Movie: Kumari 21F
Rating: 3/5
Banner: Sukumar Writings
Cast: Raj Tharun, Hebbah Patel, Noel, Hema, and others
Dialogues: Potluri Venki
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Cinematography: R Rathnavelu
Editor: Amar Reddy
Story, Screenplay: Sukumar B
Producers: Vijaya Prasad Bandreddi and Thomas Reddy Aduri
Directed by: Surya Pratap
Release Date: November 20, 2015
Leading director Sukumar turning producer to make concept based movies with upcoming talent was welcomed by all in the movie industry. His first movie Kumari 21F starring Raj Tharun who has given two hits in a row has generated great expectations.
The promos have connected with the youth. So has the movie met expectations?
Story:
Kumari (Hebbah), a model working in ads and films, is a bold girl who comes to Hyderabad from Mumbai and lives in a middle-class colony with her ailing grandfather.
The local boy Siddhu (Raj Tharun), who aspires to settle in Singapore as chef, meets her accidentally one night. On the very first meet, she proposes him and kisses him.
Siddhu lives with his mother as his father left her for another woman. In the beginning, Siddhu likes Kumari's boldness but due to his three friends who are rowdies and also petty thieves, he doubts Kumari's character.
A girl who is model and bold can be virgin, can she not have romantic past with others, he starts doubting. Further, she rejects his love saying he has not matured enough to love her. What happens then? How does Siddhu cope with this?
Artistes’ Performances:
Raj Tharun who has already proved his acting skills in his last two movies comes up with another good performance.
But the film belongs to Kumari played by Hebbah Patel, she is very bold in appearance and also has good acting skills. As mischievous girl with modern outlook, Hebbah gives her best.
Hema as middleclass mother has done neat job. Among the bad boys, Noel gets noticed.
Technical Excellence:
Rathnavelu's terrific cinematography and Devi Sri Prasad's trendy music are the major assets to the movie. Rathnavelu has filmed the story so beautifully.
Video: Watch Kumari 21F Public Talk
Devi Sri Prasad's songs as well as the small musical bit that is used through out the movie are good. Art work, editing and production values are competent.
Highlights:
- Different concept
- Songs and Visuals
- Good performances
- Second half
- Climax
Drawbacks:
- Adult content
- Some scenes are too awkward
Analysis:
Sukumar, the writer, has always picked up unusual storylines that are quite different from the regular setup. Though he has not directed this movie, as writer of the movie he does the same - taking up a bold concept. The story as well as the screenplay is quite different from the regular style with very bold content.
The movie questions the very attitude of a girl being judged on her dressing and her free-mingling nature. Why should a girl not have a past, past is past, love the girl for how she is behaving with you at present, says the movie's heroine.
The hero is representative of most men who wants his lover be a 'virgin'. Conflict of these ideologies is presented by Sukumar in his quirky and daring method, which some may digest easily and it might not go well with others.
Starting off as adult teenage love story with loads of dialogues on female body and sex, the movie slowly picks up the momentum post interval and ends up as completely different matured story. The beginning of the movie is too bold, but the reason for the heroine's behavior is explained later as the movie progresses.
Like the title it is all about Kumari, the team has selected right girl. Hebbah has given her best. With performances, good technical values and daring content, Sukumar has presented Kumari 21F. The movie has stamp of Sukumar than the director Surya Pratap.
The story is set in a lower middle class colony of KGB and the story traces the love story of a boy and girl who are residents of that colony. It also shows the various problems or twists and turns such love stories can have due to the environment that they are in and the kind of people they interact with on a daily basis. In short, apart from their feelings, they also have to deal with a lot of other influences and Sukumar’s latest story highlights this aspect.
First half is more of fun but the real content lies in the second half and the climax part is interesting but it has downsides too.
At times the movie also leaves in you in confusion as one is unable to decipher what the movie is trying to say as many contradictory statements keep coming in.
Sukumar has given some classic touches to the script that takes it to another level and makes you forget all its shortcomings. There is a sub plot of hero's parents broken marriage that was later used for the realization of hero. That is executed superbly and no one can give a better ending than this. Sukumar has excelled as a writer in giving perfect ending to Kumari.
All in all, Kumari 21F will connect with youth and the people who like to see bold content. This attempt is quite unusual.
Bottomline: Different Attempt
(Venkat can be reached [email protected] or Twitter)
