Movie: Bachchala Malli
Rating: 2.25/5
Banner: Hasya Movies
Cast: Allari Naresh, Amritha Aiyer, Rohini, Kota Jayaram, Achyuth Kumar, Rao Ramesh, Praveen, Hari Teja, Ankith Koyya, and others
Screenplay: Vipparthi Madhu
Music: Vishal Chandrashekar
DOP: Richard M Nathan
Editor: Chota K Prasad
Art Director: Brahma Kadali
Produced by: Razesh Danda, Balaji Gutta
Written and Directed by: Subbu Mangadevvi
Release Date: December 20, 2024
Continuing his streak of experimenting with different films, Allari Naresh brings us Bachchala Malli this time.
Let’s take a look at its strengths and weaknesses.
Story:
Bachchala Malli (Allari Naresh) is a rugged and formidable man who remains indifferent to everyone in his village. Even his mother fears him and refrains from questioning him.
Scarred by his father’s betrayal, when his father abandoned him and his mother for another woman, Malli grew up as a rebel, harboring deep resentment and intense animosity toward his father.
Despite his rough exterior, Malli develops feelings for Kaveri (Amritha Aiyer), a beautiful and well-educated young woman who is the daughter of a police officer (Rao Ramesh).
When Kaveri reciprocates his love, Malli begins to take responsibility for his actions. However, their plans for marriage face numerous obstacles, forcing Malli to resort to violence once again.
Will Malli’s aggressive behavior pave the way for their union, or will it lead to new challenges and complications in their lives?
Artistes’ Performances:
Allari Naresh delivers an outstanding performance, showcasing a stark contrast to his usual persona by embodying the rugged and stubborn character of Bachhala Malli. He is both sincere in his efforts and convincing in his portrayal.
Amritha Aiyer looks charming and adds appeal to the narrative.
Rao Ramesh performs well, especially in the crucial final sequences. Rohini and Kota Jayaram, portraying the protagonist’s parents, are effective in their roles.
Hari Teja, after a long time, gets a substantial role and does justice to it. Praveen impresses with his performance.
Achyuth Kumar, of Kantara fame, contributes to the proceedings, but his role and performance don’t significantly elevate the narrative.
Technical Excellence:
The movie boasts top-notch production values and an impressive production design, which are its primary strengths.
Richard Nathan's cinematography is highly effective and adds depth to the visuals. However, the songs are largely forgettable.
The film requires significant trimming, as the transitions between scenes lack smoothness and seamless flow, impacting the overall pacing and coherence.
Highlights:
Allari Naresh’s performance
The final episodes
Drawback:
Lack of compelling scenes and narrative
No convincing romantic track
The villain episodes
Analysis
The characters of Sukumar's Pushpa and Subbu Mangadevvi's Bachchala Malli share certain thematic similarities. In Pushpa, the protagonist, as the son of his father's second wife, rebels against societal norms in a quest for identity and respect. Similarly, in Bachchala Malli, the protagonist becomes a rebel after his father abandons him and his mother for a second marriage.
The narrative begins with Malli's childhood experiences, highlighting how a singular event profoundly shaped his character and life.
The protagonist’s intense anger toward his father fuels his obstinate and irrational behavior. His self-destructive tendencies, however, come across as a manifestation of foolishness.
While Pushpa critiques societal structures and offers a layered, charismatic protagonist, Bachchala Malli falls short, with its protagonist failing to garner empathy or connect with the audience.
The film suffers from numerous fundamental flaws in both script and narration. Apart from exploring the protagonist’s stubbornness in detail, the director fails to provide depth to other characters or their motivations.
For instance, the special bond between the hero and his niece (played by Hari Teja) is never adequately explained. Similarly, the romance between the protagonist and the police officer’s daughter (played by Amritha Aiyer) lacks credibility, as the hero exhibits no redeeming qualities for an educated girl like her to fall in love with him. The characterization of Achyuth Kumar and his schemes also remains underdeveloped.
The director has focused almost entirely on the protagonist's characterization, neglecting to create engaging moments or a coherent flow between sequences.
The hero frequently delivers dialogues like "evadi kosam endukosam" for minor events, but the writing lacks the depth and sharpness required to elevate the narrative.
Despite these shortcomings, the film has a few compelling moments, such as the heroine’s evaluation of the hero at the railway station, the interval bang, and the tragic conclusion.
Overall, despite Allari Naresh’s sincere effort in portraying Malli, Bachchala Malli fails to be compelling. While the message is well-intentioned, the execution and treatment lack the engaging quality necessary to leave a lasting impact.
Bottom line: Routine