CineGoer.com - Telugu Movie Reviews

Feel-Good Family Flick

APK | April 27, 2007

Rating: ***.5 (***** Very Good, **** Good, *** Fair, ** Average, * Bad)

Cast: Venkatesh, Trisha, K. Viswanath, Sriram, 'Colors' Swathi, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Suneel, Meghna Naidu, Jeeva, Prasadbabu, Ananth and Others.
Art: P. Narayana Reddy.
Cinematography: Balamurugan.
Dialogues: Ramesh-Gopi.
Editing: Kola Bhaskar.
Music: Yuvan Shankar Raja.
Story, Screenplay & Direction: Sri Raghava.
Producer: NV Prasad & Sanam Naga Ashokkumar.
Banner: Sri Sai Deva Productions.
Release Date: 27th April, 2007.

Adavari Matalaku Ardhale Verule..has little to do with its title actually. Overall it's an entertainer, and watchable by the entire family. With traces of DDLJ, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and even Santosham, and possibly a scene or two from the book Shantaram (Gregory David Roberts) this movie has a kind of perfected formula look to it. Formulae have known to fail, more often that not in fact, but AMAV is a feel-good flick that never drags or disappoints.

Venkatesh and Trisha

Plot Sundar Ganesh is a LOSER without a job and constantly nagged by his school-teacher father. He sees a girl Keerthi (Trisha) and falls in love with her, some how managing to get a job in the same company as her. He proposes, she rejects, so his father tells her about his son-even though the father-son duo constantly bicker. She slaps them both, and incidentally, the old man dies and Ganesh is left lonely. His friend takes him to his village where he meets with his huge extended family-along with his fiancée, Keethi. The many events that occur within the family, slowly taking Ganesh into their fold, and whether he gets the girl he loves forms the rest of the plot.

Story, Screenplay and Direction The story is nothing we haven't seen before, except the software professional angle that is relatively new. It moves along predictable lines. But the screenplay and the treatment is what sets it apart. The direction along with the dialogues and perky one-liners and situational comedy make it a movie that is worth watching. It has good doses of entertainment and loads of sentiment. The editing is sometimes a little jerky at times but since it is teamed with sensible direction, it goes unnoticed. The art work, whether in the cubicles of the software company or in the house in the village is good. The cinematography is fitting.

The track where Keerthi's sister Pooja (played by anchor Swathi) falls for Ganesh is dealt with very interestingly. It is reminiscent of Mandira Bedi's role in DDLJ. The father-son relationship between Venkatesh and Kota is believable and very real. Vishwanath as the head of the family is the similar to his role in Santosham.

All the incidents in the village, full of flatulence jokes and the city-village conflict that Ganesh faces generates a few laughs. Pooja's character is funny and the eccentric grandmother who hits Ganesh every time she sees him has sentimental twists that are needed to get that 'family' feel.

Suneel and Venkatesh

Performances Venkatesh as Ganesh fits the role perfectly. He does not have an ounce of crass in him and his personality shines across. He may not be the best actor around; that he definitely is not. But he is extremely charming, quite good with his comic timing and looks very convincing in this role. Trisha is adequate, does what is expected of her, nothing less or more. Vishwanth has done this many times before, and he does it well, no doubt. Sriram is good-especially his timing as an actor is note-worthy, as is Sunil. Jeeva, Suman Shetty and all the assorted family members do their bit well.

Music and Dance The music by Yuvan Shankar Raja is for some reason, so-so. Whenever he teams up with Sri Raghava, the result has been so far really good. But for AMAV, it is just about average. The picturizations are okay too. Mumait Khan is wasted, even though she tries pulling off a Shakira.

Last Word Entertaining first half with the proverbial 'Loser' and his histrionics, woman enters his life, conflict occurs. Second half is full of that large extended family fun that we get to watch only in movies these days, with the lonely and orphaned guy gaining acceptance from the girl's family. This movie has been made many times before, but it is worth watching it again for the way Sri Raghava tells it and Venkatesh portrays his role. A fun family entertainer.