Nani's new film releases had seen so much drama amidst the confusion created by release of two films of the same hero on the same day. The last time this happened was for Balakrishna's film which saw release of two films "Nippu Ravva'' and "Bangaru Bullodu" on the same day. "Nippu Ravva" was released in 12 out of 25 main theatres in Hyderabad and both became hits. Nani is not so lucky, he has no Godfathers, he was a Radio Jockey and married his beau some time back - the girl is the grand daughter of legendary journalist Khasa Subba Rau, thats all. In the morning, when I went to "Jenda Pai Kapi Raju" first, the multiplex returned my money saying the show was cancelled because the producer didn't release the print yet. Then we booked for ES movie.
ES turned out to be one of the most soul-stirring, beautiful films ever made in Tollywood - and the experience of watching a director Nag Ashwin tell a story of friendship, romance and adventure of finding out one's true purpose in life has been rewarding. In 145 minutes, the director takes us on a magical tale of self-discovery that connects to most human beings who mistake their jobs for life, chase materialistic dreams and neglect the self within that never stops asking searching questions. The story is unusual for a commercial film especially in the way nutty delights churned out in crass and zombie plots of Tollywood: Nani is an IIM graduate who is a fast-rising corporate executive, a cerebral and cut-throat investment banker who is baited by Nazar, owner of a growing seeds company to buy out all the shareholders of a rival Seeds company run by a man with unimpeachable morality - Krishnam Raju. Nazar tempts Nani with even an offer to give his daughter Ritu Varma in marriage to him if he succeeds. Nani almost succeeds but the sellers do a U-turn. Nani finally approaches Krishnam Raju to cash out of the company with loads of money but being a man of principles he disagrees. Back to square one, Nani has a final warning from Nazar - either get the company shares back or both the carrot and the sweetner of his daughter are off. At this juncture, Nani's childhood best friend Vijay Devarakonda enters the scene - he has been an adventure-seeker and an iconoclast all through the growing years - he sees life as job and doesn't see through the paradigms of a 9 to 5 career-seeker, he takes risks every second and goes out of way to help people in distress. The two long-time friends bump into a third party who is just like Vijay - bindaas and backpacking good-samaritan. They make an odd three-ball but soon there is a twist in the film - the girl is someone who can bail out Nani out of his current dilemma - she holds a lakh shares of the most crucial "Class-A" shareholders of the Seed Company. Vijay rekindles an old dream of making a trek to Doodh Kashi, high up in the Himalayas. Will Nani make it ? Who make it finally? Does Nani change? What happens to the Krishnam Raju's company finally? Does he lose out his company? Who will Nani marry finally? Questions galore - and a riveting narrration albeit a bit slow scores convincing answers to all the Qs.
Tollywood should salute the film for the breadth of the canvass covered in this visual treat covering a story that gives you goosebumps at many places. It is a spiritual film finally as it connects with the concepts of what determines our career choices, our values, our financial goals decoupled with notions of enjoyment and coupled with delayed gratification. This is not for the faint-hearted in the sense those who believe in structured ways of building wealth that covers the Templeton Plan of building retirement nest egg. The director speaks innately to voices that brew in most people who live pipe-dreams and stop living in the moment. Nani gives a fluent performance that shows the cascade of a memorable character from a "caterpillar" to a "butterfly". After "Pilla Zamindar", this is the movie that delivers for Nani. It's a pity that none of the ruling big producers and distributors picked the tab for the film. Malavika Nair who debuts in the film shows promise of a new star - she has glamor and sparkle to ooze intelligence and class with her looks. Vijay Devarakonda essays the most memorable role in the film as the starry-eyed youth who breathes fire into his one-liners and lives life like a child - his character sashays the crux of the message that the director wants us to take home. Krishnam Raju gives a neat performance, his lines and character stand out after a long time - infact, his dialogues haunt you for whatever they are worth. All others who do a cameo including Prathap Pothan and Sowcar Janaki come out good. The freshness of the starcast is a new high for Tollywood - you don't see this happening often - right from the child artistes to the adults who played the weighty roles, you can see the spark. One wonders why the directors and the casting directors don't think so fresh instead of typecasting the same people again and again like over-used balls in death overs. Music by Radhan is not spectacular but every song gives you new sounds. By borrowing one of Ilaiyaraja's most famous songs as the romance track between Nani and Malavika without remixing much, Radhan shows class and creativity. Even the BGM is above-par for a fresh composer. Cinematography and other technical crew's output give the film a backpush into higher orbit. The film has humor hidden in almost every scene without the director making efforts; because of the narrative, the audience may miss it here and there. Producer Priyanka Dutt deserves appreciation for backing a film that is not a leaf out of regular films which her dad Aswini Dutt produced. How often do you get a Clean U Certificate Telugu film that too on a Ugadi? You miss this movie, you miss a part of yourself and history in the making. Watching this film will make you wince at all the regular greats you greet in Tollywood with epithets like "creative director", "magician of words" and feel sympathies for the superstars of Tollywood who can't risk their careers on scripts like this. Although this is the first film, director Nag Ashwin shows class and caliber in making a film that doesn't bore you but leaves you happy and fulfilled with remarkable clarity. "Evade Subramanyam" is Tollywood's answer to critics of zombie movies. Hope it heralds a new era of hope and promise.
Rating: 4.25/5
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