Jyothi Lakshmi - Movie Review

Film: Jyothi Lakshmi
Cast: Charmee, Satya, Bramhanandham, Sakshi Rami Reddy and Others
Music: Sunil Kashyap
Story: Malladi Venkata Krishnamoorthi
Producers: Swethalana, Varun, Teja
Screenplay, Dialogues and Direction: Puri Jagannadh
Release Date: June 12, 2015

'Jyothi Lakshmi' is director Puri Jagannadh's first heroine-oriented film. Based on a 80's novel named 'Mrs.Parankusham', the film tells the story of Jyothi Lakshmi, a sexworker trying to start life afresh with a guy who fall in love with her. The novel was written by popular writer Malladi Venkata Krishnamoorthi. Puri Jagannadh has changed the content to suit the today's times.

In the film, a software engineer (Satya Dev) visits a prostitute (Charmme) regularly. Visits don’t remain visits anymore. They kind of get very close, and one fine day he proposes to the prostitute. He tells her that he wants to marry her. Flabbergasted by his honesty the prostitute plans to start life fresh with him. They elope. Rest of the film is about her future. Will the past haunt her? Does she lead a peaceful life with him? Does her past have any impact on her future?

The movie raises some valid points. The movie sees through women's point of view. But director Puri Jagannadh stumbles in presenting interestingly. In an attempt to dumbing down the subject, he has lost the focus.

In an author-backed role, Charmee does her best with myriad expressions. She exudes sexiness when required, exhibits restraint too when she transforms into a housewife and shows off understanding of her character all through. Charmme is calm and at peace in the second half.

Satya Dev is awesome as the IT guy is a promising talent. He ably supports Charmme. In the first half we see a bold Charmme, in the second half she is totally opposite. The change is instant and hard to digest.

The first half of the film is bold, but as the film progresses it gets preachy. The film does come with good message, but haven’t we seen this before. Puri Jaggan’s dialogues are okay. Brahmanandam is wasted. Songs are good, but due to wrong placement they fail to impress. Technically the film is okay. Camera work is fine, editing should have been crisp.

Overall, Jyothi Lakshmi has good performance by Charmee but stumbles in execution.