What’s it about?
The story takes place in rural Telangana in the 1980s, presumably in the Adilabad-Nizambad area. In the village of Gurram Gattu, there exists a practice of presenting a pottel (rim) as a sacrifice to the village goddess Balamma. The responsibility of overseeing the designated pottel is assigned to Gangadhari (Yuva Chandra), a shepherd who is also labeled as mentally unstable.
However, Gangadhari is not cognitively impaired. He understands the reality of the village politics: the Patel deceives the villagers by claiming that the spirit of Goddess Balamma possesses him and communicates through him. Another villager familiar with Patel’s (Ajay) deception is Bujjamma (Ananya Nagalla), who ultimately weds Gangadhari.
Patel prohibits people from the backward and scheduled classes in the area from attending the school; yet, Gangadhari is resolute in his commitment to educate his daughter. He diligently strives to educate his daughter, but when the Pottel vanishes, Patel and the villagers issue a warning: either locate the rim or they will sacrifice his daughter to the god.
Will Gangadhari locate the missing rim, and will he succeed in his endeavor to educate his daughter?
Analysis
“Pottel” tells a period story that emphasizes the importance of the right to education. Directed by Sahit Mothkhuri, known for Savaari (2020), the period narrative bears resemblances to works by acclaimed Tamil director Vetrimaaran. However, this film, despite possessing a potent message and an equally engaging opening episodes, is hindered by its own burden. Films with a message require concise narration. Beyond the captivating quality, they must evoke the desired emotions through the depicted scenes. Sahit Mothkhuri’s writing is unable to convey this point effectively.
He, however, presents the early sequences quite well. He successfully creates intrigue with his screenplay in the beginning. The director also skillfully filmed the final climax episode. The first episodes and the climax episodes have been quite effective, but the remaining two-hour narrative is where it falters. The emotional impact at the pivotal point is insignificant, and there are also logical issues present.
The main story takes place in the late 1980s, featuring a scene where the village hosts a screening of RGV’s “Shiva” (1989). So, the sequences in this film look far from the logic and reality of that period.
Take, for example: The protagonist is fully aware of the patel’s deception. If the village bans the protagonist from entering, he, his wife, and their child have the option to relocate to a different village or a distant location, where they can reside and enroll their daughter in a school. He does not own any properties in that village. In those days, most of the Telangana villagers migrated to Bombay for work. If the protagonist really wanted his child to educate, he could migrate. Such illogical situations make the story and the protagonist’s struggle appear superficial. Furthermore, by the late 1980s, when the story is set, even in rural Telangana, the Patels had lost control, and the government system was heavily present.
The discrimination and atrocities against the lower class were present then (and even now), but it is hard to believe that a Patel banished the entire village from getting an education.
The performances are appreciable, with Ajay receiving the majority of the attention. As a feudal lord, occasionally portraying a character involved in “sigam,” Ajay delivers a captivating performance. His body language complements his attire; he executes everything well. The principal actor, Yuva Chandra, depicting a villager, is earnest. Ananya Nagalla, in a deglamorized role, demonstrates her dedication to portraying the character authentically. The child actor Tanasvi is cute. Srikanth Aiyengar is okay.
The film exhibits top-quality production design, and the cinematography is good. The songs lack catchiness, but they complement the theme. As a director, Sahit Mothkhuri shows his mark in the beginning episodes and climax part, but his writing is not strong in the crucial parts.
Bottomline: “Pottel” effectively addresses certain aspects of education and conveys a message; however, its overall impact is lacking due to its flat and familiar narration. The positive intent also necessitates a compelling narrative.
Rating: 2.5/5
By: Jalapathy Gudelli
Movie: Pottel
Cast: Yuva Chandra Krishna, Ananya Nagalla, Ajay, Noel, Priyanka Sharma and others
Music: Shekar Chandra
DOP: Monish Bhupathi Raju
Editor: Karthika Srinivas R
Art Director: Narni Srinivas
Stunts: Rabin Subbu
Produced by: Nishank Reddy Kudithi, Suresh Kumar Sadige
Written and Directed by: Sahit Mothkhuri
Release Date: October 25, 2024
