Garam - Movie Review

Movie: Garam
Cast: Aadi, Adah Sharma, Brahmanandam, Naresh, Prudhvi, Tanikella Bharani, Posani, Shakalaka Shankar, Jayaprakash Reddy, Chaitanya Krishna, Madhunandan, Nasser, and others
Story: Sreenivas Gavireddy
Music: Agasthya
Lyrics: Bhaskara Bhatla, Pulagam, Sri Mani
Cinematography: T Surendra Reddy
Editing: Karthika Srinivas
Action: Thriller Manju
Banner: Sreenivasai Creations
Produced by: P Surekha
Directed by: Madan
Release Date:  Feb 12, 2016

What's it about!

The film begins to tell the childhood story of two young boys; one of them is a dullard and the other one is a brilliant child.  As they grow up, Varalu (Aadi) develops hatred for Ravi (Chaitanya Krishna) and their fathers (Tanikella Bharani and Naresh, respectively) share less-than-amicable relationship as neighbours.  Ravi moves to Hyderabad for work and is pestered by his father, Varalu too moves to Hyderabad on the pretext of finding a job.    

Once in the city, Aadi forgets all about finding a job and stalks Adah Sharma, a burqa-clad girl, who talks less and smiles more.  There is a sub-plot involving a bunch of thugs, who are hunting for someone.  

There is more to it than meets the eye. Varalu is in the city with a secret purpose and the rest of the film is how Kabir Dulhan Singh, Nasser, and Adah Sharma come to be players in the game.

Analysis:

Director Madan has a record for telling stories like 'Pellaina Kothalo' and 'Pravarakhyudu' with different sensibilities.  This time, he chooses a story with a dash of crime thriller quotient thrown in. The suspense doesn't unfold in an interesting way.  When the hero is not much worried or challenged even in the second half, why would the audience take him seriously? It is an indication of the things to come. An uninspiring flashback where the backstory is revealed in a way that's an insult to the audiences humble tastes. 

The romantic track doesn't excite the audience in any way. It presents the same old jokes whenever our cinema has had a burqa-wearing heroine and a hero who gets curiously dumb after showing flashes of heart-enabled intelligence.The songs come as a serious distraction to the pace of the story. 

As for the comic episode involving Aadi, Shakalaka Shankar, Madhu Nandhan and the hostel owner, it is almost childish. Brahmanandam as an alien who turns into Mr. Google to solve his clients problems is a dumb idea, to say the least.  Posani Krishna Murali shouldn't do such roles just to make sure that there is no overdose of him, same hold good for Brahmi.

The film could have been better had the momentum of the flashback involving Naresh and his wife, Aadi and Tanikella Bharani been maintained. Instead, it dribbles away with inept scenes.  Today's audiences look for something high-end, especially as far as villains are concerned. Showing the same old style of villainy doesn't help.  Kabir Dulhan's character should have been better written.

Aadi has done neat job as actor and he has improved his acting skills too. He has shown energy in dances. Adah's character is totally underdeveloped.

The technical elements are a big let down. Agastya's music needed at least some interesting situations and good picturization. Cinematography, editing and other technical aspects don't require to mention about them.

Bottom Line: 'Garam' is ice cold. Nothing about the movie impresses, from acting to storyline the film is lame.

Rating: 2.5/5