What’s it about?
In Hyderabad, Vaira Vasundhara (Ramya Krishna) is sworn in as a member of the state cabinet. Her father Venkataswamy (Prakash Raj) believes it would be best to take the statement that Ramana, the son of Vasundara Devi from her previous marriage, has no relationship to her at all.
Raised by his aunt (Eswari Rao), Ramana (Mahesh Babu) lives in Guntur. Ramana’s father also stays there. He is called to Hyderabad to sign the documents. Wanting to know why his mother left him and his father, Ramana declines to sign the documents.
And why does Venkataswamy insist that Ramana, his own grandson, should not have contact with Vasundhara?
Analysis
The first thing that came to mind while watching “Guntur Kaaram” was that Trivikram, a great screenwriter of Telugu cinema, appears to be stuck in his own loop of ideas. He’s been writing scripts with the same theme for a long time: conflict over ‘varasudu,’ or domestic politics. This can be found in “Atarintiki Daaredi,” “Agnyaathavaasi,” or “Ala Vaikunthapurramloo.”
Trivikram drew inspiration for “Guntur Kaaram” from the novel “Keerthi Keratalu” by Yaddanapudi Sulochana Rani.
In the novel, a renowned musician who abandoned her son at a young age longs to see him. The son, now an adult, lives in Guntur with his grandfather. The setting has been changed to the political world in this film, and it is the grandfather who summons. He didn’t take the novel completely, but he was inspired by parts of it and tried to fit them into his commercial meter.
But while watching this film, what instills our conviction is the absence of a discernible script. A significant portion of the film primarily consists of filler sequences with a noticeable absence of dramatic elements. Upon the arrival of Sreeleela and Vennela Kishore in Guntur, under the pretense of obtaining Mahesh Babu’s signature on the documents, it becomes evident that the film’s foundation is feeble. The inclusion of sequences featuring Sreeleela’s dance performances to different songs, as well as Mahesh Babu wearing a lungi and dancing with her, serves as evidence that these scenes are intended for entertainment and serve as a filler for the duration of the film.
However, in terms of the primary emotional element of the storyline, it falls short. The concluding 20 minutes are captivating, yet these particular scenes fail to evoke a heartfelt response or bring moist our eyes, as Trivikram’s previous films have managed to do. This is main failure of this mother-son drama.
In addition, numerous characters exhibit insufficient character development or significance. Some roles do not justify their existence.
Not that Trivikram made an effort to make an impression as a filmmaker and writer. The film begins with the incineration of a warehouse, accompanied by the song “O Mahatma O Maharshi” by Sri Sri, taken from the film “Akali Rajyam”. Krishna’s hit song “Naa Kosame Nuvvannadi” is one of the songs that has been reworked and used in a sequence that works well. These demonstrate Trivikram’s adeptness in employing astute storytelling techniques, although they are infrequent in occurrence.
Mahesh Babu’s acting is particularly enjoyable for his high energy and dynamism. His dialogue delivery, his exuberance in dancing, and his idiosyncratic mannerisms such as lighting cigarettes in various unconventional ways are bound to exhilarate his fans. Regarding Mahesh Babu, he has dedicated himself completely to the role and injects vitality into the film. A one man’s show.
Sreeleela, the film’s glamorous “figure”, captivates the audience with her mesmerizing dance moves. Meenakshi Chaudhary receives an unfair treatment. Her presence in the film is inconsequential. Ramya Krishna exudes her own vitality in the portrayal of a mother, yet this particular performance does not warrant praise. Prakash Raj’s portrayal of the grandfather character is commendable. Vennela Kishore provides some laughs.
Jagapathi Babu and Rahul Ravindran are also cast in roles that have no significant impact on the film.
Although Thaman’s songs did receive trolling, they are indeed impactful on screen. The song “Kurchi Madatapetti” is highly energetic. The film has ‘rich’ look and frames.
Bottom line: “Guntur Kaaram” adheres to the very regular formula for a family drama that has mass appeal. While situated within the zone of Trivikram, it evokes a sense of familiarity and falls short in delivering emotional impact. Mahesh Babu’s dynamic performance is the redeeming quality, but the weak plot offers no ‘spicy’ feast.
Rating: 2.5/5
By Jalapathy Gudelli
Film: Guntur Kaaram
Cast: Mahesh Babu, Sreeleela, Meenakshi Chaudhary, Ramya Krishna, Prakash Raj, Jagapathi Babu, Rao Ramesh, Rahul Ravindran, Sunil, Vennela Kishore and others
Music: S Thaman
DOP: Manoj Paramahamsa, PS Vinod
Editor: Naveen Nooli
Art: AS Prakash
Action: Ram-Laxman
Producer: S Radha Krishna
Written and Directed by: Trivikram
Release Date: Jan 12, 2024
