Film: Mallepuvvu
Rating: 1/5
Cast: Murali Krishna, Bhumika, RK, Kovai Sarala, Sameer, Venu Madhav, Farzana etc
Story: Ramesh Varma
Dialogues: Vema Giri
Songs: Veturi
Art: Ramana Vanka
Fights: Nandu
Editor: Nandamuri Hari
Camera: Anil Bhandari
Producer: Mohan Vadlapatla
Screenplay-Direction: Samudra
Released On: 19th Sep 2008
Story:
Koti (Murali Krishna) is a young man who aspires to go Dubai as daily laborer. He saves every penny for fulfilling his desire by working as a coolie at a contractor couple (RK and Kovai Sarala). His friend (Samudra) stands beside him all the while and he aspires to go China!!!!. A new girl comes in the disguise of a man with name Malligadu (Bhumika) and joins at the same contractor as another laborer. The mystery revolves around her. Why she keeps her identity in disguise and what made her join as a coolie forms the major part of the movie.
Presentation:
New face Murali Krishna is ok to large extent. Samudra's long role is something new and still he didn't bring out all necessary histrionics in the degree required. It sounds wise for him to restrict himself as director than as an actor.
Bhumika is perfect in her role. Venu Madhav's comedy is below average. Abhinayasree appeared in a vamp like role without any glamour. Farzana's item song appeals for a section of audiences. Comedy between RK and Kovai Sarala is also not up to the mark. Telengana Shakunthala's presence as brothel house head is felt and she has shown her talent with trade mark style. Others are just ok.
Coming to technical departments, Ilayaraja spoiled his name with worst music output. No song is pleasing to ears and not even a B-grade film in 80s had this quality. Dialogues are very poor and killed the interest of people in entire first half. Direction is erratic and not gripping.
Analysis:
It's stunning to see Samudra as second hero in this film. He appears to be taking the path of Kodi Rama Krishna who used to play 'so-called' key roles in his films earlier.
Looking at the quality of the film, a doubt strikes every one that how big names like Bhumika and Ilayaraja agreed to work for this film. The story might have sounded good for them in the first narration of Samdura but once he brought it on to celluloid dish turned perishable. Indeed, Mallepuvvu lost its fragrance. Samudra made many blunders in his direction and a feel of compromise and lack of seriousness is seen in him. Lip-sink and dialogues are also not well tackled although it is a direct movie in Telugu.
First 30 minutes test the patience of audience with slow narration and weak dialogues. Only the four minutes before interval pumps in little interest and second half goes with some flesh in it. Again the climax is spoiled with B-grade quality.
Notable blunders committed by the director.
- The terrorists are shown like roadside goondas with small knives in climax fight
- Bhumika travels between Dhaka and Hyderabad in British Airways (!!)
- Bhumika is not illiterate but University Topper. No one knows why she maintains dumbness without letting out her problem to media and her parents on phone.
Weak points:
Music
Dialogues
Screenplay
Direction
Only Plus Point:
Cinematography
On a whole, the film proved to be a dud with no quality narration and sensibility. It lacked in the home work that is required while making a film with the subject-'terrorism'.
(SiraSri can be reached at [email protected])
