BOTTOM LINE
Tasteless Biryani.
CENSOR
“U” Certified, 126 mins.
OUR RATING
What is “Ulavacharu Biryani” about?
Ulavacharu Biriyani is a slice of the life romance where age is no limit. It’s the love story of Kalidasu (Prakash Raj) and Gowri (Sneha) who accidentally interact over food. There insecurities and frustration form and how they meet eventually is what the film is all about.
How is Prakash Raj performance?
Prakash Raj once again delivers a sincere performance that hits all the right notes. But the problem here is that it’s a tad too predictable and lacks the rawness the character could do well having. There are spurts of that rawness and freshness here and there but overall it’s a good but predictable performance.
Direction by Prakash Raj?
Once again Prakash Raj chooses a subject that roves around the daily mundane, a subject that has a slice of the life feel. However unlike Dhoni here the director misses the nativity factor. The characters from the original are simply transported to a different milieu without any proper background to them. Add to that the film depends a lot on small moments that are playing out in great detail with lots of pauses. The direction fails in engaging us to many of those moments. Hence there is a lack of connectivity which is very essential for films like these to work. Still, emotions are universal, and some of these emotions do connect at points but those are few and far in between.
Sneha and other artist’s performance?
Sneha is well cast as Gowri. She portrays the angst of her character well and makes us connect to it immediately. But soon enough it becomes repetitive and by the end it turns irritating. Tejus lacks the charm to carry off such a role. And the same can be said about Samyuktha Hornad. In fact a better younger pairing would surely have helped the film a lot. Among the rest MS Narayana and Brahmaji make a mark as they don’t get the usual routine comic parts we often see them in. it also helps that they get some good lines as well. Urvashi overacts even in her small role. There are few others artist but apart from these none manage to make an impression.
How is Ilayaraja’s Music and Other Departments?
Music by Maestro Ilaiyaraja is fine and gels well with the overall mood of the film. Background score which is Maestro’s strength is good and is a big reason one is glued to whatever extent to the proceedings. Editing could have been lot better. Cinematography is alright.
Highlights?
Storyline.
Small moments that have instant reaction.
Climax.
Drawbacks?
Boring narration due to lack of nativity.
Subplots that have no proper conclusion.
Repetitiveness after a point.
What about the box office performance of the film?
The film has nothing for the masses so its run purely depends on the urban and multiplex audience. The film is too slow even for their liking with very brief engaging moments. Ulavacharu Biriyani will struggle as a result to find footing at the Telugu box office.
Did I enjoy it?
Only small parts.
Will you recommend it?
Would like to recommend the original version instead.
OUR RATING
Reviewed by Siddhartha
