Vunnadhi Okate Zindagi - Movie Review

What's it about!

Abhi and Vasu, played by Ram and Sree Vishnu respectively, have fallen for the same girl Maha (Anupama). This happens in Vizag city. Rifts happen between their Jaan Jigri Dosthi. A tragic incident changes all. Four years later, the friends come together to another friend's marriage in Ooty. Here at this wedding celebration, Vasu (Sree Vishnu) meets wedding planner Maggy (Lavanya) but she actually falls for Abhi (Ram). Will Maggy change the equations of these two friends again?

Analysis

In his third directorial venture ‘Vunnadhi Okate Zindagi’, Kishore Tirumala presents a familiar story of friendship and love. The story is primarily about two friends who can't live without each other fall for the same girl that changes their lives completely. This clichéd setup we have seen in many movies. What Kishore Tirumala has done here is coming up with a conflict that tests the friendship of the two lead actors two times due to a girl. In the first half, they broke their friendship for a girl - Maha (Anupama). Post interval (four years later the first incident), another girl Maggy (Lavanya) enters into their life. Does she also love both? This angle has a little bit novel though the narration, the twists and turns, and the tropes used are quite regular and predictable.

The film begins interestingly establishing how deep their friendship is with the childhood episodes. Then the story cuts to the scene that they are no longer friends giving room for flashback sequence. The flashback episode - the story of Abhi and Maha and Vasu - is narrated in an interesting manner. Though there are many clichéd sequences this portion works out well due to the interval bang and pre-interval sequence of two friends proposing the girl on the same table.

Post interval, the film has little story to tell as Maha episode is over and the friends have met again after a tragic incident in their life. Till the pre-climax sequences, it runs on some comedy sequences, couple of songs and a wedding setup in a resort. Much of this part is boring. Thankfully, it ends on an emotional note.

Ram wins the game with his good act. Sree Vishnu, the lead of ‘Appatlo Okadundevadu’, in a major supportive role as Ram’s friend is superb. Anupama has given another convincing performance. In fact, the film is lively when she is on the screen. Lavanya as Maggy has nothing much to do though she is the second female lead. Kireet and Priyadarshi as friends have done good job. Priyadarshi provides good laughter.

The music by Devi Sri Prasad gels perfectly with the genre of the film. “Trend Maarina Friend Maradu” is the best of the lot, while 'Rayyi Rayyi Mantu” is catchy. Despite largely set in and around Vizag and Ooty which has been explored in many movies, Sameer Reddy has shown his evocative camera angles to make the picture perfect. As per the editing, the film has lengthy and many scenes drag on. Artwork of Prakash is neat.  

As writer and director Kishore Tirumala has treaded safe path (mostly like his previous film 'Nenu Sailaja) but he has captured the emotional scenes between two friends and the chasm well. The dialogues like giving description to 'what is friend', 'what is lover', 'what is this and what is that' is irrigating. Kishore Tirumala's narrative skills get mixed reactions here.

Bottom-line: 'Vunnadhi Okate Zindagi' is weak and slow. Like many movies made on friendship and two friends falling for the same girl, this one too follows the similar tropes and is told in familiar manner. However, the pre-interval sequences and final sequences make up. Overall, routine friendship drama with some boring scenes and lengthy narration. Second half goes for a complete toss.