Movie: Guntur Kaaram
Rating: 2.25/5
Banner: Haarika Haasine Creations
Cast: Mahesh Babu, Sreeleela, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Ramya Krishna, Prakash Raj, Jagapathi Babu, Rao Ramesh, Rahul Ravindran, Sunil, Vennela Kishore and others
Music: S Thaman
DOP: Manoj Paramahamsa, PS Vinod
Editor: Naveen Nooli
Art: AS Prakash
Action: Ram-Laxman
Producer: S Radha Krishna
Written and Directed by: Trivikram
Release Date: Jan 12, 2024
"Athadu" and "Khaleja" were highly cherished by a large number of Mahesh Babu's fans. The collaboration between Trivikram and Mahesh Babu created buzz for this reason. Despite the numerous rumors surrounding its production, "Guntur Kaaram" has generated hype in recent weeks.
Let's see whether the collaboration between Mahesh Babu and Trivikram has once again resulted in a remarkable outcome.
Story:
Twenty-five years ago, Vaira Vasundhara (Ramya Krishna) abandoned her son and husband (Jayaram) in Guntur and remarried, subsequently having a son with her second husband (Rao Ramesh).
She is a minister now.
Her father, Venkata Swamy (Prakash Raj), instructs his lawyer (Murali Sharma) to compel Ramana (Mahesh Babu), who is the son of his daughter from previous marriage, to sign documents renouncing any claim to his mother's property or any association with her. But Ramana declines to provide his signature.
The remainder of the story delves into the reasons behind Vasundhara's decision to abandon her son at the tender age. Who was the true villain in this mother-son conflict?
Artistes’ Performances:
Mahesh Babu is in terrific form. His dynamic performance, articulate delivery infused with wit and irony, his stylish demeanor, and his dance moves consistently captivate us, even during boring moments. He is present in nearly every scene, and tries to hold our attention.
Sreeleela entertains with her dance performances. Her skills are exceptional when she performs dance to old songs. She desperately needs a professional dubbing voice.
Vennela Kishore offers comedic respite.
Ramya Krishna, Prakash Raj, Jayaram, and Rao Ramesh, known for terrific performances, have effectively fulfilled the demands of their respective roles. Eeswari Rao gets two best scenes in the film.
Meenakshi Chaudhary is tasked with serving food and liquor to Mahesh Babu and giving him a massage in a particular scene.
Jagapathi Babu, Rahul Ravindran, and Sunil are assigned insignificant roles.
Technical Excellence:
The film exhibits a colorful aesthetic due to its opulent sets and rich production design.
The song "Kurchi Madathapetti" is effective on screen compared to the other four songs composed by Thaman. Poorna appears in this song as a surprise.
Highlights:
Mahesh Babu’s energetic acting
Sreeleela dances
Drawback:
Paper-thin story
Poor emotions
Confused sequences
Cringe moments in the name of masala
Analysis
It is difficult to fathom that director Trivikram wrote a story as dull as "Guntur Kaaram" following the massive hit "Ala Vaikunthapurramloo".
Firstly, there is a lack of a compelling story. The central theme of this plot revolves around an adult son yearning to establish a connection with his mother who abandoned him during his childhood. Aside from this singular point, the film lacks any elements that sustain the dramatic tension.
The sentiment scenes between a mother and son have proven to be entirely ineffective. The narration lacks scenes that evoke audience sympathy for the reunion of the mother and son, instead emphasizing the identity of the person responsible for their separation. The film's ultimate resolution focuses on the person responsible for the mother's departure from her son and the underlying motivations behind her actions. Therefore, we don’t root for this sentiment.
Another case exemplifying the superficiality of the writing is the introduction of the second female lead character portrayed by Meenakshi Chowdhary. Which scenes did she obtain? Primarily, she tends to offer Mahesh Babu a plate of omelette or soda while he is consuming alcohol. A second female protagonist is assigned to such scenes!
The first half is filled with two songs, the hero's dialogues, fight sequences, the romantic relationship between the hero and heroine, and the heroine's dance performances for Instagram reels. At the beginning of the movie, Prakash Raj tries to convince Mahesh Babu to sign some documents. Throughout the interval, the same thing continues without variation.
Sreeleela and Vennela Kishore visit Guntur with the purpose of persuading Mahesh Babu to sign the documents. Therefore, they reside in the house of Mahesh Babu. Throughout their stay, we are presented with an episode involving the consumption of beverages, in which Mahesh Babu requests Vennela Kishore to sing songs, followed by Sreeleela showcasing her dancing skills to a selection of well-known songs. While this extended episode may be enjoyable, it serves as an illustration of how Trivikram has incorporated unrelated episodes into the film solely to fill the runtime.
In the latter half of the film, a significant portion is dedicated to showcasing "mass moments" and featuring songs such as "Mava Enthaina" and "Kurchini Madatetti". The true drama occurs during the last 20 minutes. But his drama falls far short of the level we have witnessed in "Attarintiki Daaredi" or "Ala Vaikunthapurramloo".
The so-called villain’s motive is equally shallow. Therefore, the underlying rationale behind the person's attempt to separate a mother and son lacks coherence.
At the conclusion of the film, we do not experience a sense of relief from the union of the mother and son, but rather from the cessation of these cringe proceedings.
Overall, "Guntur Kaaram" can be classified as a formulaic commercial family entertainer. While the film avoids gratuitous violence commonly found in today’s big star movies, it suffers from outdated sequences and a lack of emotional depth. There is no humor either. The film largely hinges on Mahesh Babu's star power and his performance.
Bottom line: Utter Disappointment