Once in a while, every film industry goes back in time to live in a bygone era. Recently, Naveen Vadde's Transfer Trimurthulu did it. This week, it's Mister Middle Class, a fantasy comedy drama in which the divine (Rajendra Prasad as Lord Venkateswara) chooses to intervene in the life of a greedy security guard (Srikanth) who takes cosmic blessings for granted. Laya, to be also seen in the soon-to-be-released Vadhala, plays his wife.
Also starring comedian Sunil (as a comic gangster, the tired archetype), Ali, Raghu Babu, Vennela Kishore, Prudhviraj, Murali Goud (his presence alone confirms that the film was shot after DJ Tillu), Prabhas Srinu, Dhanaraj (as Lord Yama), and others, the film is written and directed by G Nageswar Reddy. On the face of it, the comedy is dated. Srikanth's dialogue delivery and look come with no contemporariness. The conflict plot point seems to be inspired by a few fantasy dramas.
Gods like Venkatewara and Krishna have been presented in an entertaining fashion in fantasy dramas. The myths around them lend themselves to such a treatment. However, such a fashioned touch has its limitations - it's too 1990s-coded. Here is where Mister Middle Class, to be released in theatres on July 17, seems to have got it so wrong.
Produced by GK and Chandu Noothi, the film has music done by Saikarthic. Diamond Ratnababu and Shrawan Bhanupuri have penned the dialogue.
Mister Middle Class heads to theatres this Friday.
