BOTTOM LINE
Decent Debut, Decent First Half
RATING
2.25/5
Story, Screenplay, Director: Mahesh Uppala
Cast: Aniesh, Anaswara Rajan, Vennela Kishore, Mukesh Rishi, Brahmaji, Raghu Babu
Music Director: Thaman S
DOP: Raja Mahadhevan
Editor: Koti K
Producer: Venky Kudumula
Presented By: Akkineni Nagarjuna
Production Company: What Next Entertainments
U.S. Distributor: Prathyangira Cinemas
Related Links: Trailer
What Is the Film About?
Arjun (Aniesh) is a mute guy who secretly loves Keerthi (Anaswara Ranjan). However, he is a thief, and her strict mother doesn’t let her anywhere near him. As a result, Arjun keeps his love to himself.
How do Arjun and Keerthi meet? What happens when they are caught in the crossfire of a big don’s gang and the police? The movie’s basic story is about Arjun finding a way out of the mess and also winning the girl.
Performances
Aniesh makes his debut with Itlu Arjuna. The character is an unusual choice, as it is that of a mute guy. This makes it all the more challenging and exciting, as delivering it would make him stand out among the sea of actors coming into Telugu cinema.
Aniesh’s sincerity comes through in his performance. You can see the effort and energy he brings to the role, and he dances well, too. Much of the challenge lies in conveying emotion without dialogue. A supporting character often fills in for him, which makes the role feel passive. Aniesh ends up taking a back seat even though his character drives the story. It’s a tough ask for a debutant, but conveying those emotions on his own would have elevated his performance. Overall, he does a decent job in his first film.
Anaswara Rajan, on the other hand, gets a tailor-made role. She takes to it like a fish to water. The characterisation is that of a simple girl caught in extraordinary circumstances with lots of silly humour. She nails it and keeps things running smoothly whenever she is around. It’s not a role of a lifetime, but it is the movie’s lifeline.
Analysis
Mahesh Uppala writes and directs Itlu Arjuna. It’s an action comedy with all the commercial elements in place, usually featuring a tier-two star, albeit from a few years ago. Here, it’s made with a newcomer.
It doesn’t take long to understand the movie’s content. The opening segment featuring the hero’s intro as a child, followed by the villain introduction and core hook of the story, makes things amply clear.
That’s why the narrative feels like a drag at first. The protagonists’ and antagonists’ worlds, which would collide later, and the issues they face feel generic and routine, giving a deja vu feel.
The proceedings gain momentum once the lead pair come into contact. Even so, the opening moments don’t quite sit well, but as it progresses, the fun starts to work, and the pair deliver what’s needed to keep the tale alive.
The pre-interval-to-interval segment amps up the drama, although nothing unpredictable. But it works due to the lead pair.
The second half fails to build on what the first half sets up and struggles to hold your interest. That’s the film’s biggest problem.
The villain angle is so loosely woven into the formulaic story that it’s hard to take the central conflict seriously. The ending is far too convenient and feels unnecessary.
The drama is built only to end in a rush, with things resolving magically.
The pre-climax has a lot of bang, but it is all sound without any emotional connection. Whatever little of it there is shows up in the ending, and that’s it.
Overall, Itlu Arjuna doesn’t offer anything unique, despite its unique hero character. What it does decently is execute a known commercial entertainer formula with quality and slickness. It makes for a harmless, passable watch if you set your expectations accordingly.
Performances by Other Actors
The movie’s casting is good. It mixes Telugu and Tamil actors, apart from Hindi veteran Mukesh Rishi. Vennela Kishore, Brahmaji, Raghu Babu, and Getup Srinu are Telugu, while Kalaiyarasan Harikrishnan and Elango Kumaravel are Tamil. They all fit their respective roles and do their work adequately. Vennela Kishore, Brahmaji, etc., for example, do their usual and deliver what’s necessary.
Music and Other Departments?
S Thaman provides the music and the background score. After a gap, he gets the scope to deliver commercial melody numbers, which he does well, even though they remind one of his past work. The background score follows the same template the music director has used in the last few years. The pre-climax and climax portions especially have a strong hangover from his most recent popular work.
Technically, the movie is fab. The cinematography is good. The editing is fine. The movie has a slick look. The writing is decent, but it also adds to the vibe that the content is a few years old.
Highlights?
Slick Execution
Screenplay
Casting
Fun, In Parts
Drawbacks?
Content Gives a Dated Feel
Second Half
A forced, overly convenient ending
Too template-driven
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, I enjoyed the first half.
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, if you’re okay with a formulaic commercial film that’s fun in parts and falls short overall.
Itllu Arjuna Movie Reviewed by Kalyan
