Film: Viyyalavari Kayyalu
Rating: 3/5
Cast: Uday Kiran, Neha Jhulka, Srihari, Shyaji Shinde, Kousalya, Kavita, Telangana Shakuntala, Jaya Prakash Reddy, Venu Madhav etc
Fights: Ram-Laxman
Editing: Marthand K Venkatesh
Art: Ashok
Camera: Ajayan Vincent
Dialogues: Sainath
Music: Ramana Gogula
Producer: Lagadapati Sreedhar
Director: E Satti Babu
Released On: 1st November 2007
Story:
Vamshi (Uday Kiran) is the son of a Justice (Shayaji Shinde) who stands on law and ethics. Vamshi runs a business as Hair Stylist in the city.
Nandini (Neha Jhulka) is the sister of Bhoopathi Rayudu (Sri Hari). Bhoopathi is a factionist in Rayalaseema. But people in his village love him a lot. He stands on dharma and principles. Nandini studies in a college in the city.
Love sprouts between Vamshi and Nandini. Vamshi comes to Nandini’s village with a motive to convince Bhoopati Rayudu for his marriage with his sister. But Bhoopati stands adamant. How Vamshi convinces Bhoopathy falls on screen. Then the later part is how Vamshi’s father gets convinced for the marriage. Bhoopathy takes the mantle to do that and impresses him at last.
Village politics become the interludes in the main story. Finally how the understanding develops between elders on both sides takes to the climax.
Performances:
Uday Kiran is given a less prominent role in this film. He is charming than before and shown right dexterity in dances, dialogues and histrionics. But the hair stylist role given to him is not projected in right manner. He is almost shown with an impression of a barber all over.
Neha Jhulka is too slim to attract the senses of Telugu audiences. She needs to add some flesh to her body to get next film in Telugu.
Sri Hari is at his perfection and it’s needless to say about his voice, diction and bearing.
Shayaji Shinde has got nominal role to play and that falls in second half.
Jaya Prakash Reddy’s character is used for spilling laughs than for villainy.
Almost all the departments appear to have functioned with more freedom. Ramana Gogula’s music is with his unique mark where ‘Neelala Neekallu’ and ‘Annayya..’ song were shot well. Ram-Laxman’s fights are with high voltage and incredible feel as usual. Ajayan Vincent’s camera work is ok but he needs to develop perfection with respect to setting frames and right use of merging techniques (as observed in songs). Dialogues by Sainath can be rated average.
Analysis:
Let us analyze the film in three aspects
Purpose of this film
Commercial approach
Justification to title
The purpose of this film is message oriented and that is ‘true love never runs away but stands brave’. It also said that taking the consent of parents and convincing them to agree for marriage is the ideal way for lovers but not eloping. Dialogues in this regard caught the attention of audience as the current affairs are burning with Srija (Chiranjeevi’s daughter) issue.
And coming to the commercial front the treatment and blend is focused on showing equilibrium by satisfying the fans of Uday Kiran and Srihari. Uday Kiran’s role was underplayed and the domination of Sri Hari is seen in big way. The hair stylist role given for Uday, although trendy, didn’t add weight for heroism. There are many ups and downs in narration aspect but at times the scenes and dialogues receive good response from audience.
The film scores less in justifying the title. The ‘kayyaalu’ aspect is not shown in right way and they are over shadowed by faction elements in second half. Listening to the title, it is obvious to feel that it is full length family entertainer in the atmosphere of marriage ceremony. Even the introductory words of Super Star Krishna at the outset of the film also give same image. But here the formula is not set that way. ‘Kayyaalu’ those were shown here are not silly and routine. Youngsters are settling their engagement for themselves these days. So, it is at the end of elders to agree for the marriage. The elders on the side of bride assess the financial status and earning capabilities of groom. And the groom-side elders assess the culture and ethical background of bride in general. To fulfill those requirements they may go to any extent. But how the things can be settled peacefully in the interest of elders and youngsters? The answers can be seen in this film. But they may be convincing, less convincing and not convincing to different set of audience. We have to see how Chiranjeevi comments on this film once he watches!!
The film has little comedy track that tickles the ribs of audience but that is no so subtle. Venu Madhav, Krishna Bhagawan and Raghu Babu were given mass oriented comedy roles and they justified. But still, there would have been better dialogues for them to use them in full. The comedy-villainy of Jaya Prakasha Reddy also entertains people for his diction and style.
First half of the film runs with the introduction of all the characters and the love episodes of hero and heroine. There is no big interval bang as routine formula. Second half runs with the actual ‘kayyaalu’ but faction episodes dominated the narration.
On a whole, it’s the film for families as per the set of characters used in it. It’s a film for youngsters for the spirit of love and respect for elders shown in it. It’s the film for masses for the degree of action episodes shown in it especially in second half. Everybody needs to take what he needs from the film.
On a comparison with present releases, the film has a message and something good to take home.
(SiraSri can be reached at [email protected])
