'Krishnamma', bankrolled by Arunachala Creations' Krishna Kommalapati, hits the cinemas on May 10. In this section, we are going to review the latest BO release.
Plot:
The story is set in Vinchipeta in Krishna district. Bhadra (Satyadev), Shiva (Krishna Burugula) and Koti (Laxman Meesala) are all-weather friends who are orphans. Shiva is in love with Meena (Athira Raj) and runs a printing press. Bhadra and Koti are into ganjai smuggling without Shiva's knowledge. When the duo gets caught by the police, they have to make a compromise in a dire situation. Their decision leads to a series of unexpected consequences.
Performances:
Satyadev is intense and effective in the second half, while his demeanour comes across as imitation in the first half. He is easily better than he was in 'Godse' and 'Gurthunda Seethakalam'. Krishna Burugula comes across as Naga Shaurya's alter-ego. Laxman Meesala of 'RX 100' fame is so good in the second half.
Athira Raj is good in a film where the female artists have only extended cameo roles. Actor Nanda Gopal, who is seen as the ACP, is terrific; he is a nuanced actor. Raghu Kunche and others are also seen.
Technical aspects:
Sunny Kurapati's cinematography is able, especially in the fight sequences. Kaala Bhairava's background score doesn't meet the hype; it is good but not great. 'Emavutundo Manalo' (sung by Sid Sriram) and the title track sung by Anurag Kulkarni aid the narrative.
Tammiraju B's editing captures the tension prevalent in some scenes. Raam Kumar's art direction is a plus. The stunts by Prudhvi Shekar are amped up by the mood.
Post-Mortem:
Writer-director VV Gopala Krishna deals with a not-so-novel revenge plot. However, what works for the film is its fairly immersive second hour. The first hour was consciously spent on establishing the bond between the three friends. Since they are orphans, they are fiercely protective of each other amid trying circumstances in a slum inhabited by men who are better placed in the system. This should have been narrated with a few heart-touching scenes. Instead, the film relies on cliches, leaving the audience high and dry until the interval bang. It doesn't help matters that the performances are also superficial in this segment.
Right from the intermission, the film gets its act together. The emotions hit home once the trio of friends are cornered. The 'underdogs vs system' template is nothing new. Tamil cinema has explored this for more than two decades - sometimes excessively. If anything, Kollywood movies come with a touch of rawness. Even if you account for the familiarity, 'Krishnamma' has a very engaging second half. The performances soar, especially that of Satyadev and Laxman.
Among the other artists, the mood generated by Nanda Gopal's cop character is a notch above the rest. His interactions with the beleaguered Bhadra and Co rise above the script.
A screenplay choice made in the first hour helps keep the curiosity levels intact about a major character. This is a clever way of writing.
Closing Remarks:
'Krishnamma' is a watchable crime drama with a familiar template.
