Movie: Kota Bommali PS
Rating: 2.5/5
Banner: GA2 Pictures
Cast: Srikanth Meka, Rahul Vijay, Shivani Rajasekhar, Varalaxmi Sarath Kumar, Murali Sharma, Benarjee, and others
Music: Ranjin Raj
DOP: Jagadeesh Cheekati
Editor: Karthika Srinivas
Production Designer: Gandhi Nadikudikar
Producers: Bunny Vas, Vidya Koppineedi
Screenplay and Directed by: Teja Marni
Release Date: Nov 24, 2023
The song "Lingidi Ligindi" went viral, creating a buzz around "Kotabommali PS."
Now, let's delve into its strengths and weaknesses.
Story:
The story is set in Kotabommali, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. Ramakrishna (Srikanth), Praveen (Rahul Vijay), and Sunitha (Shivani Rajasekhar), three police constables, find themselves in a precarious situation after a local youngster is killed in a road accident involving the jeep they are traveling in.
Simultaneously, by-elections are underway for the Tekkali constituency, intensifying the political atmosphere. The police come under scrutiny following the youngster's death, prompting the three constables to go on the run. Razia Ali (Varalaxmi) is tasked with tracking them down.
Can the three constables clear their names?
Artistes’ Performances:
Srikanth Meka convincingly portrays the role of Ramakrishna. Unlike Malayalam actor Joju, Srikanth's portrayal leans towards the dramatic, but he delivers a strong performance.
Rahul Vijay and Shivani are well-suited for their respective roles.
Varalaxmi plays her character in her typical style, and Murali Sharma, portraying a politician, maintains his usual finesse.
Technical Excellence:
The cinematography stands out, capturing the lighting pattern closely to the original. The forest scenes are well-handled, and the background score proves to be effective.
Highlights:
The basic story
Neat narration
Able performances
Drawback:
Too cinematic climax
Not as gripping as the original
Analysis
"Kotabommali PS" is the official remake of "Nayattu," a critically acclaimed Malayalam film. While filmmaker Teja Marni largely adheres to the original story, the second half of the film, where the Malayalam and Telugu versions diverge, takes a different turn.
Until the intermission, "Kotabommali PS" is as engrossing as the original. Teja and his team succeed in narrating the story in an engaging manner. The plot itself deviates from regular cop stories, portraying police officers pitted against one another. The narrative reflects the contemporary political system, where politicians wield ultimate control, and even police officers become victims while serving their masters.
“Kotabommali PS” effectively delivers this point. The first half delves into the by-election atmosphere of the region, explores the backgrounds of the three police officers, and explains how they find themselves in trouble due to a road accident, compelling them to flee. The second half, similar to the original, revolves around a hunt – a higher-ranking officer attempting to trace down the three police constables hiding in a secured place in the forest.
In the original, Joju George's character uses old contacts to hide safely. In this version set on the Andhra-Orissa border, the director makes Srikanth's character a specialist in greyhound operations, allowing him to outwit the senior officer assigned to hunt him. Consequently, the final moments of the film have a distinct "Telugu Cinema" flavor, more dramatic and commercial.
While the Malayalam film concludes with an open-ended ending, the climax in this film provides a complete cinematic finale.
Overall, “Kotabommali PS” is a well-executed remake that stays true to the original yet incorporates local flavor. It might appeal more to those who haven't seen the Malayalam version, making it a decent watch overall.
Bottomline: Decent remake