Vennela

Is it the soulful music score? Is it Parvati Melton’s hypnotic eyes? Is it that much-milked story of Indian students living abroad, now packaged more commercially than its predecessors? Or is it the promise of another fine performance by Raja of Anand? What sends the crowds thronging like garter snakes in a pit, to the first day’s screening of Vennella?

Whatever it is, Vennella insidiously, and rather sneakily, disappoints in a rather vague and amorphous way, while keeping intact an outer carapace of winning elements. You don’t know what you are cribbing about ....