BOTTOM LINE
Routine Drama With Wafer-Thin Plot
OUR RATING
2.5/5
CENSOR
2h 13m, ‘U/A’ Certified.
What Is the Film About?
Aakash (Naga Shaurya) is a Paris returned architect who joins Bhoomi’s (Ritu Varma) eco-friendly business. He lends his skills to work on a project. However, the real intention is to get cranky Bhoomi out of her moodiness and marry her.
Why is Bhoomi without any life and constantly irritated? Will Aakash finally change her attitude and fulfil her mother’s marriage wish? Why did Aakash come in the first place is the movie’s primary storyline.
Performances
First things first, Naga Shaurya playing Aakash is the most handsome he has looked on screen in his career. The styling done is fabulous. He looks elegant and oozes charm and class throughout.
The whole ‘styling’ is not without purpose, though. It adds to the character, and we understand quickly why a girl would fall for him. Naga Shaurya does well, besides the looks, too. A couple of blocks have been designed to highlight his dramatic and emotional skills where he is alright.
Analysis
Lakshmi Sowjanya makes her debut as a director with Varudu Kaavalenu. It is a feel-good drama at heart with a core theme related to love and misunderstanding.
As one can get it is easily, the basic story is pretty weak and predictable. It is all about the lead pair getting married. The whole idea of the film, therefore, seems to be present the hero as the perfect groom, maybe. Well, that isn’t how the narrative progresses.
The first half is dedicated to the heroine’s bossy character and her transformation. The proceedings are packed with entertainment via two tracks. The first one is through the office related characters, whereas the second is courtesy of the mother. She arranges many potential marriages. How Bhoomi reacts to them is the fun stuff.
The comedy, unfortunately, doesn’t work as intended. It has few sparks, but that’s it. For most of the part, it is a silly and routine variety.
The pre-interval sequence is where the change of heart moment arrives. It is dealt with well, even though nothing is surprising at all. The following interval twist is okay, and it is here that the central conflict comes to the fore.
The second half opens with the surprise that the producer mentioned at one of the pre-release events. It is a flashback involving the college days of the lead pair. Naga Shaurya looks refreshing in a new avatar. The whole block ends on a predictable note.
What follows is a typical narrative that is taken to its predictable end formulaically. So, we have the mandatory comedy block before the sentimental ending. The former works, mostly, and the latter is alright, with a few dialogues working out.
However, the problem all through is the lack of emotional connection and the routine stuff. The way Aakash understands his love for Bhoomi lacks freshness. It generates an artificial feeling, which is never a good thing for a movie centred on emotions.
The climax saves the day with a few decent words, but the undercurrent emotional connect is missing even here.
Overall, Varudu Kaavalenu is a regular family entertainer with a youthful love story in the mix. It is predictable on both counts, and that’s the movie’s biggest issue. Watch it if you like the genre and don’t mind the routine stuff.
Others?
Ritu Varma gets a challenging part of a bossy woman. She is okay for the most part. The attitude could have been better portrayed, given the scope and impact it has in the narrative. Nadiya and Murali Sharma are the other vital character artists. The former hog the limelight in the first half while the latter goes missing. Both are adequate and effective towards the climax.
Among the comedians, Vennela Kishore, a girl (Himaja) in the office and Sapthagiri register. Vennela Kishore is alright overall, but Sapthagiri is impressive with his ‘Lag’ track. The rest of the actors are okay in their small bits and pieces roles.
Music and Other Departments?
The music of the film is alright in the narrative. Vishal Chandrasekhar and S Thaman work on it, and they maintain a breezy yet peppy appeal. The cinematography, too, follows the same pattern. It could have been much better than what we get to see visually. The editing is okay. There are issues at times, but it doesn’t go to the extent of crippling the proceedings.
The writing is decent in parts. As mentioned previously, the pre-interval and pre-climax segments are where one notices the words. The rest is passable, at best.
Highlights?
Naga Shaurya
A Couple Of Emotional Blocks
Few Entertaining Bits
Drawbacks?
Routine Story
Lack Of Emotional Connection
Weak Conflict
Weak Supporting Parts
Alternative Take
At its heart, Varudu Kaavalenu deals with a love story. It could have been refreshingly presented instead of the routineness we get to see here.
Did I Enjoy It?
Will You Recommend It?
Varudu Kaavalenu Review by Siddartha Toleti
