BOTTOM LINE
Only a Bit Famous
OUR RATING
2.25/5
CENSOR
U/A, 2h 30m
What Is the Film About?
Mahesh, aka Mahi (Sumanth Prabhas), and his gang always bring a bad name to the village. It leads to their parents hanging their heads in shame. The movie’s basic story is about how the group became famous by overcoming troubles and making their families and loved ones proud.
Performances
Sumanth Prabhas has done a decent job of looking confident for a debutant. He gets through most of the proceedings with this tough guy with attitude act. There are hardly any emotional scenes, and the drama, too, is done flatly. There is a recurring dialogue mannerism with subtle attitude and body language, which suggest a heavy influence of a particular star hero.
Saarya is technically the heroine in the movie. However, she has a small role compared to the rest of the boys and barring a scene towards the end, it lacks any impact.
Analysis
Sumanth Prabhas not only acts as the lead but also directs the movie. It’s his debut, and he has picked a relatable subject concerning the youth for his first outing.
The opening block sets the tone for things to follow neatly. The injury post the cricket match and the hoodwinking followed by the fight – everything looks natural yet has the ‘cinematic’ enjoyment factor all along. It’s this combination that does the trick for the movie as a whole.
The director takes time to establish the various characters but doesn’t make it too much of a drag by simultaneously providing fun. It arrives via the writing, which is sharp, and the actors deliver the punches effectively.
The story kicks in midway through the first half. It is utterly predictable without any novelty. Similar stories involving aimless youth have come in the past, too and give a dated vibe. But, the director succeeds in mostly evading the issue with writing that is full of modern-day jargon of a village milieu. It provides the movie with its freshness.
The interval block could be a lot better, though. The issue starts with the pre-interval, and the same continues with the interval making one lose interest in the second half storywise. The already predictable tale goes several notches higher on that front.
The worst fears come true initially in the second half when the proceedings begin. However, things get back on track once the fun starts again. The writing does the required all over again.
A few blocks in the second half are hilarious and will have an immense connection with the youth (Anji Mama and Lipstick Spoiler). The supporting cast is used excellently to deliver an entertainment-filled narrative.
There are bumps in between, but it doesn’t entirely disturb the flow. However, a sense of bloatedness does creep in as the narrative feels like taking too long to reach the end. It is mainly felt towards the pre-climax, where a small fight and challenge occurs. It seems as if the director realises things have been going on for so long, and we must reach an end soon. The climax idea of involving MLA is neither funny nor emotional which makes us walk out with a disappointment.
Overall, Mem Famous succeeds in writing, casting, and youthful vibe, but falls short with a predictable story, unsatisfactory climax, and pacing issues. Despite its flaws, one can try for its’s vibe and genuineness from the young team.
Performances by Others Actors
The supporting cast of the movie is one of its biggest assets. They are all spot on and help give that genuine village feel essential for the film. The friends’ gang, or the local Surpanch or his opposition – everyone chips in with their bits. The same applies to people in their circles, like family and friends.
Muralidhar Goud of Balagam fame is fast getting repetitive role-wise. He is alright here but has been doing the same in other outings too. My Village Show fame Anji Mama gets a lovely character that shines bright among the ensemble. It is the same with the youngster playing Lipstick Spoiler Lingam. Together they have two of the hilarious blocks in the movie. The rest of the cast is also fine and does their parts adequately.
Music and Other Departments?
Kalyan Nayak’s music fits well with the setting and the proceedings even though, on its own, they don’t have long-term appeal. The background is alright, serving the purpose of pushing the right emotional cues. Shyam Dupati’s visuals are clean. They capture the village side well, which is not too rustic yet has that appeal. Srijana Adusumilli’s editing could have been crispier. The narrative is bloated and could be sharpened with the right cuts. The writing is superb and does all the heavy lifting along with the casting.
Highlights?
Writing
Casting
Entertainment
Drawbacks?
Predictable Story
Lag in second half
Ending
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes for the first half, and few parts of second half
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, but with reservations
Mem Famous Movie Review by M9News
Final Report:
Mem Famous excels in writing and casting, delivering fun to compensate for the predictable story. However, length (second half) and an unsatisfactory climax pose issues, still, it’s a one-time watch for its’s youthful vibe and genuineness.
First Half Report:
Mem Famous’s first half offers nothing new story wise, but the director succeeds in bringing the village feel and fun through the characters and the writing. It holds the attention, despite having a familiar setup.
— Mem Famous begins in a village backdrop introduces us to three friends. Stay tuned for the first half report.
Stay tuned for Mem Famous Review, USA Premiere report.
Cast: Sumanth Prabhas, Mani Aegurla, Mourya Chowdary, Saarya, Siri Raasi ,Kiran Macha, Anji Mama , Narendra Ravi , Muralidhar Goud , Shiva Nandan
Producers: Anurag Reddy, Sharath Chandra, Chandru Manoharan
Writer &; Director: Sumanth Prabhas
DOP : Shyam Dupati
Editor: Srujana Adusumilli
Music: Kalyan Nayak
Co-Director: Swaroop CH
Art Director: Aravind Muli
Costume Designer : Rekha, Shiva Naidu
Publicity Designer : Ananth Kancherla
Banner: Chai Bisket Films
