Shatamanam Bhavati - Movie Review

Saturday, January 14, 2017 - 15:30
Shatamanam Bhavati (2017)
Cast & Crew: 

Film: Shatamanam Bhavati
Cast: Sharwanand, Anupama Parameswaran, Prakash Raj, Jaya Sudha, Sivaji Raja, Indraja and others
Music: Mickey J Meyer
Cinematography: Sameer Reddy
Art: Ramana Vanka
Editing: Madhu
Producer: Raju
Story, screenplay, dialgoues and directed by: Satish Vegesna
Release Date:  Jan 14, 2017
CBFC Rating: U

What's it about!
Raghava Raju (Prakash Raj) and his wife (Jayasudha) have everything in life that oldage people can ask for - wealth, good health, happiness, and lush green environments. Still one thing is missing in their life. Their kids are busy with their lives abroad and are not coming to see them. As Sankranthi is approaching, Raghava Raju's wife asks him to call their children to come down. He knows that they won't come if he invites for festival. Hence he calls them and informs that he is going to divorce their mother. Shocked by this, they immediately land in India. She is happy seeing they coming to their home to celebrate festival. But only later she realises that Raghava Raju is going to divorce her not knowing his hidden plan of bringing the kids here. Trouble begins between them. While the drama is moving through we see romance blossom between Raju (Sharwanand), who has special bonding and lives with Raghava Raju, and Nithya (Anupama), Raghava Raju's daughter's daughter.

Analysis:
Producer Dil Raju is known for not only making big movies but he is more famous for bringing out entertaining family dramas. Be it "Bommarillu", or be it "Mr. Perfect", or "Seethamma Vaakitlo Sirimalle Chettu", his productions work with family audiences. More than the plotlines, the inherent sentiment scenes, the stress on family bonding easily work on us (audiences). Especially if you have soft dil, you get emotional. His latest production 'Satamanam Bhavati' runs on similar template.

This film is directed by writer turned director Sateesh Vegesna. He has earlier written films like 'Gabbar Singh'. How would children react if their parents announce divorce at the autumn of their lives? How would wife responds to his husband's declaration at this age? Shouldn't children visit their parents at least during the festival time? These questions are under current theme of this family drama. While the theme is good, the treatment is quite routine.

The plot point is lean, the writer-director has relied heavily on time-tested sequences to drive the point. Hero (Sharwanand) making all of them sorting out their differences, bringing closer to one each other, impressing his niece, etc are straight out of many old movies. The only new thing is instead of antyakshari we have dubsmash.

Still, the movie scores on many points with its beautiful cinematography, some touching moments in the climax, general family bonding moments. The routineness of the narration is minus point but it doesn't bore us either. Overall, it makes a decent watch with good music.

Sharwanand as hero has given decent performance. He is just another character in this whole gang of actors. Anupama Parameshwaran eschews her charm despite weak role. For Prakash Raj and Jayasudha, who have played as husband and wife in umpteen number of movies right from 'Bommarillu, the roles become another important one in their career. Naresh as Bangarraju does the role what the maid character did in 'Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana' but he has has provided some humour. Indraja is good.

Of the technicians, Sameer Reddy's work is striking. He has made the film look rich and beautiful. The artwork is also good. Director Vegesna has not scored on story and screenplay front but his dialogues are nice. Production values are terrific. Editing should have been taut especially in the second half.

Bottom-line: 'Shatamanam Bhavati', a family drama that has plot line as thin as Athreyapuram Putareku, has predictable scenes but also makes a decent watch. Some scenes touch the heart despite routine treatment.

Reviewed by: 
J
Rating: 
3/5