Chalo Review – Routine But Entertaining

BOTTOM LINE
Routine But Entertaining

OUR RATING
2.75/5

CENSOR
‘U/A’ Certified, 2 hrs 25 mins.

What is the film Chalo about?
Tiruppuram is a village that is divided into two factions belonging to Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. They are always at war with each other. What happens when Hari (Naga Shaurya), a guy who can’t control his anger is sent to the village and falls in love with a girl?

How is Naga Shaurya’s performance?
Naga Shaurya has handled his part well. There is no heavy-duty action required. All he has to do is just woo a girl convincingly, and he does that with elan. There are some fights in between which he pulls off without breaking a sweat. Overall, it is a good fun outing for the actor.

Direction By Venky Kudumula?
Venky Kudumula picks a very predictable and done to death plot of Romeo and Juliet for his debut. As it is, the story would have been a disaster, but he gives it a fresh spin, and that’s where the movie succeeds.

Unlike the classic Romeo and Juliet narrative where the hero and heroine belong to each side of the warring faction, here we have an outsider entering the muddled land as the hero. Rest of the proceedings ticks all the boxes and everything is presented funnily.

It is the fun, the comedy that works big time in Chalo. The entertainment whether it is silly or excellent doesn’t matter. What makes the narrative tick, is that it keeps coming and most of the time a freshness is retained due to the writing and the setup. The movie slackens whenever the seriousness takes center stage as the emotions are predictable.

The comedy and music work really well in the first half. In the second half, there is a sense of repetitiveness, and things drag as we get towards the end. If not for the brief but exciting Vennela Kishore character, the movie would have sunk entirely in the second half, the way emotional blocks are handled. In the end, Chalo due to its entertainment factor is a likable one time watch.

Rashmika Mandanna and others?
Rashmika Mandanna makes a terrific debut in Telugu. She hits that right ‘over-action’ meter that youth are connected with usually. Unfortunately, she doesn’t get much scope in the second half and looks more like any other character artist. Naresh and Pragati do their usual in the roles of hero’s parents. Achyuth Kumar and others who act as villagers are apt for their parts. Sathya and Sudarshan shine in the comedy roles. Viva Harsha is okay.

Music and other departments?
Mahati Swara Sagar has done a commendable job concerning the music and the background score. The first half of the movie is mostly elevated due to the songs. The cinematography is excellent for a medium budget film, and the editing is fine.

Highlights?
Casting
Music and BGM
Entertainment
First Half

Drawbacks?
Parts of Second Half
Predictable Story
Clichéd Sentiment

Alternative Take
As mentioned previously, it is a Romeo and Juliet plot. There are many alternative takes on the age-old tale. Another one would be to get another new fresh backdrop.

Did I enjoy it?
Yes

Will you recommend it?
Yes

Chalo Review by Siddartha Toleti