Movie: Chitralahari
Rating: 2.5/5
Banner: Mythri Movie Makers
Cast: Sai Dharam Tej, Kalyani Priyadarshan, Nivetha Pethuraj, Vennela Kishore, Sunil
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Cinematographer: Karthik Ghattamaneni
Art: A S Prakash
Editor: Srikar Prasad
Producers: Naveen Y, Ravi, Mohan
Written and direction: Kishore Tirumala
Release date: April 12, 2019
Sai Dharam Tej, who has been going through worst phase, has pinned all his hopes on this latest release “Chitralahari”. Though there not many expectations on this film, the music and trailers have caught attention.
Let’s analyze.
Story:
Story begins in a court. Vijay (Sai Dharam Tej) starts narrating his story why he had landed in this court. Cut to flashback.
An electrical engineer by education, Vijay invents devices and apps but he is unsuccessful in selling them off to corporate companies. He is loser.
In such situation, Lahari (Kalyani Priyadarshan) enters in life, bringing sunshine. Problems arise in love relationship and he goes to Mumbai on a project work where Swecha (Nivetha Pethuraj), a spirited young woman slowly attracts to him.
How Vijay becomes successful in the end?
Artistes’ Performances:
Leaving the baggage of mass-hero image behind completely, Sai Dharam Tej has surrendered to this youngster character. His thick-beard look has also come in handy for the transformation. He has done fantastic job here.
Kalyani Priyadarshan is just okay, but Nivetha Pethuraju is attractive as corporate woman and also leaves an impression with her better acting skills.
Sunil and Vennela Kishore have provided some comic relief. Posani as Sai Dharam’s father has once again gets meaty role.
Technical Excellence:
Devi Sri Prasad has given good songs to the film. They are major plus to this romantic entertainer. Cinematography and production values are so rich. Editing is neat and has right runtime.
Highlights:
Sai Dharam’s new avatar
DSP’s songs
Dialogues
Drawback:
Preachy message
Wafer-thin story
Final episodes
Slow pace
Analysis
Director Kishore Tirumala has tried to give a message to the youth about how to handle rejections and failure in life. He has begun the story well.
True to his style, the director of “Nenu Shailaja” and “Vunnadhi Okate Zindagi” creates very interesting moments in the beginning. He sets up the initial part right, but then loses the grip.
The director takes plenty of time to come the main point and once he reaches there, the proceedings turn predictable which is the main drawback.
The film first gives us an impression that it is about an underdog achieving the success a point that has enough scope to dwell on, then it turns into a triangle love story but ends on a completely different plane. The preachy and lengthy climax should have been better handled for the impact.
Many of the scenes like Vennela Kishore worrying about food bill and heroine’s friend trying to attempt suicide over her lover’s change attitude are quite boring.
Yet, the film has its moments: Posani instilling confidence in his son when his neighbor comments is best episode, Nivetha and Sai Dharam’s boat trip sequence is also good. Sunil’s introduction sequence is quite funny.
And also the characterization of Vijay Krishna played by Sai Dharam Tej is director’s ace, which is quite relatable to the youth. But where the director has erred is finishing the story in effective manner.
Though the emotions work well initially but goes against to the the director’s original idea in the final sequence. The court proceedings are not all all appealing.
It begins as a peppy youthful entertainer but ends as a preachy message-oriented movie. Nevertheless, it does have some moments here and there but they don’t give an engaging feel.
Bottom-line: Story of Underdog