A
ctors like #JagapathiBabu intrigue me. At 59 years, he looks supremely fit and definitely ten years younger. He has been acting for 31 years and has even done films of questionable vintage. I wonder why the wonderfully chiseled physique and competent acting prowess don't make him a stellar actor.
But this time, the review has nothing to do with men. On the contrary, we are talking about stories told from the point of view of women, And women who are grey. These women are seeking power, love and control; they are trying to take charge of their lives. And all this from my current obsession - Telugu movies! I am wonderstruck at how this feudal, male-dominated society is now churning out some delightful movies that one would never associate with Tollywood!
ASHOK’s FIVE reviews #PittaKathalu, streaming on #NetflixIndia. This is an anthology of four quirky movies directed by #NagAshwin, #TharunBhascker, #NandiniReddy and #SankalpReddy.
#Ramula is the story of a young woman Ramula (#SaanveMeghana) who is in love with a total idiot of a character Ramchander (#AbhayBethiganti). He puts in a stellar performance as a man child; he professes his love for Ramula because she is “ so white” and wants to know which soap she uses! Even as the couple deal with their “Brakkapp”, enter Swaroppaka (#LakshmiManchu) in a terrific performance as the power hungry politician who plays with their lives.
#Meera has #AmalaPaul playing the wife to #JagapathiBabu. She is much younger than him and has to deal with his insecurities. Issues of societal scrutiny of marriages in India, sexual abuse within marriage are potrayed in this film. In an interesting twist of events, the woman plays the situation to her advantage brilliantly.
#X-Life by #NagAshwin is an interesting experiment with snatches of #BrokenMirror thrown in. #ShrutiHasan and #SanjithHegde star in this futuristic show about a young man Vik whose enterprise seeks to take control over society by controlling people. The woman rises to the rescue and salvages the situation.
#Pinky by #SankalpReddy talks about extramarital affairs. Pinky (#EeshaRebba) is stuck in an unhappy marriage and in spite of a husband who is willing to provide understanding, continues to see her ex-boyfriend (#Satyadev) who is married to another woman. This one is perhaps the weakest of the films with poor writing and an under-developed plot.
#PittaKathalu is a bold and interesting experiment. I walked away with a whole new perspective of Telugu film-making. And yes, the question about #JagapathiBabu remains unanswered!
Comments