 |
Avakai Biryani (2008)
Cast: Kamal Kamaraju, Bindu Madhavi, Rao Ramesh, Varun Jonnada, Praneeth, Kameshwara Rao, etc.
Script: Anish Kuruvilla
Cinematography: Shyam Datt
Art: Narayana Reddy
Choreography: Prem Rakshit
Music: Manikanth Kadri
Lyrics: Vanamali
Analog Editing: K. Ravindra Babu
Digital Editing: Praveen Boyina
Producers: Sekhar Kammula, Chandrasekhar Kammula
Direction: Anish Kuruvilla (debut)
CBFC Rating: U
Date of Theatrical Release: November 14, 2008
Summary:
A story of an auto driver and his love interest, laced with social elements. More aavakaaya and less biryani, but both not enough to satiate one's hunger!
A story of an auto driver and his love interest, laced with social elements. More aavakaaya and less biryani, but both not enough to satiate one's hunger!
What's it all about?
Mohd. Akbar Kalam (Kamal Kamaraju) drives an auto that he rents from Masterji (Rao Ramesh), a bigwig in the village of Devarakonda. Purushottam (Kameshwara Rao) and family migrate to the village from Polavaram, understandably as one of those families affected by the Polavaram project. They have to start their life afresh here, and Purushottam intends to set up a hotel in the village, while his daughter Lakshmi (Bindu Madhavi) wants to sell mango pickle ( aavakaya) and support the family. Akbar and Lakshmi meet frequently as she needs to go to nearby Vikarabad to get the required ingredients and hires his auto. A local political aspirant, Babbar Khan (Varun Jonnada), eyes Lakshmi and follows her frequently. Akbar suddenly faces the wrath of his villagers when he raises his voice against the problems in the village when the Chief Minister visits the village.
Mohd. Akbar Kalam (Kamal Kamaraju) drives an auto that he rents from Masterji (Rao Ramesh), a bigwig in the village of Devarakonda. Purushottam (Kameshwara Rao) and family migrate to the village from Polavaram, understandably as one of those families affected by the Polavaram project. They have to start their life afresh here, and Purushottam intends to set up a hotel in the village, while his daughter Lakshmi (Bindu Madhavi) wants to sell mango pickle ( aavakaya) and support the family. Akbar and Lakshmi meet frequently as she needs to go to nearby Vikarabad to get the required ingredients and hires his auto. A local political aspirant, Babbar Khan (Varun Jonnada), eyes Lakshmi and follows her frequently. Akbar suddenly faces the wrath of his villagers when he raises his voice against the problems in the village when the Chief Minister visits the village.
Eventually, he turns out to be a hero in the same village, much to the dislike of the aspiring politicians of the village, Masterji and Babbar Khan, and they even try to force him to leave the village. Meanwhile, Lakshmi and Akbar get closer to each other. Purushottam is one of the many traditional Hindus who dislike Muslims as people who intend only harm to the State. What did Akbar's local enemies do against him, how Akbar tries to impress Purushottam about his love towards the latter's daughter and his credibility as an individual form the rest of the story.
Performances
Cast:
Kamal Kamaraju, who met the audiences' eye in Godavari as a haughty fellow now comes to fit into the role of a poor auto driver striving to excel as an individual. He succeeds with his performance to most part, but he needs to improve his diction. His expressions need some toning too, at places. There's no second thought to say he has the required ease in front of the camera, though. How much he alone can carry a film as a hero cannot be seen yet, since this film does its trade as a Sekhar Kammula-produced film all the way. Telugu girl Bindu Madhavi who debuted as the female lead is homely, beautiful, and expressive. However, her voice is still dubbed by Suneetha. She is a good fit into roles that require traditional and/or semi-modern girl of current day. Rao Ramesh has a different role compared to his previous films but he is misfit in the role, his acting is somewhat theatrical. Varun Jonnada joins him as a rough guy with not-so-good intentions. Praneeth as hero's friend offers very good comedic relief in the film with his ease and histrionics that sometimes do go overboard, but as is required for the role. The rest of the cast fit in their roles and do the job well.
Technical Departments:
Anish Kuruvilla has the skill to visualize a story well and his debut (commercial) film is very different from routine films. The story weaves through too many elements, thus diluting itself a bit, more so when some of the elements are selectively blinded off as the story moves on. Examples include the seemingly abrupt elimination of the bad guys, absence of heroine's family through a part of the first half, scenes highlighted more than they are dealt with or are connected to the main theme of the film (such as the hero appearing for B.Com. examinations, or children trying to get their fill of water in the pots), etc. The narration too is excruiatingly slow-paced, like some other films by his mentor and friend Sekhar Kammula. However, a big minus for the director from a commercial point of view is his taking that deals with the theme indirectly, giving the main theme itself the feel of being an undercurrent!
