In Vikram Betaal stories, Betaal warns King Vikram that if he does not speak even after knowing the answer, his head will burst into a thousand pieces. When we watch “Meter,” we wonder if the director was told to keep only formulaic scenes or else his head would explode. “Meter” has faithfully followed the template of hundreds of mass masala movies from the first scene to the last. It’s unclear what compelled the producers to fund this ridiculous and silly plot.
The plot goes as follows: Despite his father’s encouragement, Arjun Kalyan (Kiran Abbavaram) refuses to join the police force. He reluctantly takes the exams and is hired as a Sub Inspector of Police. This uninterested cop irritates the home minister, and one thing leads to another. What happens next is easy to predict.
Hundreds of police procedurals like this one have been depicted in Telugu movies. Even so, the new directors and actors aren’t thinking beyond this tired plot. Kiran Abbavaram, the young actor, appears to have a strong desire to become a “mass hero,” and he is attempting to make such films. He not only goes overboard in every aspect of this film, but he also blindly follows the other stars who have done similar stories.
Tamil actress Athulyaa Ravi plays the stereotypical heroine, the one who despises the guy in one scene and shakes a leg with him in the next. The villain in the film is extremely powerful. Even the chief minister is afraid of him, but the same man acts like a cat in front of this S.I. There are numerous such inane sequences in the film.
Sai Kartheek’s music is typical. The cinematography, editing, and dialogue all scream formulaic pattern.
Bottom line: “Meter” sounds and looks formulaic from the first scene to the last. This “meter” is completely ineffective; it has no “matter.”
Rating: 0.5/5
Film: Meter
Cast: Kiran Abbavaram, Athulyaa Ravi, Saptagiri, Posani, Prudhvi, and others
Music: Sai Kartheek
DOP: Venkat C Dileep
Editor: Karthika Srinivas
Producers: Chiranjeevi (Cherry), Hemalatha Pedamallu
Story, Screenplay and Direction: Ramesh Kaduri
Release Date: April 7, 2023
