Movie: Purushothamudu
Rating: 2/5
Banner: Shree Sridevi Productions
Cast: Raj Tarun, Hasini, Kausalya, Ramyakrishna, Murali Sharma, Praveen, Brahmanandam, Sathya, Brahmaji, Prakash Raj, and others
Music: Gopi Sundar
DOP: PG Vinda
Editor: Marthand K Venkatesh
Producers: Dr. Ramesh Tejawat and Prakash Tejawat
Written and Directed by: Ram Bhimana
Release Date: July 26, 2024
While Raj Tarun is embroiled in a controversy related to his personal life, his new film “Purushothamudu” arrives in theatres with minimal publicity.
Let’s see its merits and demerits.
Story:
Rachith Ram (Raj Tarun) is an heir to a multi-billion-dollar corporate conglomerate. After completing his education in the United States, he returns to India, where his father (Murali Sharma) appoints him as the CEO of the firm.
However, Rachith Ram's aunt Vasundhara (Ramyakrishna) cites the company's bylaws, which require the CEO to live as an ordinary person for 100 days before assuming the position.
Rachith Ram relocates to a village near Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh and leads a modest lifestyle. It is here that he falls in love with Ammu (Haasini).
How does Rachith Ram's life transform as a result of living in this village?
Artistes’ Performances:
Raj Tarun fits the role well and delivers a convincing performance. However, some of the mass scenes seem out of place considering his stature and image. Haasini appears glamorous in the role of a village belle.
Surprisingly, the film features prominent stars like Ramya Krishna, Prakash Raj, Murali Sharma, Brahmanandam, and others in minor roles. The comedy by Praveen and Satya is decent.
Technical Excellence:
Gopi Sundar provides a couple of melodious tunes, with the song "Ila Ila" standing out. PG Vinda's cinematography is vibrant, and the film boasts decent production values.
Highlights:
Raj Tarun
Couple of scenes
Drawback:
Lack of novelty in storyline
Haywire screenplay post interval
No strong emotional scenes
Analysis
"Purushothamudu" feels reminiscent of "Srimanthudu," where a wealthy protagonist, played by Mahesh Babu, visits a village to adopt it. In "Purushothamudu," Raj Tarun's character must live in a village for 100 days to qualify as a CEO.
The storyline is quite familiar, evoking not only "Srimanthudu," but also Korean films like "Millionaire's First Love," which inspired Nani's "Pilla Zamindar."
The film's narrative lacks tightness. It starts slowly but picks up as the romance between Raj Tarun and Haasini's characters develops. While the initial portions of the film are watchable despite their formulaic nature, the movie loses its way thereafter.
For films like "Purushothamudu," it is essential to include both engaging comedic sequences and touching romantic moments between the lead couple. However, despite featuring comedians like Satya, Praveen, and Brahmanandam, the film fails to deliver genuine laughs.
The village drama in the second half drags and tests the audience's patience. The writing, by new director Ram Bhimana, is quite basic and uninspired.
The film concludes with a moral lesson about the true meaning of the names Ram and Purushottam, aiming to justify the title. However, this simplistic approach is evident throughout the movie.
Overall, "Purushothamudu" is a formulaic story with predictable narration. While a few sequences are decent, the rest are rather dull and uninspiring.
Bottom line: Predictable