Size Zero - Movie Review

What's it about?

Sweety ( Anushka) works in a restaurant and lives with her mother, grandfather and a younger brother. As she is overweight, Sweety is not getting right alliances which is a cause of worry for her mother. An NRI Abhi (Arya) comes to India to shoot a documentary film on open defecation sees Sweety and likes her but she doesn't like this alliance thinking that he would reject her eventually. She comes to know of his good nature later and starts liking him. As this alliance has not materialized, her mother takes her to Size Zero clinic, that makes obese men and women get slimmer in quick time. But things go out of hand after she joins the clinic, and Arya moves closer to another girl Simran (Sonal). What happens then?

Analysis

Happiest women are the prettiest women is the theme that Size Zero has tried to dwell upon. Be you, don't try to be someone else, says the movie's script written by Kanika. The film starts off beautifully how a cute child gets fascinated by weighing machine tickets, its fortune telling messages and continues to believe them even when she grows up to be a woman. She turns out to be a fat girl as she gorges on jalebis and laddoos at home. Probably it runs in her family given her mother's looks.

With this set up, the romantic drama unfurls slowly but nicely in the first half, loaded with cute moments between Anushka and Arya and some good jokes thrown in about weight issues.

There are two scenes (one in the first half, the other in the climax) where Anushka expressing her feelings while the rest of the shots are shot in time-freeze manner is beautiful. The movie is visually beautiful and is staged with rich backdrop.

Trouble begins only in the later part of the movie as the second half meanders into different path altogether from the basic theme. Tighter screenplay, better second half would have made the movie an engaging fare. The whole episode of cycling in the end totally lacks seriousness and complete dichotomy of the theme. Even the climax is unconvincing.

After playing a deglamourized Devasena in Baahubali, a great warrior queen in Rudhramadevi, Anushka has dared to do an obese woman's role and gained 17 kgs for the character. Truly,  a challenging role. Indeed, the movie totally belongs to her. Her gait, her look, her mannerisms all is perfect as obese woman. Anushka is the soul of the movie.

Veteran actress Urvashi also comes up with best performance in the film. Apart from Anushka and Urvashi, none make such impact. Though Abhi's character is underwritten, Arya has done justice to the role. Sonal is good. Adivi Sesh appears in a brief role. Prakash Raj as villain, grandfather Gollapudi, Master Bharat, Brahmanandam and Ali are just okay. There are host of celebrities in guest appearances.

Entire movie is visually appealing thanks to the camerawork by Nirav Shah, rich sets erected by Anand Sai and the good money spent by production house. Mella Mellaga song by Keeravani is the pick of the lot. Dialogues are pretty ordinary. Screenplay should have been better and editing should have been taut. Director Prakash Rao has shown command over visuals.

Bottomline: Size Zero has Anushka doing her best and its heart is also at the right place with fun first half. A better second half and some entertainment would have made difference to overall effect of the movie.