Buzzing Movies

Viyyalavari Kayyalu stars Udaykiran, Neha Jhulka and Srihari. Udaykiran, after starting off his career with a bang, disappeared off the horizon in between. He reappeared of course, but the movies were few and all duds, including his last Abaddam. After Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana and Dhee, Srihari is cast in another prominent role, again as the female lead's brother. The plot is a revamp of so many other movies and there's nothing new in this one.

Plot Nandini falls in love with Vamsi, a hair stylist, after he saves her from some eve-teasers. He rejects her but later falls for her when he sees how attached she is to her family. He stays with her family, consisting of her brother, sister-in-law and grandmother, trying to win her brother's approval. He is a leader in the Rayalseema district and people look up to him. Meanwhile, Vamsi's father is a 'resigned' justice-loving judge who spends two years selecting four girls for Vamsi. The two families seem impossible to convince, but how love wins them over is what the movie is about.

Story, Screenplay and Direction The story and the screenplay are the same old, same old. The direction is mediocre. The pace is really slow. The movie drags along, breaking into a song now and a fight in between. The way the love story between Vamsi and Nandini begins is juvenile. Srihari's character adds a new dimension to the story, and all other characters are overshadowed for a while.

So there's a couple in love. They want to convince their families and marry, and not against their will. So first the guy comes to the girl's place, trying to win her family over. Then it's the turn of the other potential viyyala varu. Does this sound familiar at all? Why, there have been umpteen movies with this theme. But forget similar plot lines in the hit Bommarillu or the dud Laila Majnu or any other movie. Viyyalavari Kayyalu borrows even scenes, like a scene or two totally reminiscent of Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge.

The pace is already slow, but to add to the misery there are some unnecessary scenes, which neither amuse nor add anything to the movie. Vamsi suddenly breaks into a song with four girls showing off their midriffs prominently; all of them potential brides, who finally tie him a rakhee and lecture his father. The entire movie is predictable, with only a few saving graces. The second half is slightly better than the first and the movie picks up pace before the climax.

Performances Srihari looks well-groomed, confident and has amazing screen presence. He is one actor who has shown tremendous improvement as a performer. From entering movies as a trained gymnast to showing his caliber as an artiste, he has come a long way.

Udaykiran too loses his erstwhile stammer and the raw dialogue rendering of say, Nuvvu Nenu. He gives a decent performance, but is overshadowed in the second half completely by Srihari, whose show it is thereon. He has become a little stiff though, and that shows when he dancing, and not in his performance.

Neha Jhulka sits pretty in the frame, but does nothing else. Kousalya makes a good pair with Srihari, dainty next to the dynamite. Shakuntala, Krishna Bhagwan, Jeeva, Narsing Yadav, Raghu Babu and Jayaprakash Reddy are cast in their stereotyped roles. Sayaji Shinde and Kavitha as Udaykiran's parents are okay and Venumadhav as his friend adds to the humor element in the movie.

Song and Dance The music is mediocre. The picturization and choreography do nothing to uplift it. But the song 'Suryude Sare Annade' stands out in the movie. The background in the first half is bad, while in the second half it picks up.

Last Word Viyyalavari Kayyalu lacks freshness and quality. It is like a nice fruit that has been kept for too long, and has therefore been spoiled. The director, music composer and the prominent cast have all worked in better movies before, and this comes as a disappointment.

End Credits

Starring:Srihari, Udaykiran, Neha Jhulka, Kousalya, Sayaji Shinde, Kavitha, Jayaprakash Reddy, Krishna Bhagawan, Raghubabu, Shakuntala, Venumadhav, Suman Shetty, Dharmavarapu, Babloo and Others.
Art: Ashok.
Action: Ram-Laxman.
Cinematography: Ajayan Vincent.
Dialogues: Sainath.
Editing: Marthand K. Venkatesh.
Music: Ramana Gogula.
Direction: Kotasatyanarayana E. (Sattibabu).
Producer: Smt. Lagadapati Sireesha Sridhar.
Banner: Ramalaxmi Cine Creations.
Release Date: 1st November, 2007.

Labels: Kousalya, Neha Jhulka, Udaykiran, Viyyalavari KayyaluSrihari

Posted by Raj on Thursday, 1 November, 2007 at 1:55 PM | Permalink