Movie: Maruthi Nagar Subramanyam
Rating: 2.5/5
Banner: PBR Cinemas & Lokamaatre Cinematics
Cast: Rao Ramesh, Indraja, Ankith Koyya, Ramya Pasupleti, Harsha Vardhan, Ajay, Praveen, Annapurna, Sivannarayana, and others
Music: Kalyan Nayak
DOP: MN Balreddy
Editor: Bonthala Nageswara Reddy
Art Director: Suresh Bhimagani
Producers: Bujji Rayudu Pentyala, Mohan Karya
Presented by: Thabitha Sukumar
Story, Screenplay, Dialogues & Direction: Lakshman Karya
Release Date: Aug 23, 2024
The film "Maruthi Nagar Subramanyam" garnered attention as it was presented by Sukumar's wife, Tabitha Sukumar, distributed by Mythri Movie Makers, and supported in promotions by both Sukumar and Allu Arjun.
Let’s see if it lives up to the buzz.
Story:
Subramanyam (Rao Ramesh), who lives in Maruthi Nagar with his wife and son, is a sort of house husband. He remains unemployed with the sole goal of working for the government.
While his son Arjun (Ankith Koyya), who is in love with Kanchana (Ramya Pasupuleti), struggles to get the mobile phone she requested, Subramanyam is having a cash crisis and is unable to even buy cigarettes because his wife has stopped providing money.
Around this time, Subramanyam receives Rs 10 lakhs in his bank account. This unexpected deposit of money from unknown sources causes a variety of amusing and problematic scenarios.
Will Subramanyam ever find out who sent the money? And what problems does he encounter as a result of his newfound wealth?
Artistes’ Performances:
Rao Ramesh is known for his ability to effortlessly portray a wide range of roles, from humorous and gentle to villainous. In this film, he steps into the lead role, not as a supporting character, and he does not disappoint. Taking on a role that allows him to showcase both humor and sentiment, he skillfully brings his experience to the forefront.
Indraja's portrayal of his wife is convincing and effective.
After Rao Ramesh, Ankith Koyya, who played a friend's role in the recent hit "Aay," gains prominence in this film, though his performance is just okay.
Ramya Pasupuleti's portrayal of Ankith's girlfriend falls short of expectations. Ajay, Harsha Vardhan, Praveen, and Siva Narayana fulfill their roles as required.
Technical Excellence:
The film is made on a tight budget, and the limitations are evident on screen. The production values are minimal, and the technical aspects are equally basic.
Highlights:
Rao Ramesh’s performance
Central idea
Fun moments in the first half
Drawback:
Too many repetitive scenes
Predictability
Analysis
"Maruthi Nagar Subramanyam," featuring Rao Ramesh as the protagonist, is based on an interesting but rather thin idea. Turning such a plot into a full-length feature film is a challenging task, even for experienced filmmakers. As a result, while the film offers some enjoyable and comical moments, it quickly becomes repetitive.
Directed by Lakshman Karya, whose previous film was the Niharika-starrer “Happy Ending,” this movie is set against a natural middle-class backdrop, with Chandragiri in the Chittoor district serving as the setting for the story.
The narrative explores two common scenarios often found in real life. One involves individuals who have been waiting for years for government employment, despite facing various legal and court-related obstacles.
The other involves middle-class people who misappropriate money accidentally deposited into their accounts. The protagonist, Subramanyam (played by Rao Ramesh), embodies both of these aspects.
However, the film primarily focuses on the challenges Subramanyam faces after unexpectedly receiving a sum of Rs 10 lakh.
The director attempts to evoke laughter by depicting ordinary middle-class individuals who use their newfound wealth to purchase household items and settle minor debts. There are enjoyable sequences that illustrate how Subramanyam's life changes after he deposits the money. The middle section of the film is particularly strong and humorous.
The biggest challenge for the film and its director lies in delivering a more convincing conclusion. The film loses its focus due to predictable sequences and the inclusion of unnecessary episodes, such as the uninteresting romantic subplot between Ankith Koyya and Ramya, as well as Praveen's track and Indraja's later scenes.
For instance, it is illogical that a bank employee cannot trace to which account the money was accidentally transferred, even after several days. The explanation given for this is completely unconvincing.
To fully enjoy this film, the latter part should have included more believable episodes.
Overall, "Maruthi Nagar Subramanyam" attempts to tell a simple, relatable story, distinct from the usual cliched masala films. While the central idea is entertaining and provides some laughs in the middle, the film becomes repetitive and loses its focus afterward. It might offer a better viewing experience on OTT platforms than in theaters.
Bottom line: Partly Fun