'Miss India', starring Keerthy Suresh, started premiering on Netflix India from midnight of November 3. Directed by Y Narendra Nath, the film is produced by Mahesh S Koneru. Does the film have the calibre to win the audience's hearts? Let's find out.
Story
Manasa Samyuktha (Keerthy Suresh) sets up a tea business in the US, much against the wishes of Kailash Shiv Shankar (Jagapathi Babu). Kailash is a coffee chain baron who believes women should just give up without fighting. A cunning businessman, he makes evil plans to bring Samyuktha down. Can he succeed?
Performances
Keerthy Suresh is the film's only saving grace. Her measured act is what makes the film bearable, at least. Jagapathi Babu is routine and we have seen him do this stuff in the past. Naveen Chandra and Sumanth Sailendra are decent enough. Rajendra Prasad, Naresh and Nadhiya are forgettable. Divya Drishti and Pujitha Ponnada as the heroine's partners are okayish.
Technical aspects
Thaman's background score is two-note, but it somehow manages to glamourize the protagonist. The cinematography is ordinary. The production design passes muster.
Plus Points
The theme that women needn't be confined to home is ennobling. Casting the 'Mahanati' actress was, thus, smart.
Having no separate tracks for comedy and songs is another noteworthy plus.
Minus Points
There is no plot worth a mention. The heroine keeps rising and rising as if business is a child's play.
The tricks played by the evil villain were played by the villains in old-school movies made three decades ago.
The climax is rushed through. Keerthy Suresh declares her victory at an unbelievably breakneck speed.
Sumanth Sailendra's character is conveniently written. What would have been the fate of the protagonist if not for him? We don't find an answer.
The family scenes are not stupid but they are way too underwhelming and cliched. You can predict Rajendra Prasad's fate easily.
The dialogues are a letdown.
Closing Remarks
Debutant writer-director Y Narendra Nath managed to impress Keerthy Suresh, so much so, 'Miss India' is the first movie she signed up to do after the release of 'Mahanati'. Since she is there in almost every scene, the star actress must have seen no reason to think she shouldn't do the movie. But the scenes are so vacuous and empty that even TV serials show better corporate wars these days.
Since the film is available on OTT, people might watch it despite negative reviews. Especially those of us who have been tired of watching back-to-back thrillers.
