Brahmotsavam - Movie Review

What’s it about

A rich industrialist in Vijayawada played by Sathya Raj has only one ambition in life - to live with all his extended family and lead life with full of celebrations and festivals. While everything is seemed going perfectly in life as his grown up son played by Mahesh Babu also follows his path, he faces one problem from his brother-in- law cum business partner (Rao Ramesh). His brother-in- law, who is already feeling low because all the credit is going to Sathya Raj, is hoping to marry off his daughter (Pranitha) to Mahesh Babu but Mahesh Babu falls in love with his father’s friend’s daughter Kasi (Kajal). Already disgruntled Rao Ramesh can’t take it more and leaves from this joint family leading a huge turbulence in Mahesh’s life. How Mahesh later goes on for finding rest of his long-lost relatives all over the India and how he unites the family forms the rest of the story.

Analysis

Right from his first movie ‘Kotha Bangaru Lokam’, director Sreekanth Addala has written the stories that are rooted in family structure. While his last outing with Mahesh Babu - ‘Seethamma Vaakitlo Sirimalle Chettu’ focused on the bonding between two brothers, ‘Brahmotsavam’ delves on the relationship between a father and a son and a son finding out his roots.

The film has two different stories - first half of the film is Mahesh Babu and his father’s story and second half is about Mahesh finding his own family lineage back to its seven generations. This later part seems to have inspired by the famous novel Alex Haley’s “Roots: The Saga of an American Family”.

While the theme is grand, the narration is awkwardly tedious. It is more of an attempt to pass off some disjointed thoughts putting together as a movie. The movie begins with Samantha narrating how she met the hero and immediately we are taken to Mahesh Babu and his family that constantly sings songs, plays kolatam, performs kalyanam to Lord Venkeshwara. Or heads off to excursion. Or Mahesh sings and dances with Kajal. Entire first half runs like this before the emotional interval bang comes. Just before the interval, Ram Ramesh comments - “Entra life ante patalu padukovadam, kolatalu adukovdam..idena”. The situation of the audience is no different from this. It is only the interval block that tugs at our heart with its emotional point.

In the second half we are introduced to Samantha and then hero heads off to finding seven generation of his family that is scattered all over North India. This idea on paper is actually great one but the director has killed it with his boring narration. Although he takes us to various locations, we don’t feel awe. But the climax sequence works.

Most of the dialogue is too hard to comprehend. Despite the story and screenplay being weak, the movie shines on technical department. This is one of the richly made movies in the recent time. The film is shot n a rich scale (grander visuals, frames filled with seasoned actors). Mahesh Babu is the soul of the movie. He has looked even younger and more handsome than ever. One can watch for him, avoiding all the happenings. He has looked so beautiful in the movie. He has portrayed his role with so much maturity. His acting, his charm, his dialogue delivery…all are perfect to the core. He radiates the screen with handsomeness and smile.

The movie is filled with dozens of actors, many are seasoned stars. Of them, Sathya Raj as Mahesh Babu’s father is good but the actor one who steals the show is Rao Ramesh. As a disgruntled guy, he is terrific. Whenever he mouths the dialogue, he brings liveliness to the movie. But the graphical creation of Rao Gopal Rao talking to him is pretty bad.

Vennela Kishore in the second half in brief role also is good. Kajal Aggarwal has got more important role and she has looked very beautiful. She has brought lot of jest to the movie with her effervescent acting. Samantha is given very bad role. Pranitha has brief role but has added glamour to the screen. Revathy and Jayasudha have lent credence to the story with their nuanced acting.

One feature that strikes all through the movie is R Rathnavelu’s splendid camerawork. The renowned cinematographer has not only filmed in brightest possible way as the film is all about celebrations, he also filmed in most creative way. Padmashree Thota Tharani’s grand production design is another major plus. Although the film is set in Vijayawada, it is primarily filmed in a set environment and Tharani has brought in the atmosphere of the city in his sets.

Like in all Addala’s earlier films, Mickey J Meyer’s music is good but the background score composed by Gopi Sundar is not perfect. The songs are catchy. Editing is major issue. The movie is killed by bad screenplay and worse editing. Srikanth Addala as writer and director has failed this time.

Bottom-line: 'Brahmotsavam' has grand theme and ideas but the director has failed to tell in convincing way as it is laced with tedious sequences, unending songs. Mahesh Babu’s performance, rich production values and absolutely bright camera work have worked out in this movie that has many issues. A huge letdown.