Movie: Harom Hara
Rating: 2.25/5
Banner: Sree Subrahmanyeshwara Cinemas
Cast: Sudheer Babu, Malvika Sharma, Sunil, JP, Akshara Gowda, and others
Music: Chaitan Bharadwaj
DOP: Arvind Viswanathan
Editor: Raviteja Girijala
Production Designer: A Ramanjaneyulu
Action stunts: Sakthi Saravanan, Nikil Raj, Stunt Jashuv
Producer: Sumanth G Naidu
Written and Directed by: Gnanasagar Dwaraka
Release Date: June 14, 2024
Harom Hara is Sudheer Babu's most expensive film to date, and its trailer has captivated audiences. Sudheer Babu himself declared that the film would be counted among the top ten finest action movies ever produced in Telugu cinema.
Let's assess the accuracy of his statement.
Story:
The story is set in the 1980s. Subramanyam (Sudheer Babu) relocates to Kuppam from another region to work as a laboratory assistant at a college. He sends money to his father (JP) every month. Meanwhile, Tammireddy and his gang intimidate the local residents, asserting their authority as the ultimate law.
During a minor altercation with a member of Tammireddy's brother's gang, Subramanyam is dismissed from his job.
After hearing his friend Palaniswamy (Sunil), a suspended constable, discuss the process of manufacturing firearms, Subramanyam realizes he has the knowledge and skills necessary to engage in illegal gun production.
Encouraged by his girlfriend (Malvika Sharma) to aim higher instead of settling for menial jobs, he begins manufacturing guns in an abandoned cinema hall. He also allocates a portion of the proceeds from his illicit enterprise to support the local community, thereby becoming their benefactor.
This sets the stage for a conflict between Subramanyam and the local gang leaders.
Artistes’ Performances:
Sudheer Babu convincingly portrays the role of a young man from Kuppam, and his delivery of dialogue in the local accent is commendable. His action stunts are performed in his usual style.
Malvika Sharma plays the role of a conventional heroine. Sunil is given an extended role, but his character lacks sufficient depth.
JP’s portrayal of Sudheer Babu’s father is satisfactory. Akshara Gowda’s role as a police officer fails to make a significant impression. The actors portraying antagonistic characters perform their roles proficiently.
Technical Excellence:
The primary allure of the film lies in its visuals. The lush Kuppam region and the captivating cinematography by Arvind Viswanathan hold our attention.
Chaitan Bharadwaj’s background score is adequate, but the editing lacks sharpness, and the screenplay is weak.
Highlights:
The production values
The cinematography
Drawback:
Pointless second half
No peaks
Abhoring violence
Analysis
Harom Hara is a recent Telugu film that draws inspiration from popular blockbusters such as KGF, Pushpa and Salaar. The film emphasizes world-building and features a protagonist who defies ruthless local leaders by immersing himself in an illicit enterprise.
Director Gnanasagar Dwaraka, who debuted with the romantic film Sehari, came up with this period backdrop set in Chittoor. The Kuppam region and the local dialect are authentically portrayed on screen.
The novelty of a hero engaging in the illicit production of firearms is also a first in Telugu cinema. However, beyond these aspects, Harom Hara offers little new, merely imitating many recent blockbusters.
The primary issue with "Harom Hara" lies in the lack of clarity regarding the protagonist's struggle and the excessive attention given to an ordinary story.
A plot twist occurs during the interval, but in the second half, the character involved in this twist discusses his role in it, which unintentionally elicits laughter. The film makes a big fuss about a simple matter!
The director places significant emphasis on the divine aspect associated with Subramanya Swamy (Lord Murugan) and the peacock; however, they have minimal impact on the plot or overall cinematic experience.
The so-called sentimental sequences between father and son fail to deliver the desired impact. JP's character has no significant effect. Even Sunil's character lacks depth. Sunil plays a suspended police officer, yet it’s perplexing how he remains on suspension for such an extended period.
In the latter part of the film, it becomes evident that the director intended to showcase the muscular Sudheer Babu in a machine-gun sequence similar to those of popular actors such as Kamal Haasan (in Vikram), Prabhas (in Salaar), Yash (in KGF), and Balakrishna (in Bhagavanth Kesari). The final prolonged action sequence tests the audience’s patience.
Overall, Harom Hara is a superficial film that lacks substance and depth, despite its fresh setting and visually appealing aesthetics. While the initial portion of the film is tolerable, the sequences that follow after the interval drag on without captivating the audience.
Bottom line: Unappealing