Allari Naresh performing 9 getup's in his upcoming Comedy spoof movie “SUDIGADU”. Here are the 9 getup Stills
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This movie directed by Bhimaneni Srinivaasraavu who directed several hit films Subhamasthu, Subhakankshalu, Suswagatham , Suryavamsam and power stars Annavram. Produced by Chandrasekhar D Reddy under Arundathi Movies.This film is a remake of Tamil hit film Thamizh Padam. Monal Gajjar perfoming the female lead in this movie. The Music composed by Sri vasanth. The movie hits screens on August 2nd week.
Narayana Rao (Rajendra Prasad) is a retired village school teacher and a widower who stays with his son in USA. Narayana Rao longs to go to his village in India. But his son and his family in USA are too busy to take him India. He leaves a message to his son and returns to India without informing him. Narayana who has been living in his memories of village for the past few years goes to his village. But everything is changed. The people are not same anymore. So is the village. The rest of the film is all about how he tried to change the people in his own way.
Rajendra Prasad has owned the role of Narayana and carried it on his shoulders with his ultimate performance. His dialogue delivery and body language suited the role of a teacher so well. Kalyani is appropriate for the role of teacher’s wife. Siva Parvathy has got a vital role in the film and she has lived that character. We see lot of veteran actors like Chalapati Rao and Giri Babu speaking in nice Telugu and doing roles with dignity. Five kids and their grown-up versions have done exceptionally well. You see only characters in the movie, not actors. Raghubabu entertains in the role of a cab driver.
Story - screenplay - direction: The story of Onamalu is realistic. The first half deals with the sweetness of villages we used to live when we were kids. The second half deals with the harsh reality we see in villages today. It’s not a commercial story where there is a format and a climax. Onamalu is an open ended film that doesn’t provide any solution, but shows the life the way it is. Debutant director Kranthi Madhav is a man of honesty and ideals. A person of that idealism can only direct/produce a movie like Onamalu. He has used the right actors and technicians who are apt for this kind of story. Direction of the film is good. The following scenes are really good –
Other departments: The top credit for this movie in technician’s department should go to writing (story, dialogues and lyrics). Khadeer Babu (Dargamitta Kathalu fame) has penned beautiful, meaningful and heart-touching dialogues. I used to be a Telugu fiction lover when I was in my college and I used to read novels of Yandamuri and Malladi a lot. After graduation I have read only a few books in Telugu and Dargamitta Kathalu is one among them. Though the dialogues are very good, It is the time of crisp dialogues for Telugu cinema where the gist of paragraph need to be explained in a small sentence (punch line, they sometimes say). He has let the literature writer dominate the dialogue writer in him. However, the dialogues/explanations are wonderfully written if you pay attention. Lyrics written by Sirivennela are simple and thoughtful. Cinematography by Hari Anmolu is good and clean. Due credit should also be given for selection of locations and DI (color grading). After watching the film I had realized why the director has chosen a green theme for poster designs. Because, 80% of the visuals are of green color (village greenery). Gowtam Raju’s editing is fine.
Analysis: Analysis: First half is little slow. The satires and meaningful episodes in the second half will attract you. There are certain hard realities we prefer ignoring in our real life. The director has made sure that such incidents are well presented. Onamalu is a good attempt to remind us of our roots and responsibility towards our villages. It is a clean and green film that takes us into the memory lane. And a heart-touching film that should be encouraged not just by awards, but also by revenue.
Gandharva Mahal is an ancestral property of Rayudu (Prabhu) who lets it out for rents. He has two daughters. He wants to marry off his elder daughter and the boy’s side want Gandharva Mahal as dowry. That is when an youngster (Manoj) arrives at Gandharva Mahal and rents a bachelor room. There is a legacy to Gandharva Mahal and a bitter episode that takes place four decades back which haunts the house. Rest of story is all about why this youngster entered Gandharva Mahal and what he has done to bring back the past glory.
Bala Krishna Nandamuri: Bala Krishna’s role is excellent and he has done extraordinary job. He is regal and imperial due to body language and looks. His look has personified the character he portrayed. His dialogues are good and entertaining.
Manoj Manchu: Manoj is known for variety in his roles and he carried it off with this film too. His introduction episodes are intriguing, but we realise it later that these episodes are part of the justification to the title UKUP. Manoj is a kind of an actor who doesn’t want himself to restrict the parameters drawn around the hero character in Telugu cinema. If you like Manoj, your admiration will grow multi-fold after seeing him certain episodes.
Others: Lakshmi Manchu steals the show with a role that is spread across decades. Her make-up and body language is apt for the aged-role. Deeksha Seth is good. She looks more glamorous in this movie. Sonu Sood is excellent in the negative role. Sai Kumar does another negative character with poise. Prabhu suits the role. Bhanu Chandar gets a suitable role after many years. Ajay is good as mantrikudu, but somebody else dubbed his voice (may be to get heavier voice). Panchi Bora is pretty as Bala Krishna’s wife. Simer Motwani looks majestic as Bala Krishna’s sister. Madhumita played Deeksha's sister.
Story - screenplay - direction: The story of the film is about how a passionate zamindar made sure that Gandharva Mahal remains as a memory of his ancestors despite certain forces trying to disintegrate the pride of Gandharva Mahal. Screenplay is slow in the first hour, but pace picks up once Bala Krishna character enters. There are a couple of unexpected twists in the second half.
Other departments: Music by Bobo Shashi is good. Anuragam song (original by Vidya Sagar) is pretty melodius and helped the flashback episode. Idi Ani Idi Ani tune is my personal favorite. Background score by Chinna is nice. Cinematography by Rajasekhar is an asset. Visual effects done by Pixion, Chennai are good (especially the Ghostrider kind of horse shots). Dialogues are good. Dialogues written to Manoj Manchu are mostly casual and naughty, dialogue written to Bala Krishna are powerful. Editing is okay. Action choreography by Manoj Manchu deserves a special mention. Art director Bhupati has done a fabulous work with Gandharva Mahal. This Mahal looks different in different time lines. Producer Lakshmi Manchu should be appreciated for passionately believing and investing in the story line that is different from routine commercial stuff.
Analysis: UKUP is a special film for two reasons. One is that it introduces a big star like Bala Krishna in a vital role. If big stars accept story oriented films and act as per demand of the role instead of looking for equal screen space, it’s good for the industry. The second reason is that the producer has passionately invested on the project though it’s a story oriented film with a bit of experimentation. Films like should be accepted and encouraged. Watch it for the performances of Bala Krishna Nandamuri, Manoj Manchu and Lakshmi Manchu. And for the spectacular Gandharva Mahal set!
