Movie: Appudo Ippudo Eppudo
Rating: 1.5/5
Banner: Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra
Cast: Nikhil Siddhartha, Rukmini Vasanth, Divyansha Kaushik, Harsha Chemudu and others
Music: Karthik
DOP: Richard Prasad
Editor: Navin Nooli
Art Director: Sri Nagendra Tangala
Stunts: Venkat, Kevin Smith, Tidd James
Produced by: BVSN Prasad
Written and Directed by: Sudheer Varma
Release Date: December 8, 2024
Nikhil Siddhartha and director Sudheer Varma’s latest film, "Appudo Ippudo Eppudo," was released in theaters with little buzz and no promotion from the lead actor.
Let’s explore its strengths and weaknesses.
Story:
Rishi (Nikhil Siddhartha) dreams of becoming a racer but meanwhile does simple work for a living in London.
He falls in love with Tara (Rukmini), a girl from Hyderabad who also comes to the UK for her studies, and they eventually reunite.
While their romance reignites, Rishi finds himself involved in the murder of his former girlfriend Tulasi (Divyansha Kaushik).
Who murdered Tulasi? Did she really get killed? What is the connection between Tulasi and the local Dons (Jonh Vijay and Ajay)?
Artistes’ Performances:
This film features a cast that, from the lead actors to the comedians, seems disconnected from the story and the scenes they’re performing. Unsurprisingly, their performances come across as theatrical and routine.
Nikhil Siddhartha plays a character lacking direction. Rukmini Vasanth, who impressed audiences with her Kannada film "Sapta Sagara," appears completely different here and is given a poorly written role.
Divyansha Kaushik plays a stereotypical cheater, while Satya, Harsha Chemudu, and Sudarshan deliver uninspired comedy.
Technical Excellence:
Aside from the film's scenic locations in the UK, there is little technical or visual value worth mentioning. The action stunts are laughable, and the music is mediocre.
One can only feel sorry for the editor, tasked with piecing together this jumble of scenes. The dialogue and screenplay writing are amateurish at best.
Highlights:
None
Drawback:
Silly script
Worst direction
Lazy writing
Laughable stunts
Analysis
"Appudo Ippudo Eppudo" has been in production for over four years, yet it might have been better left unreleased.
Director Sudheer Varma’s previous films, such as "Ranarangam" and "Ravanasura," were blatantly subpar. This latest effort demonstrates that he lacks fresh ideas, both as a writer and a director. It is the worst film of his career, even more tedious than "Ranarangam."
How did producers BVSN Prasad and Bapineedu Green approve this so-called "story"? What did they see when Sudheer Varma presented them with this flimsy script?
The film begins with two thieves in Hyderabad discussing a story set in London. This introduces the tale of our hero, Nikhil Siddhartha, whose narrative unfolds in the UK.
Shortly after, he recounts a flashback, followed by another character telling yet another flashback. One thief in Hyderabad attempts to stop the story, but the other insists he continues, leading to more storytelling.
At one point, a police officer stops the hero with a dead body, prompting the hero to narrate yet another "flashback," with the officer persistently asking for more details.
The film is riddled with flashbacks and subplots yet lacks a coherent storyline, feeling like a disjointed compilation of random scenes rather than a cohesive movie.
Such narratives might have seemed acceptable a decade ago, but today they come across as stale and outdated.
In one scene, Rukmini Vasanth narrates to Nikhil Siddhartha, explaining that he drunkenly married her. When the scene ends, Nikhil gives a bewildered look, as if to say, "Has the episode ended?" — a sentiment that mirrors the audience’s confusion.
Overall, "Appudo Ippudo Eppudo" exudes laziness from its writing to its direction, from acting to technical aspects, all due to Sudheer Varma's outdated ideas and incoherent storytelling. It stands as one of the worst-made Telugu films in recent years.
Bottom line: Tiresome