Aa Okkati Adakku Review

So there's an Allari Naresh movie again. The comedy king of the 2000s and early 2010s, Naresh continues to be popular on movie channels, even if he may have no longer be a BO minimum guarantee. Personally, I have a special fondness for Sudigadu. It stands out as perhaps the finest parody ever produced in Tollywood, with impeccable comic timing and a thorough roast of the typical Tollywood formula. With Aa Okkati Adakku coming after almost a decade of stagnation in his career, there's much at stake, and unfortunately it's not good news.

Ganapati, also known as Gana (Allari Naresh), works as a government registrar and is still unmarried despite being in his thirties. His younger brother is already married and lives with his wife (Jamie Lever) and their 10-year-old daughter. Despite Ganapati's impatience to get married, none of the matches seems to work out. Upon the advice of a friend (Vennela Kishore), he decides to sign up with a matrimony site through which he meets various women. Eventually he meets and soon starts pursuing Siddhi (Faria Abdullah), a lively and attractive young woman. However, she has a background.

Early in the film, Naresh tells a character, "Don't be fooled by this serious getup; my comedy is still intact," seemingly trying to reassure the audience. However, 20 minutes into the movie, it becomes apparent that the comedy falls flat. If you have a Blade Babji, Bendu Apparao and Kathi Kantarao hangover, be prepared to land on your head.

Indeed, the wacky and weird Naresh we once knew is gone. Now, he's portrayed as progressive and sensitive, caring and responsible. We're not saying that is necessarily a bad move, but that's not what his fans pay for.

Malli Ankam makes his directorial debut with this film, and it shows. This movie comprises four sub-plots: one involving matrimonial companies, another centered around an accident, yet another focusing on a man who cheats women, and finally, one about Viva Harsha's quest to find a bride for himself. Harsha's storyline feels entirely detached from the main plot; a tighter narrative could have eliminated it altogether.

Ankam also makes an effort to blend comedy with social messages, but falls short of achieving it fully. The amateurism shows in every comedic situation being followed by a preachy moment. I'm wary of films that attempt to sandwich a social issue between comic scenes; it gives the impression that the jokes weren't strong enough, so they had to insert a message. However, the movie does offer some insights into how matrimonial platforms operate.

Despite a weak script, Naresh occasionally showcases his trademark comedic flair, offering a nostalgic throwback that feels both refreshing and endearing. His impeccable timing and charm serve as the backbone of the film. However, as mentioned, this time around he tends to get preachy in many scenes, a departure from what you went to an Allari Naresh movie for.

Faria Abdullah stands out, both physically and in her performance. She exudes effervescence in the first half, and later transitions into a nuanced, emotional character as the story progresses. Viva Harsha delivers a strong performance, delivering crackling humour. However, once you realize that his character has little relevance to the plot, you start to overlook him and his usual histrionics.

Jamie Lever (Johnny Lever's daughter) shines as Allari's sister-in-law, bringing much-needed freshness with her spontaneity. Gautami Tadimalla, although having limited screen time, adds a spark to her role as the magistrate.

The music is average, and the background music is particularly off-putting. There's a cartoonish music cue for every dialogue and expression, which feels excessive. Everything else seems okay technically, but with tighter editing the movie could have shed some fat, making it snappier.

Aa Okkati Adakku is not a totally bad movie. Despite the movie's shortcomings, Naresh delivers a good performance, and you'll appreciate him more than the film itself. Going to a cinema for this one might be a bit much, but you can certainly save it in your OTT wishlist.