Title: Gandhi Thatha Chettu
Rating: N/A
Cast: Sukriti Veni, Bhanu Prakash Kothala, Ananda Chakrapani, Nehal Anand Kumkuma, Rag Mayur
Music: Ree
Editor: Hari Shanker
Camera: Vishwa Devabattula, Srijitha Chervupally
Producers: Naveen Yerneni, Ravi Yalamanchili, Sesha Sindhu Rao
Director: Padmavathi Malladi
Release Date: 24 January 2025
"Gandhi Tatha Chettu" caught the attention of media and cinephiles for two primary reasons: first, the lead actress Sukriti Veni is the daughter of acclaimed director Sukumar, and second, the producers are Naveen and Ravi Shankar of Mythri Movie Makers. Adding to the intrigue, the film has already garnered several awards at various international film festivals. But what lies beneath the surface?
Let’s delve into it.
Story
The film is set in the year 2000, in a village in Telangana. Ramachandrayya (Ananda Chakrapani), an educated farmer who owns several acres of farmland, spends his time under his favorite tree, a tree he planted as a child in 1948 to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's death.
Ramachandrayya has a granddaughter, Gandhi (Sukriti Veni), who imbibes Gandhian ideologies under her grandfather's influence.
Conflict arises when Sateesh (Rag Mayur), a businessman from the city, attempts to buy the village lands to build a factory, which would mean cutting down the tree. Ramachandrayya, deeply attached to the tree, resists the idea of selling his land.
However, due to his old age, he passes away, but not before extracting a promise from his granddaughter to protect the tree at all costs.
The rest of the story revolves around how Gandhi, a young schoolgirl, fights against all odds to honor her grandfather's wish and protect the tree.
Performance:
Sukriti Veni gives a sincere and heartfelt performance in her debut role. She embodies the character naturally, even going so far as to tonsure her head for the role, showcasing her dedication as an actress.
Ananda Chakrapani as the loving and principled grandfather, delivers a nuanced performance with subtlety and grace.
Bhanu Prakash and Nehal Anand perform well in their supporting roles.
Rag Mayur while adequate as the antagonist, his character lacks depth, which limits the impact of his performance.
Technical Excellence:
The visuals by Vishwa Devabattula and Srijitha Chervupally are clean and effective, capturing the rural setting beautifully.
Hari Shanker’s editing ensures a smooth narrative flow, limiting the duration to 1hr 54 mins.
Ree’s music is ok, with two impressive songs—“Dhakad,” a catchy number, and “Uttutti Matala Mayalona Padi,” an engaging track in the first half.
Highlights:
Sukriti Veni’s performance
First half
Drawbacks
Weak second half
Poorly written climax
Contrived and illogical plot points
Analysis:
"Gandhi Tatha Chettu" centers around its titular trio: Gandhi, Tatha, and the Chettu. The story begins with a promising premise, establishing the conflict effectively. However, the narrative falls apart in the second half due to a lack of logic and emotional resonance.
For instance, the subplot where the young Gandhi discovers how to make jaggery from sugarcane, and the entire village rallies behind her to buy back their land making and selling jaggery, feels far-fetched and unconvincing.
Additionally, the idea of the tree "bleeding" is presented without any clear rationale, adding to the implausibility.
While the film is positioned as a children’s story, the writing often feels amateurish.
The girl is made to wear glasses and sport a tonsured head to draw parallels with Gandhi, but the reasons mentioned show superficial and forced.
Art films typically compensate for their lack of commercial appeal with strong logic and emotional depth. Unfortunately, this film struggles on both fronts, making the second half feel shallow and contrived. Key questions—such as why someone would sell back land they’ve already purchased—remain unanswered.
Given the lack of coherence, it’s puzzling how the film won so many awards at film festivals. Nonetheless, Sukriti Veni’s stellar performance stands out as the saving grace.
Had the narrative been more meticulously crafted—perhaps incorporating a more intelligent and science-driven approach to the girl's mission to make the tree bleed—the film could have elevated itself to a higher level.
"Gandhi Tatha Chettu" has a promising premise but fails to live up to its potential due to a weak second half and a lack of narrative depth. Despite its flaws, Sukriti Veni shines in her debut, showing great promise as an actress.
Bottom Line: Less Emotion- No Logic
