There is a new whizkid in Tollywood and his name is VI Anand. The
film “Ekkadiki Pothaavu Chinnavaada” is one of the most-watchable films
of this season. In just under 129 minutes, the film takes you on an
exciting story that has an undercurrent of supernatural thrill while
giving a four-course menu satiation of your entertainment needs. Of
course, the treatment is clean and the narrative crisp. Nikhil is a guy
in love who is about to marry his lover but the girl couldn’t make it to
the time of wedding at Registrar’s office. What conspires then is a
cinematic twist where he is forced to accompany a friend who needs
special treatment by some occultists in Kerala who exorcise ghosts. That
experience brings sunshine into Nikhil’s life but later turns his life
upside down in a series of bizarre twists. And the twists continue until
the climax. What really happened to the lover who didn’t turn up? Who
is the new love of his life? Whom does he marry? What are the twists in
his life? In a spectacular spread doused in quintals of laughter,
director Anand blends tension, comedy and cute romantic tracks with
Nikhil and three women who enter his life in different ways. The result
is a satisfying film which doesn’t leave one boring frame but regales
all the way. If the script finds its way into other languages, this must
be the most-remade film of the next year in the same fashion as
“Chandramukhi” did in the year of its release. If you ignore the clever
cinematic liberty the director takes in the ghost exorcism bit in
Kerala, the film is fire-brand entertainment yet made in classy style
without umbraging anyone. Nikhil must be complimented for selecting
another audacious plot with near-perfect execution. If this is what one
year of break can do to rev up his career, most aspiring actors should
take such breaks instead of bombarding the movie-goers with hackneyed
scripts and formulaic plots. Avika Gour shows her class while Hebal
Patel oozes glamor even if she has no acting talent. Debutant Nandini
Sweta gives a rarified performance. All comedians regale because the
script gives wide scope for timing in comedy. Music by Sekhar Chandra
uplifts the film to a different level – he has shown more range than
what his earlier films with Ramoji Rao proved. Musically, this is the
album of the season. A worthy watch to what is going to be the
blockbuster of the last part of 2016. Don’t miss it and you can watch it
with kids too.
My rating: 3.25/5
My rating: 3.25/5
