Naa Oopiri Review

You don't see many scriptwriters around in the movie industry. The possible reasons could be that they are underpaid or that they simply have nothing to write about. But mostly it is the case of the movie-directors not hiring one. Apparently they think they don't need a plot, or that they can do with the ones from other movies. This movie is clearly a case of the latter.

Venu (Vadde Naveen) and Gauri (Sangeeta) are orphaned at a very young age. It is their loneliness and craving for security that brings them together. Venu has a heart of gold and the innocence of a kid. Gauri is street-smart and worldly-wise, and has Venu wrapped around her little finger. And Venu is more than happy to be tied to her apron strings and cocooned under her care.

This childhood bonding and friendship blossoms into love culminating in marriage, and 4 years later, they have a 3-year-old son. And this is when fate decides that things are too perfect.

Venu discovers that he is ailing from schizophrenia. And adding to the confusion is Madhu, who breezes into his life with a gusto that sends his happy little family on the skids.

Madhu (Anjana) is in fact a psychiatrist who pretends to be an orphan to win Venu's affection. All this is a part of the treatment technique. Don't ask. Apparently, Venu has been suffering from schizophrenia for 4 years - exactly since his wife's death. Yes...

Casting the right person for the right role brings accolades not only to the actor, but to the director, too. Naveen deserves kudos for his brave effort to crawl back into mainstream cinema, but he simply isn't up to this one. The role had the potential to win a few awards, but the poor casting is to be blamed for this wasted opportunity. There is a chasm between his performance and delivery. His performance cannot be ignored, but it fails to leave a mark.

Sangeeta is at her usual best, but on the flipside, she stifles her character from evolution. Anjana was an unwanted distraction in this movie. I still can't figure out the reason behind her overactive tear glands in the last scene.

Laurels to the comedians in this movie, especially M S Narayana for his efforts to get you laughing. Even though it is every once in a while, it takes some of the bore off a rather drawling first half where all that happens is that they are trying the happily ever after number. It is surprising to see the tragedy that looms large in the movie failing to stifle the comedy here.

There is nothing called as too much hard work. The movie could have done with some more hard work from the crew, and a little homework from its actors. Na Oopiri turns out to be a movie for people are willing to crack into voluntary smiles now and then.