Rating: 2/5
Cast: Ravi Teja, Siya, Mumaith Khan, Riya, Krishna Bhagwan, Surekha Vani, Supreet, Subba Raju, Brahmanandam, Venu Madhav, Rama Prabha, Sayaji Shinde etc
Cinematography: Sam K Naidu
Music: Chakri
Editing: Varma
Art: Chinna
Fights: Ram-Laxman
Producer: DVV Danayya
Story, Screenplay, Direction: Puri Jagannath
Released On: 18 Dec 2008
The much awaited movie 'Neninthe' has seen light today. As it is directed by ace film maker Puri Jagannath, obviously the expectations have rose big. Is the film in tune with expectations? Let's peep into the details.
Story:
Ravi (Ravi Teja) is an aspiring film director who works as an assistant director at Idly Vishwanath (Brahmanandam). Mallik (Subba Raju) is the hero of the film and Mumaith (Mumaith Khan) happens to be heroine for that project. Sandhya (Siya), the junior artiste cum troupe dancer falls in crush with Ravi. But Ravi is goal oriented like Kamal Hasan in Sagarasangamam.
And striking another resemblance, Ravi's mother (Rama Prabha) ails with a cancer. Amidst all this, how Ravi reaches his goal by impressing heroes and producers with his talent forms the main theme.
In the process of narration, the director has touched several corners of film world and slashed several departments surrounding film world.
Performances:
Ravi Teja did his best in his role. He proved to be the best one to portray emotional anger with sentimental touch. His performance when a dying fan calls him on phone is impressive.
Siya is hefty and not possessed with sharp features. But still she is good for the eyes of audiences. She enacted her role satisfactorily.
Krishna Bhagawan portrayed role with villain shades while Supreet made his presence as rugged villain. Rest of the crew is ok.
Coming to technical aspects, cinematography worked well. Music is just average. Apart from the song 'Krishna nagare mama..' nothing is haunting. Puri's direction is filled with anguish and missed logic several times. He gave confused characterization for hero as well. Initially hero appears to be practical and balanced even in fights. But in next scene he fights like any other action hero. The director might have missed the understanding that the atmosphere shown in this movie (overseas rights, reviews, gossips…) wouldn't appeal for mass and rural audiences. The titles of the films are very interesting with ample of nostalgic appeal.
Analysis:
It's the 'confessions of Puri Jagannath on film world'. He has shown a great variety in the concept he has chosen but failed to handle it in proper way. Although the film is insipid there are a few sensibilities in it.
Sensible Dialogues And Scenes:
Ravi Teja: "rupai sampadinchaleni evvadu I love you cheppadaaniki arhudu kaadu" (it appeals for all students and teenagers)
Rama Prabha: "chaduvu sandhyalleni vedhavalanthaa cinemaallo panichesthuntaarani bayata oka talk undi. Anduke daanini cherapadaaniki K Raghavendra Rao BA, SV Krishna Reddy M Com ani vesukunnattugaa nee peru venuka kooda MBA ani pettaanu" (this enlightens the people those assume that film people are illiterates)
Sai Ram's suicide episode moves the hearts of audiences (that's a lesson taught by director for entire fans' community)
Sayaji Shinde: "2% success rate tho nadiche industry lo unnam. Edadiki 150 cinemaalu vasthunte andulo 2 leda 3 hit avvadame kashtam ayipothondi" (it's a macro level analysis that utters a bitter fact)
Target-Websites:
Shyaji Shinde calls his nephew in USA and says to him in anguish, "Don't read reviews and go to films. Watch films first and then read reviews" (What's the logic in this? If that can be done, then producers can screen their films first and then think about collections).
The great dialogue also says, "Don't bother for your mere US$ 8 and kill cinema by not watching it" (How many NRIs support this dialogue? The dialogue says that the dollars should be squeezed out from NRIs by producers and in that process, reviews shouldn't hinder)
Shinde also says, "Websites give ratings for the films as per their whims and fancies. They give positive rating when they distribute them overseas and negative rating when they don't" (if that can be the assumption, the website reviewers can come to conclusion that talented film directors also make films as per their whims and fancies. They make sensible films when they are down to earth and make bullshit when over-confidence hits their heads).
Shinde also says, "Dr Ramanaidu at that age is establishing new studios just for passion and not for money" (if that is the understanding, why can't the director understand that websites are also running just with passion to entertain people but not for money. Well, how many producers give Ads for websites and how many websites run behind producers for Ads? There is that evidence for websites to claim that they are running with more passion and less money. But what is the evidence for Ramanaidu's 'mere-passion' to start a new studio as claimed through this movie?)
The film has discussed lot many things but that is not in tune with the entertainment requirement of audiences. Certainly the movie is a bold venture but the director would have dealt with this with better conviction. It's a personal review of Puri Jagannath on 'Tollywood'. His entire confessions are grooved in this film. He expressed his views on egos of directors, crazy fans, websites and reviews, rowdies in film world, woes of junior artistes and everything. Too many things made the movie over loaded with subject shunning the entertainment value. Both first half and second half run with dull pace. The tempo of the film is not active but appeared lengthy.
(SiraSri can be reached at [email protected])
