'Gangs Of Godavari', produced by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya on Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas Banner respectively, was released in theatres today. In this section, we are going to review the latest BO release.
Plot:
In a Lanka village in the 1990s, Lankala Rathna (Vishwak Sen) attempts to rise in political ranks. Bujji (Neha Shetty), the daughter of the local political heavyweight Nanaji (Nassar), falls in love with him. Meanwhile, Rathna has plans to backstab his master, triggering a triangular fight. What consequences does this have? Can Rathna and Bujji have a happy ending?
Performances:
Vishwak Sen was expected to offer both entertainment value and an action frenzy. He was better in 'Falaknuma Das', falling short on either front in the film under review. Neha Shetty as Bujji fails to carry her character on her shoulders. Anjali's performance sees an ascension alongside the ascending graph of her character.
Goparaju Ramana plays Doraswamy Raju, the second most prominent character after the lead man. Casting him in an out-and-out serious role was an absurd decision. Any future film that repeats such a blunder shouldn't be taken seriously.
Nassar is good, while Hyper Aadi and Pammi Sai are seen as the hero's sidekicks. Mayank Parakh is seen as a cop. Sai Kumar has a cameo role in the flashback; the way he miraculously remains unmoved when he is burnt alive is the lowest point of the film.
Technical aspects:
Anurag Kulkarni's voice in 'Suttamla Soosi' is a plus. MM Manasi's 'Motha' complements a certain style of music brought out by Yuvan Shankar Raja. Ayesha Khan shines in the song as the item girl. 'Bad' is a proper character-centric song brought to life by the composer. The background score is pulsating here and there.
Navin Nooli's editing pattern is conventional. Anith Madhadi's cinematography goes beyond the palette we have associated 'Pushpa' and 'Dasara' with.
Post-Mortem:
Writer-director Krishna Chaitanya iterated in his pre-release interviews that the Godavari region has been vastly romanticized in Telugu movies. His image of the region is that of a place that is not immune to brutal, over-ambitious men.
This reviewer gave up on the film during the fake kidnap scene in the first half. It was proof enough that the modus vivendi and modus operandi of the hero is lazily written. The rest of the film didn't hold much value. It was only a matter of time before the anti-heroes would be made to look like complete clowns despite being biggies in politics but don't know the fundamentals of politicking. Rathna is a past master at everything.
At one point, during a crucial moment, Goparaju Ramana's character cribs that his followers are royally seated cross-logged while those of the hero are standing behind him. This is the level at which Kota Srinivasa Rao's characters used to be in the 1990s films.
When Rathna blurts out his plans to his sidekick, it is evident that the scriptwriter is spoon-feeding the audience. Bujji patches up with Rathna after a life-altering incident. Yes, such patching happens between couples in real life. But you are supposed to build drama before such an emotionally deep moment. The mental transition undergone by Bujji feels like a mood swing here.
Vishwak Sen is power-drunk but lacks the earnestness on his face because of the weak characterization. Also, who is telling Telugu filmmakers that factionists do things out of haste and repent at leisure? These filmmakers would have you believe that factionists and power-hungry politicians are incapable of thinking through the consequences of their extreme actions.
Closing Remarks:
It would be wrong to say that 'Gangs Of Godavari' is a wasted opportunity. There was no opportunity in the first place. Somebody manufactured an opportunity because the hero's dates were available.