Cast:
Kamal Kamaraju, who met the audiences' eye in Godavari as a haughty fellow now comes to fit into the role of a poor auto driver striving to excel as an individual. He succeeds with his performance to most part, but he needs to improve his diction. His expressions need some toning too, at places. There's no second thought to say he has the required ease in front of the camera, though. How much he alone can carry a film as a hero cannot be seen yet, since this film does its trade as a Sekhar Kammula-produced film all the way. Telugu girl Bindu Madhavi who debuted as the female lead is homely, beautiful, and expressive. However, her voice is still dubbed by Suneetha. She is a good fit into roles that require traditional and/or semi-modern girl of current day. Rao Ramesh has a different role compared to his previous films but he is misfit in the role, his acting is somewhat theatrical. Varun Jonnada joins him as a rough guy with not-so-good intentions. Praneeth as hero's friend offers very good comedic relief in the film with his ease and histrionics that sometimes do go overboard, but as is required for the role. The rest of the cast fit in their roles and do the job well.
Technical Departments:
Anish Kuruvilla has the skill to visualize a story well and his debut (commercial) film is very different from routine films. The story weaves through too many elements, thus diluting itself a bit, more so when some of the elements are selectively blinded off as the story moves on. Examples include the seemingly abrupt elimination of the bad guys, absence of heroine's family through a part of the first half, scenes highlighted more than they are dealt with or are connected to the main theme of the film (such as the hero appearing for B.Com. examinations, or children trying to get their fill of water in the pots), etc. The narration too is excruiatingly slow-paced, like some other films by his mentor and friend Sekhar Kammula. However, a big minus for the director from a commercial point of view is his taking that deals with the theme indirectly, giving the main theme itself the feel of being an undercurrent!
The screenplay traverses through several threads of the story, but the narration is still focused, one could say looking at it one way. However, most regular audience might find it hard to see why there were so many elements in the film or what the director even tried to tell in this film. Dialogues are adequate, with comedy where possible through the role of hero's friend. Makeup for the lead roles in the last scenes "two years later" is shown differently, with appreciable care. Visuals are one highlight of the film, with perfect wide-angle shots and okay-kind mid-long and closeup shots. Picturization of songs is neat, and the lyrics are all very apt to the situation; choreography is kept simple and adequate.
Background score reminds of Ilayaraja at places, and music on the whole is another highlight in the film; tunes by debutant Manikanth Kadri, the son of veteran saxophone player Kadri Gopalnath, are catchy and melodious. Editing is crisp. Production values are quite appreciable. The director should be appreciated for an unbiased stand on Hindu-Muslim issues and political aspects indicated in the film, such as migration due to Polavaram project, etc. He has the care and talent, but how much he can reach the commercial cinema standards, or would he be an artsy director like Sekhar Kammula and create his own fan base, is to be seen.
Notable Scenes/Dialogues:
- Bindu Madhavi: " manushulu manushulaki help cheyyakapOtE evaru chEstaaru?"
Kamal Kamaraju: " manishiki, manishiki tEDaa choopinchEdi mee laanTi vaaLLE, madam!" - Rao Ramesh: " ...mana oorini kotta peLLi kooturilaa mustaabu cheyyanDi!"
Praneeth: " appuDu CM mana oorini peLLi chEsukunTaaDaa?" - " nuv maatram adiraav, Lakshmi! ee deepaavaLiki deepaalu akkarlEdu!" (Kamal Kamaraju to Bindu Madhavi)
- " mEmaitE Hindu, Muslim-lugaa unDaalsindE... maa pillalainaa nijamaina 'Hindu, Muslim bhai bhai' laa unTaarEmO!" (Kamal Kamaraju)
- " Government-lO OT chEstE Dabbulu ivvaru!" (Praneeth to Kamal Kamaraju)
Minor Overlook:
- The number plate for the Enfield is shown as AP 10 BH 786 in all scenes except one closeup where it goes with the AP 9M series!
- Timeline in the movie is a bit inconsistent, such as two months for disposing of lands in Polavaram, the hero appearing for supplimentary exams twice in not much a gap, and more.
- The hero and heroine decide to speak only in English, but then that never happens... much like in real life, eh?
Bottom Line:
Avakayi Biryani has good intentions but the execution of the movie is not palatable to everyone. It is too slow . General audiences can feel boredome and for them it looks more like a docudrama. Yet the film has good performances, music, visuals, and is totally clean! Can appeal to niche audiences. The makers should be appreciated for such a film with good intentions. While the title Avakai Biryani is not exactly justified, the film can get its initial audiences, thanks to the name Sekhar Kammula that's associated with the film. Promotion of the film might take it further, but the slower pace and unclear narration might affect the film's run and acceptance.
Avakayi Biryani has good intentions but the execution of the movie is not palatable to everyone. It is too slow . General audiences can feel boredome and for them it looks more like a docudrama. Yet the film has good performances, music, visuals, and is totally clean! Can appeal to niche audiences. The makers should be appreciated for such a film with good intentions. While the title Avakai Biryani is not exactly justified, the film can get its initial audiences, thanks to the name Sekhar Kammula that's associated with the film. Promotion of the film might take it further, but the slower pace and unclear narration might affect the film's run and acceptance.
