the director's work is only satisfactory. The emotions work well in the first plot and to some extent in the second, but the other stories needed better presentation, especially the last tale featuring Phani Acharya.
Overall, "Anger Tales" is a partially successful anthology show. The performances of the cast and the first episode are good, but the other stories are poorly presented.
