What’s it about?
2008. In his colony in the slums of Hyderabad’s Begumpet neighborhood, Veerayya (Samuthirakani) runs a sulabh complex. He is disabled as well as extremely poor. Raju, his 9-year-old son (Master Dhruvan) has a fixation on aeroplanes. He longs to experience air travel at least once.
But buying a plane ticket is out of Veerayya’s reach. Despite their penury conditions, the father and son are content.
But, their happiness is short-lived due to Raju’s terminal cancer. Veerayya is heartbroken after hearing that his son has less than a month to live. Can Veerayya make his son’s wish come true?
Analysis
The story of “Vimanam” revolves around a simple point: what lengths a poor father will go to in order to grant his terminally ill son’s wish.
The film opens with the audience being introduced to the relationship between a disabled father and his fourth-grade son. The story takes place in 2008, when the Begumpet was still home to Hyderabad city’s airport. Simple moments between the father and son, the son’s fixation on airplanes, slum life, and a subplot involving a prostitute and a cobbler make up the bulk of the film’s first half.
The early sequences suggest it’s going to follow in the footsteps of the critically-acclaimed Hollywood film “The Pursuit of Happyness” (2006), but it loses its way after that.
While the story’s main component is effective, and there are some moving scenes, the narration lacks contemporary feel. The director seems to be reaching for emotional manipulation in the sentimental scenes.
Additionally, the main idea itself suffers from logic issues. Even if he sold his shack, it’s hard to believe that a father in this day and age (in 2008) wouldn’t be able to afford at least one plane ticket so that his kid could experience the thrill of flight.
Samuthirakani’s performance, however, draws us deeply into the drama. He does a fantastic job of portraying a struggling parent with a disability. His acting in the climactic episode and his lamenting of God’s cruelty to him and his son stand out. The little kid is good and adorable, too.
Though Rahul Ramakrishna’s portrayal of a cobbler, the sub plot involving him and Anasuya seems out of place. Anasuya portrays a prostitute. Meera Jasmine makes a cameo appearance.
Bottom line: The father-son drama, “Vimanam” conveys a message that the father is the true god because he grants the child’s every wish. While the message is poignant and Samuthirakani gives convincing performance, the film’s narrative is devoid of contemporary style. An old-school drama.
Rating: 2.5/5
Film: Vimanam
Cast: Samuthirakani, Master Dhruvan, Anasuya Bharadwaj, Rahul Ramakrishna, Dhanraj, Meera Jasmine
Dialogues: Hanu Ravuri
Music: Charan Arjun
Director of Photography: Vivek Kalepu
Editor: Marthand K Venkatesh
Art Director: JK Murthy
Producers: Kiran Korrapati & Zee Studios
Written and Directed by: Siva Prasad Yanala
Release Date: June 09, 2023
