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Home > Telugu Movie Reviews > Okkadunnadu Strong Narrative, Weak Villains APK | March 03, 2007 Rating: **.75 (***** Very Good, **** Good, *** Fair, ** Average, * Bad) Art: Ravinder. Action: Allan Amin, Vijay & Ram-Lakshman. Cinematography: Jayakrishna Gummadi. Music: MM Keeravani. Direction: Chandrasekhar Yeleti. Producer: Cherry. Banner: Clap Entertainment. Release Date: 3rd March, 2007. Chandrasekhar Yeleti has shown promise in his last two movies-Aithe and Anukokunda Oka Roju. They were commercially viable, yet did not want to tread down familiar territory. His latest movie is with Gopichand, and Okkadunnadu has the erstwhile mass-oriented actor with formals and a classy look. But the 5 songs (including an item number) and 4 fights formula is right there, but this movie has a solid story. The screenplay and the narrative are good, while the villain's character and the conflict in the climax have worked in the favor of the movie.  Plot Sona Bhai (Mahesh Manjrekar) is a gold smuggler with a handicap-a heart disorder and the need of a transplant. He has a rare blood group, and is in search of someone with that blood group, to forcibly transplant his heart. Kiran (Gopichand) comes to Mumbai to get money to help his father's broken bank business. Gautami (Neha Jhulka) is the commission agent, involved in selling his property. He has that rare blood group, and a chase starts off. Kiran wants to save his own life from the don's men, and sell his property to help his father. But the two issues come together, and Kiran has a choice to make-but he sticks to his guts, and fights till the end.Story, Screenplay and Direction The story is interesting, and not completely run of the mill. The villain's character in both Aithe and Anukokunda Oka Roju are memorable characters, both played by Pawan Malhotra. Now it's the turn of Mahesh Manjrekar, a smuggler with an elaborate empire in Mumbai, a complicated heart disorder and a rare blood group. He is ruthless, and in a desperate bid to live, he can take many lives. Nasser as Jaidev, his friend who lives and dies for him, is also cast in a well defined character, and with his mannerisms and constant pout, he does total justice to it.  The story has some memorable moments, especially during the second half when Kiran falls into a dilemma as to what to do. The action sequences in the first half are good, though nothing that we haven't seen before. But it is interesting to see a guy in formals kick 20 people in a go, dressed as if he's going for an interview. The editing is good, and the audience connects to the screenplay, and the brief flashback.The pace might have been a little faster, but it does not really drag much. There is no scope for romance at all. Suddenly the lead pair breaks into a song or two, and that is a little off-putting. Comedy with Brahmanandam towards the end of second half comes at a crucial time, and generates a few laughs. Performances Gopichand seems a little confused as to how to be-subtle or loud? He settles for a bit of both, but overall he does carry the movie on his shoulders, with a lot of help from the negative characters. Mahesh Manjrekar plays the role of Sona Bhai to the T, and does a convincing job of it. Nasser as his alley and friend performs flawlessly. Neha Jhulka is okay for a first timer, but lacks the extra spunk, but there is scope. Suman as the defeated father suits the character.  Songs and Picturisation Krishna Vamsi directed two of the songs, and there's no way to guess which ones. Adugadugunaa and Ivaala Naa Pilupu are melodious, and the background score is used well.Last Word Interesting plot and screenplay, the villains and the twists (sometimes predictable) are all present in the movie. Romance and comedy does not appear too often, and the music is not bad. It is a male-dominated movie even with the female lead in a gutsy real estate agent's role. Okkadunnadu is watchable. |