Chandamama Kathalu Review

BOTTOM LINE
Good in parts but flat overall.

Censor
138 mins, U/A Certified.

OUR RATING

What is “Chandamama Kathalu” about?
As said by the makers of the film Chandamama Kathalu is an anthology film. It contains seven different stories all rolled into. Are they connected to each other, what are the individual stories and how they finally end is what the film is all about.

How is Manchu Lakshmi’s performance?
Manchu Lakshmi Prasanna plays it to the galleries with her ex model character. However it looks completely fake and forced rather than natural. She tries very hard and it shows on screens which shouldn’t be the case actually.

Direction by Praveen Sattaru?
Director Praveen Sattaru has once again chosen to be different after trying his hand and failing at a rom-com. He looks more at home here narrating stories that are short and emotional appeal that is small. And that is the problem with the film in general. There is no sustained emotion to engage us through out. Entire first half feels like a set up where as the second half it’s all conclusions one by one. Since those are different stories that we are dealing with the emotions evoked too are varying which makes us indifferent to the whole enterprise. In the end the film is uneven and only parts of it engage.

Other artists performance?
As there are seven different short stories in the film there are a number of actors playing those various characters. The one’s that stand out are Kishore playing the writer and the doting father, Krishnudu playing the lovable bachelor who is afraid that time is running out to get married. Then there is Naresh playing the cool and modern guy. While others play characters that are expected and typical of them, Naresh plays a character that is completely different for him and pulls it off largely. His pairing with Aamani is very neat and the whole track is neatly done. Abhijit Pundla, Krishneshwar Rao, Naga Shourya, Chaitanya etc are well cast for the characters they play. Krishneshwar Rao as beggar makes an impact due to the little interest here character creates. But again the butchery leaves us with no real impact overall. Vennela Kishore, Surekha Vani and Rishi etc are wasted in small and inconsequential roles. Richa Panai looks beautiful and that is all she has to do in the film.

How is Mickey J Meyer’s Music and others?
Music by Mickey J Mayer is in his predictable style but it’s the way the director uses it throughout in bits and pieces makes an impact.His music and background score is what ultimately makes one sits through the whole film. Editing for a film of this type is very crucial. Editing is decent here. Cinematography is alright.

Highlights?
Climax.
Background score.
Few performances.

Drawbacks?
Slow paced narration.
Predictable moments throughout.
Lack of strong cohesive emotion.

What about the box office performance of the film?
The film has opened very poorly and looking at its theme and kind of film it is it will hard for the general mass audience to embrace it even with a good word of mouth. Whatever little run the film can get has come to come from the urban centers but they have other entertainment sources to look to. In short the film will find it hard to survive.

Did I enjoy it?
Yes, in parts.

Will you recommend it?
Yes but with great apprehension.

OUR RATING

Reviewed by Siddhartha