BOTTOM LINE
Another ‘routine’ fun
CENSOR
149 Minutes – “UA” certified
OUR RATING
What is the film about?
Venky (Gopichand) helps eloping and marries someone close to villain Babji (Sampath Raj). As fate would have it Venky loves someone close to Babji as well. How he convinces of the love first and escapes the wrath of Babji is what the film is all about.
Performance by Gopichand?
Gopichand as hero is presented very neatly in this film. The styling and dressing feels refreshing and his routine but sincere and energetic performance keeps us engaged. There is nothing out of ordinary here Gopichand puts in efforts like he does all the time, be it for dances or for comedy scenes. He is in short perfectly fine, even if regular.
Direction By Srivas?
The director made his debut with the film Lakshyam which had Gopichand in the lead with Jagapathi Babu playing an important character. He was then the first to tap the potential of the latter as a supporting actor and came with a masala movie that felt refreshing. Over the years the he too has been caught up in the comic trend and has made films with the current formula even as recently as earlier in the year with Pandavulu Pandavulu Thummeda. In Loukyam he continues the present trend involving comedy with touches of the real masala spirit. He has just executed the script given to him without any real energy or thought. The film is as good or bad or average as is the writing.
Rakul Preet and others?
As always with routine stories there has to be some elements that should get us engaged. In Loukyam those elements happen to be Rakul Preet Singh. Rakul Preet Singh is the lively and fresh presence that captures the audience from the word go and is clearly film’s biggest strength. Of course it has a lot to do with bubbly screen presence rather than ‘real’ acting though. Prithviraj on the other hand gets a superb role after some time though it’s short, he steals the show from the rest of the comedians. Brahmanandam is strictly good. Sampath plays his usual villain self where as Mukesh Rushi is underutilized. One doesn’t know for sure what was Rahul Dev doing?
Anup Rubens and others?
Music by Anup Rubens eventhough not among his recent best is alright. The background music is fine. Cinematography and the righ production values give the film a big movie vibe. Editing is okay. Dialogues are a mixed bag, some punches are hilarious while others seem a bit forces but eitherway there are plenty of them coming.
Highlights?
Rakul Preet Singh
Prithviraj comedy in bits
Entertainment factor in bits
Drawbacks?
Very routine story and routine comedy
Drags in parts.
Predictable screenplay.
Alternative take:
In most of the masala films its the resolution part that is most important. In an earlier time, the story used to contain right mixture in terms of plots and proper screen time to solve these issues and hence it used to be a satisfying experience. Today most part of this resolution is taken up by comedy with very little time actually given to it. Still the writers can’t do away entirely with it as its very important and this insertion appears forced most of the film. The Mukesh Rushi subplot in this film is an example for that. With better development of this sub plot the final punch and emotional connect would have been far better pretty obviously.
Did I enjoy it?
Yes in parts
Will you recommend it?
Yes, but with lots of apprehension.
OUR RATING
Reviewed by Tanush
