Chal Mohan Ranga – Movie Review

What’s it about!
Mohan Ranga (Nithin) and Megha (Megha Akash) meet for the first time when they are kids in Hyderabad. She is now settled in the USA with her mother. After completing his graduation, Mohan Ranga heads to the USA (he gets Visa for a funny reason). They are destined to meet each other and she meets him by dashing her car to him. Friendship blossom and soon they meet again and again and they start liking each other. She is rich, he is middle-class. His goal is to earn lots of money in the USA. She wants to propose him but backtracks in the thought if she does he would not reach his goal of earning money and heads to Ooty. But guilt almost kills her and she can’t focus on anything. As luck would have it, Mohan Ranga enters in her life again. What happens next?
 
Analysis
 
Films made with the theme of destiny or serendipity are in vogue these days in Tollywood. Also stories about young couple who meet twice or thrice “accidentally” in their phase of life are being explored of late. Like in recently released “Hello’, the lovers are destined for each other from childhood. Unlike ‘Hello’, they meet very soon and fall in love. Like in recent Varun Tej starrer ‘Tholi Prema’, in ‘Chal Mohan Ranga’ too ego-clashes play a role in their separation. All these three films have explored the same theme but they are different in their own way.
 
This is the story of Mohan Ranga and Megha. Mohan Ranga leaves a puppy for Megha in his childhood, she presents him an alcohol bottle, she keeps book called ‘Everything Is A Sign’….. all these play roles in their lives by uniting them at regular intervals. Director Krishna Chaitanya (who directed and wrote screenplay) and writer Trivikram have left enough clues from the beginning that they would definitely meet in the end and live happily ever after. The writer and director seem to have known very well that their flimsy story doesn’t hold much interest. So, they have worked on screenplay to make it engaging. The story begins with seriously injured Nithin and Megha being admitted in hospital and Nithin narrating the story that happened before this incident.
 
Then the story focuses on Nithin’s character and how he hard he tries for the USA visa and how funnily he lands in the US. Interestingly, both Nithin and Megha meet with an ‘accident’ in US. Later they start liking each other when they travel to a particular place (this reminds us of Venky-Arthi Agarwal’s episode in ‘Nuvvu Naku Nachchavu’). And the movie comes to intermission with this message: “Prema Kalagadaniki Kaaranalu Undaavu Vidipodaniki Daarunalu Jaragavu” (Love can happen without reasons, breakups don’t require calamities). 

Anyone can easily guess what will happen in the second half. This is sort of road movie with romantic angle. There are no major twists and turns. Even there are not much romantic episodes on the couple either, as they always seem to be fighting each other like Pawan and Bhumika in ‘Khushi’ (yes, there is a replica scene of Pawan Kalyan drinking with Ali from Kushi). Though the film is about destiny, it treads in regular style of Telugu romantic stories. However, Krishna Chaitanya has infused good dose of fun elements. There are many hilarious scenes that have worked out so well. Even the one-liners are funny.

The issue is that the dialogues do not have enough backup of meaningful scen. Second half of the movie turns quite monotonous. Nothing much happens post interval except some funny episodes. Second half turns dull but luckily the climax part is interesting.
 
Nithin has done fantastic job in the role of Mohan Ranga. He has done this role in matured way. Megha Akash is good in the later portions. Rao Ramesh’s character works in the final sequences. Madhu Nandan is okay. Senior actress Lissy has returned to Telugu cinema after long time but she has played typical mother role. The kid who played Megha’s sister is very impressive.
 
Currently, music composer Thaman is in form. He has delivered some decent numbers for this film as well. However, his background score lacks dhum.The beautiful camerawork from 
cinematographer Nataraja Subramanian (of ‘Jab We Met’ and ‘A Aa’ fame) has given the film rich value. Production values are good. But editor has done bad job. Many scenes have stayed beyond its supposed length. Many scenes needed sharp cutting. Director Krishna Chaitanya has imitated Trivikram in direction and screenplay than leaving his mark.

Bottom-line: Bottom-line: ‘Chal Mohan Ranga’ works in the department of comedy (most hilarious scene is ‘jockey’ underwear episode). The first half is engaging enough but second half lacks effectiveness with lengthy scenes. Comedy and music have tried to salvage this movie that has road elements, destiny theme.