BOTTOM LINE
Short Film Making For Big Screen With Heavy Nostalgia
OUR RATING
2.5/5
CENSOR
‘UA’ Certified, 2 hrs 13 mins
What Is the Film About?
A boy Raja (Kiran Abbavaram) loves a girl Rani(Rahasya Gorak). It starts in school and grows through the years. And still, years later, Raja never expresses his love for Rani. Did he eventually reveal his feelings? Will Rani know about the pure love of Raja is what the movie is all about?
How Is Kiran Abbavaram’s Performance?
Kiran Abbavaram playing the lead is apt for the part, look wise. The body doesn’t have that urban tinge to it, and the rigid and raw cut makes him look tough. However, the face has that perennial fear of rejection attached to it. As the movie requires precisely that, he is passable. His best moment of acting comes only in the climax, and it is made to look effective.
Direction by Ravi Kiran Kola?
Ravi Kiran Kola writes and directs Raja Varu Rani Garu. He seems to be highly influenced by the Malayalam film Premam. The entire making style is taken from that flick. The editing pattern included. However, as the writer dominates the proceedings and technically, the movie looks like a glorified short-film, the ‘inspiration’ isn’t much of a concern.
If you have read what the movie is about at the star, you would understand that Raja Varu Rani Garu is wafer-thin on story aspect. The director is banking heavily on his writing talent and the chemistry between the friends to pull off the movie. It works, but only in parts.
The first half feels like an endless stretch of gags with ‘Godavari’ slang. Some land excellently, whereas many get repetitive after a point. The lead character is frustrated for most of the first half; it is a reflection of the viewer’s mood as well. There is too much repetition with nothing happening. But, an indomitable spirit is maintained along with scintillating bromance.
The ‘vittanalu’ scene or the one at the interval where one of the friends reads an impromptu medical report is a sheer genius in generating fun and being fresh at the same time. However, the former sequence doesn’t end with the punch, and it overstays its welcome. And that is a case with many other gags, as well.
The second half is less meandering, and things fall in place with the heroine becoming part of the narrative. The first meet and the temple sequence are neatly executed. Some of the scenes in Rani’s house too are neatly done. But, they are all predictable and lack the refreshing element.
Ravi Kiran Kolla seems to understand the world and its characters well. He presents the various eclectic mix of diversity well but does nothing with them barring a cursory mention in a scene or two. They serve no real purpose to the story on the whole.
We know where it all is leading too and wait for it to arrive. The hope is that it delivers and the director does a great job with it. Despite nothing much happening, the director could convey pain and silent feelings between the lead. Some might also feel relieved at the end of the misery of the hero. Either way, it works.
Overall, Raja Varu Rani Garu is a two decades old Tholiprema set in a Godavari village. The fresh writing and bromance make one sit through the repetitiveness. If a simple romance with a tinge of freshness is all that you need, go ahead and watch. However, be very warned of the lack of story.
Rahasya and Others?
Rahasya Gorak playing the female lead has a limited presence. The entire movie is about her, but her real essence and performance come in the climax. She was fine in that segment.
The two friends of the hero are superb. There is a visible chemistry between the two, and also among the three. It is the mainstay of the movie. The respective parents of the hero and heroine have also done a decent job. Some of the dialogues they got are hilarious.
Music and Other Departments?
Jay Krish has done an excellent job with the music and background score. It is the lifeline of the film along with the writing. A more substantial chunk of the movie is covered through the music where nothing happens. The cinematography is excellent, considering the ultralow budget scale of the film. The rain scenes in particularly at superbly shot. The combination of music and the cinematography and location generates an extra feel that is beside the writing and chemistry. The editing could have been better. There are a lot of filler scenes which could have been removed. The writing is fantastic, as mentioned earlier.
Highlights?
Writing
Fresh Comedy
Bromance
Songs & BGM
Climax
Drawbacks?
Story
Lengthy Scenes that overstays its Welcome
Vast parts of the First Half
Alternative Take
A film like this only needs minor tweaking in storylines related to subplots and better actors. The whole movie would look very different, then.
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, in parts
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, but with huge reservation
Raja Vaaru Rani Gaaru Review by Siddartha Toleti
