Sai and Shujath talk Cinema

This is one film that I thoroughly enjoyed when I was in college and it still is as much fun today. This film was released at about the time Nuvve Kavali was playing in the theatres and I did enjoy this one more.

Venu plays a chef who is scorned at the altar by his maradalu due to his profession. He moves to Hyderabad and falls in love with a girl that he befriends. Before, he can convey his feelings, the girl gets engaged. Despite that he goes ahead and lets her know about his feelings. She is confused by his behavior and her feelings for him but sticks to the arranged marriage. How he gets her forms the rest of the film.

The plot is simple but debutant writer-director G. Ram Prasad’s screenplay has comedy in abundance and the intelligent humor-filled dialogue by Trivikram Srinivas adds to its appeal. Unlike most other youth entertainers of the time, the film doesn’t lose steam by the time it reaches its climax (it doesn’t lose its humor either). However Ram Prasad hasn’t fulfilled the promise that he showed in this film till date (and it reminds me of Siva Nageswara Rao who could never make a film that comes even close to his debut film Money - Uncredited support or talent gone awry? Your guess is as good as mine).

Venu’s character of a simple, straightforward guy who ’says what he thinks and does what he feels’ was highly likeable and key to the entertainment in the film. Though he might not score in the looks department, his comic timing, which he has honed in many films since then, is just right. Shaheen plays the love interest and is alright. Prema gets a small role and does fine. Prakash Raj gets a negative role with a comic touch and he is good as usual. Comedians like Brahmanandam, L.B.Sriram and M.S.Narayana do their jobs well.

The film’s soundtrack by Mani Sarma was quite appealing too. This is one of those rare small budget films with a good score and some nice lyrics too. The tuneful Santosham Sagam Balam with its positive thought, the melodious Andam Nee Pera and the witty Ninnala Monnala come to mind instantly. The title song, which is only part of the background score, is also very good both in terms of tune and lyrics.

I remember at the time that most people didn’t care to watch a film starring Venu (who just had Swayamvaram to his credit then). If you were one of those who missed out on this one, watch it and be entertained.