Raamma Chilakamma Review

You'd go into this with respect for Bharadwaj more than anything else, and the good news is that there are no surprises on that front. Bharadwaj knows that a good story helps in making a good movie (such profundities), and, more importantly, doesn't change his mind about it midway through the film. In fact, Raamma Chilakamma gets better after the first 45 minutes when the main story kicks in, and keeps you actually interested in knowing what's going to happen next. And out here that's saying a lot, isn't it?

Kaasi (Sumanth) is the local rowdy, and notorious for his philandering ways too. His best friend is a decent and well-to-do Vishwa (Akash). Vishwa sees Gayatri (Laya) and falls for her instantly. As expected, unknown to him Kaasi's roving eye too lands on her, and he tries his best to, well, have her.

Romance blossoms between Vishwa and Gayatri as she gets more and more disgusted with Kaasi's behavior. Once Kaasi is introduced to Gayatri as Vishwa's best friend, Kaasi changes, but she still doesn't trust him. Circumstantially, Gayatri leaves home for Vishwa, and at the registrar's office, Vishwa gets a phone call and has to leave. And yes, he doesn't come back.

Gayatri is forced to live in Kaasi's house, and the rest of the story is how, through all the misunderstandings, Gayatri comes to accept that the reformed Kaasi is a good guy. They find out what happened to Vishwa (by now he's been gone a few weeks)... and no, I'm not going to tell you that! Suffices to say that it makes for an interesting twist. But then, you the dedicated Telugu film viewer already know that, don't you? Anyway, the story proceeds to a well-made climax and ends very credibly, again a rarity in today's run-of-the-mill films.

Nobody would blame you if you likened Sumanth to Abhishek Bachchan - it's the same build and the same attempts at histrionics. Sumanth's acting and dialogue delivery vary from pathetic to reasonably good with the predictability of a lottery. And the lesser said about his dancing, the better. The one thing that he's good at is the stunts. He looks really good bashing up people. Sumanth is lucky to be in this film at a time when his career looks really in need of some resuscitation.

Laya seems to be weeping practically throughout the movie, but she manages to look beautiful along the way. This is another good one for her after Preminchu. There is a mildly entertaining comedy track involving Brahmanandam in a double role.

The rating is for the story - the narration is tight and there are no loose ends. The concept is rather novel and well dealt with. But this isn't a potboiler, so don't go to the theater expecting to have fun with your friends!