Needi Naadi Oke Katha – Movie Review

What’s it about!
Sagar (Sree Vishnu) is weak at studies. His heart is not at it. He fails several times. His father (Devi Prasad), who is a teacher, expects him to excel in studies and he gets frustrated with his son’s attitude. Sagar has another problem: he wants to impress his father at any cost. He meets Daarmika (Santa) who is opposite to him – who is intelligent and gets high marks. With her help, he joins personality development courses and reads books but they are of no use for him. He realizes something finally. What is that?
 
Analysis

Should every guy settle as software engineer or doctor or government officer or other ‘respectable professional’? Should all excel in studies? Why parents exert pressure on their children to “settle in life” in regular way least bothering about the children’s dreams and their skills. Does respectability come only if one does blue-color jobs? Is earning money important or living happily by earning money whatever sufficient amount that comes from the work that one enjoys is important?
 
These are “heavy and important” questions that new director Venu Udugula raises in his two-hour long debut feature film “Needi Naadi Oke Katha” (Yours and Mine Same Story”).
 
There is a saying in Telugu – pandita putra parama suntaa (a pundit’s son is idiot). Like the idiom, the protagonist here is weak in studies, he doesn’t have such mind. His father being a teacher feels shameful that his son lacks aptitude. The film begins in fun manner by establishing how “poor he is at studies” and his meetings with a clever student. He (the protagonist) is living in false life by attempting to pass the exams to win his father’s life. She too is living in pretence: she wants to play games, enjoy life but her father and society termed her as a clever and has been trying to act clever. The director has merged their two stories in fun and interesting manner. Later, he also exposes the scam of “personality development” classes.

Some scenes remind you of great films like K Balachander’s ‘Akali Rajyam’ and ‘Rudraveena’. The aspect of parental pressure on their children to excel in studies is too good.
 
The film’s first half has some lighter moments but it gets heavier as it progresses. To drive the point home, he has included some unwarranted sequences- the scene of hero bringing a driver, a pan shopwallah, and a fruit vendor to home to convince his father that they are all living happily despite not having blue-color jobs. Also the hero’s characterization has problems too. At times, it turns too preachy.
 
However, this film is not regular movie. New director has picked up the theme and subject well and has handled it in sensible and different way. His approach of filmmaking may not appeal to regular audiences. The director thanked the dogma95 film movement and his approach is similar but strangely he also uses songs which is against dogma95 movement.
 
Sree Vishnu is excellent in the film. His Chittoor dialect is revelation. This is his best act. Santa Titus has expressive eyes and is suited well for the Dharmika’s character. Director Devi Prasad has turned actor as he has played father’s role here. He is good here. The actors who played Sree Vishnu’s mother and sister are neat. Other than Sree Vishnu and his mother, no character in the movie speak Chittoor accent. Why?
 
The film’s music is mixed bag. Two melodious songs and some aalaaps are terrific but the background score is heavy at times. Cinematography and artwork is good. As writer and director, Venu Udugula has shown promise. His approach is different from the regular style.
 
Bottom-line: “Needi Naadi Oke Katha” is all about a son who wants to live life on his terms and a father who wants his son to be in respectable position. It has relevant message but is told in off-beat manner. The film may not be liked by all but it will appeal to audiences who like sensible cinema. It is too “heavy” movie despite just two-hours of running time. Sree Vishnu scores as actor. The first time director is a promising talent.