BOTTOM LINE
Commendable Indie Film
OUR RATING
2.5/5
What Is the Film About?
Rishi (Rakesh Galebhe) loses his memory in an accident and wakes up on a hospital bed to find his girlfriend, Adithi (Poojitha Kuraparthi). They go on a road trip to meet his father but their car breaks down in the middle of a forest. A man (Bhargava Poludasu) offers to help them in a house nearby but things change drastically to reveal his Psycho side. But there is a story attached which forms the crux.
How Is Performance?
Bhargava Poludasu plays a central role in the film. The character has dark as well as positive shades in it. Not being a professional actor, he carries that uneasiness all along even though it is evident he gave his 100%. Appreciate the effort but then, it is not enough to do justice to the character. The positive portions are a tad better than the negative side.
Direction?
Kiran Kondamadugula has written and directed the film Gatham. The concept and the writing are heavily influenced by a few Hollywood films of the same genre. Probably, the influence helped him to bring freshness especially for the Telugu audience who do not watch Hollywood films.
A thriller needs to be straight to the point and quick. Kiran got into the story as soon as it started but the way it is treated ended disappointingly. There is an air of amateurism throughout the film – the actors, the sluggish pace, etc. We got to appreciate the story but he faltered in executing it.
There are some twists here and there. Some worked and some were too predictable. The interval twist is good but the others did not rake the surprise factor as much as they should. The climax fight is also boring. The good thing about the film is that even though there are negatives, the director makes sure the audience sits throughout the film.
Others?
Rakesh Galebhe has performed okay. While Bhargava is Villain-Hero, Rakesh is Hero-Villain. He seems to be better among all the actors. His voice has an uncanny resemblance to that of Vijay Deverakonda’s. The Telangana slang and some places quick and some places slow modulation resembled VD. Poojitha Kooraparthi is passable in a limited role. There are a handful of other characters who also have limited roles who are amateurish.
Music and Other Departments?
Sricharan Pakala is the sole mainstream technician in the film and his work stands out. His background score elevates the movie in many places. The dialogues were not effective and they were further let down by the actors. Camera work is good in places especially the snow locales. Editing could have been better especially in the second half. The production values are what we expect from an Indie film.
Highlights?
Story
Interval Twist
Background Score
Drawbacks?
Slow Pace particularly the Second Half
Predictable Twists here and there
Boring Climax
Alternative Take
Did I Enjoy It?
Partly…Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Yes for a Digital Watch
Gatham Movie Review by Siddartha Toleti
