This could well be the most unexpectedly hilarious trip on Venkatadri
Express: a film that comes with very little expectations and a high conversion
rate. Beyond the realm of the predictable scenario of love stories and hate
tales the film maker offers a simple laugh filled film. The characters may
often be those we watch ever so often in our films and straight out of the
unimaginative script writers collection. Not to worry. What the characters may
lack in novelty they make up with sincerity and energy. This is unpretentious
yet believable comedy.
Film maker Menlapaka Gandhi makes a noteworthy debut. He is not Rohit Shetty,
at least not yet. So not for him the scale or spoof thereof. On a contrasting
scale to Chennai Express, we have a debutant heroine and a searching for foot
hold hero trying their sincere best. He has a crew and cast assisting him
rather than crowing the scene or pushing the tale at your face. And yes – the
film is all about just one night travel in a train and a little thereafter.
Unfortunately the film gets wrapped in typical clichés to wind up its
narration. Even here, to the credit of the Director ensures that the climax is
short, sweet and humour laced. Since it is Venkatadri Express going through the
Rayalaseem belt the profiling is bound to be there and there is also the
hospital scene that is again handled which are needless and also a tad jarring.
The fun filled script inevitably gets into the ‘region of violence’ for a while
but quickly recovers to humour mode.
Ram Murthy (Nagineedu) is the elder patriarch of this family of sisters
brothers sons in law and what have you. A stickler to self made strict rules,
this family runs on an ‘errorometer’ to be conscious and scared of. The golden
domestic rule is: touch 100 on the error calculator and you are banished like
Subramanyam (Prithvi) was so many many years ago. While all members are safe
with poor counts on the calculator, the younger son Sandip (Sandeep Krishna) is
perilously close to the century mark. The reason is that Sandeep just cant keep
away from trouble while Dad believes in total indifference to happenings
around. After a very contrived intro of the hero and an intro to the other
family members, trouble begins when the family alight the Venkatadri Express
for the wedding of the elder son Brahmaji (Bramaji), Mom leaves the traditional
mangalsutra back home and it is for the on 99 heading to 100 errors Sandip who
is to quickly go and get it without the knowledge of his dad. Also heading for
Tirupati in Venkatadri Express is Prarthana (Rukul Preet Singh). The two meet.
Talk of initial misunderstandings, the warming up, the slow but sure blossoming
romance, this time in the midst of some hilarious support coming in the form of
auto driver Anji (Thagubothu Ramesh), Bhadra (MS Narayana), Dastagiri
(Saptagiri) and you are on this ride of fun and frolic. Stating anything more
would be telling. Watch and have 127 minutes of fun. The gags may not be very
innovative or fresh, but they click and that is what matters.
The lead pair are not bottled down by an image and this works to their
advantage. Both try sincerely to put in an effort and hopefully we would get to
seeing more of them in the future. The film however belongs to the director and
the comic moments. Thagubottu Ramesh is hilarious and his presence gives the
film the most riotous moments. Also giving a fine performance is Sapthagiri as
a passenger going to Tirupati for a job interview and willing to do anything to
ensure the safe return of his certificates.
Take a ticket on this Express without too many expectations, have fun and
return to the mundane world.