Saahasam Swaasaga Saagipo - Movie Review

What's it about!

A youngster (Naga Chaitanya) who despite completing Engineering graduation and doing MBA whiles away time with his group of friends and chills out in life. He meets his sister's friend Leela (Manjima Mohan) and likes her instantly. When she moves into his home as a guest for few days, he spends more time with her and falls in love with her. One day, he takes for a short trip on his bike to see Kanyakumari and other places. It was his dream to go on bike for some days. Leela also joins him in this adventure trip. They begin their journey on happy note and start enjoying the sight of beautiful nature but after sometime they land in a trouble. An accident derails their journey and puts them in danger as a gang starts attacking them. Who are they and why are they after them?  
 
Analysis:
Director Gautham Menon has developed a unique style in narrating urban love stories. His action dramas are also different from the usual. He gave Naga Chaitanya his first hit with ‘Ye Maaya Chesave’ (YMC) and the film now enjoys cult following. In YMC, he narrated a boy’s love story - from the stage of infatuation to knowing true love. Here too he begins in the same way though he puts the protagonist in a different situation.
 
The film begins with the note - A small moment in "The Godfather" inspired this story. It is not clear which part of Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather (1972) inspired him to make this movie but our guess is that it must be Michael Corleone's (Al Pacino) decision not go back to America and take up the violent path after his family is weakened. Here Naga Chaitanya, a jolly young guy doesn't go to his regular life when gangsters attack the heroine. He takes up the gun and selects violent path. 
 
Gautham Menon starts off the movie like his usual love stories and showcases his strengths in there but this romantic thread doesn't give any highs as they are just rehash of his earlier movies. But the second half picks up in pace as the entire drama happens there. A complete genre shift happens in the second half. A boy turning into a man is the core point but the thriller mode action drama in the second half sustains the interest. 
 
The story of the movie is as thin as banana leaf. It is his narration that makes the difference. Though he is not in best form, Gautham Menon makes the movie watchable with his different treatment. Still, much of the movie seems incoherent. Also it is like watching two different movies on a single ticket - entire first half is about romance, second half focuses on violence, shoot-outs. 
 
The climax of the film is quite a downer. The reason why the gang is after Leela and him is totally clichéd. And the twist that after 974 days the hero turns into a different character seems silly. Even the trick of hiding name of the hero has been used several times, so it doesn't surprise us but seems a commercial gimmick. 
 
Naga Chaitanya has played the role with ease. He is okay in this movie. Nothing exceptional but puts sincere effort. Manjima Mohan makes commendable debut. Baba Sehgal as a rough police officer is good. 
 
A R Rehman’s music is soul of this movie. His music is trendy and catchy. “Chakori” and “Vellipomakey” have become hugely popular before the release and they are also stand out in the movie too. After music, it is the cinematography that stands out. The camera work is first rate and the production values are also good. 
 
As a writer and director Gautham Menon has repeated what he has done in several of his old movies. Yet there are some new tricks he has employed here which are good though we doubt whether common people will notice them.
 
Bottom-line: 'Saahasam Swaasaga Saagipo' is a mixed bag as some episodes are too good, while others are too predictable. The movie has quite contrasting two halves, one is typical romantic one and the other half is action drama. Despite weak climax and silly "twist" in the end, it is still watchable for some novelty in the second half.