Naana Nenu Naa Boyfriends Telugu Movie Review

This could well be a defining moment in Tollywood. After feeding the audience, since inception of romance between the hero and the heroine, after outgrowing the triangular love tales soaked in tears and one willing to play the doormat to the hilt, after having played up the Dude to choose among the competing damsels, finally Byona Sera Ms Cambell arrives in Tollywood. This is after Sawan Kumar Tak visited the Hollywood comedy with Rekha nearly two decades ago. Kudos to the film-maker (Bhaskar Bani) for being gutsy and deciding to thematically experiment, even if he chooses the predictable line for treatment and falls prey to the familiar in the climax. So far so good. A good part of the film refreshingly takes pot shots at the ‘regular romance’ and gives the heroine the space to choose her life partner. After all the Shoban Babu tear jerkers and the more recent films where two girls are swooning over the guy. We have a girl who takes on not one, not two but three suitors and works towards deciding her life partner. But that is jumping the gun or arriving late.
Raghav Rao (Rao Ramesh) dotes on his child. He is willing to give up everything (even MP ticket) to stay with his daughter. The astrologer predicts a stormy relationship between the dad and the daughter. The Dad decides to prove this wrong. He does everything to please the daughter. He even lies to her that she has passed her engineering examination. The daughter Padmavati (Hebba Patel) now arrives in the city and lives with her friend Maggie (Tejasvi Madivada). She picks up three guys, completely different from one another. Gokul (Noel Sean) is a volleyball coach with a roving eye – permanently fixed on young girls and trying his best to be the Imran Hashmi on this side of Krishna Godavari divide. There is Nani (Ashwin) an aspirant to join the police force and in the meanwhile beating up all and anyone who is lying. The third is a temple poojari Namo (Parvateesam) whose ambition is to be employed by the TTD.
She woos each of them and makes them believe that she is in love with them. Fortunately, the film-maker does not overdo the crisscross between the guys. There are two incidents: one at a hospital and another to celebrate her birthday. Joining the birthday chaos is a thief by night (Shakalaka Shankar) which throws in the Priyadarshan brand of humour.
Who does Padmavati get to marrying? In every test she throws up, all three respond with competitive zeal. This only adds to her dilemma. Having laid out a fine comical take on romance (nay a tongue – in – cheek stance). Bhaskar Bandi now has to tie up the loose ends and justify the conclusion. It is here that he falters. Greater film-makers who make bold to tell a story fail to back it up with an unconventional conclusion (remember how the Midas of Bollywood messed up Silsila!!). He also falls a prey when he decides to play safe and takes the familiar safe route to the climax of the film narrative.
One aspect of the film that keeps the audience constantly engaged is the humour element. Like (Kapil Sharma’s film – Kis Kisko Pyar Karoon) this too – often lack in class, but thanks to the execution, is often under control. This has the audience smiling and not crying. Another aspect of the film that ensures smooth travel is the cast. Noel as the Casanova has the physical appeal to carry of his part as does Ashwin as the brooding Inspector in waiting. Parvateesam as the poojari is hilarious. He comes at a time when Telugu cinema, tired of the old is looking for some fresh face and talent. He sure fits the bill. Hebba Patel as the heroine is surely not the conventional Telugu heroine. She and Tejasvi fit the bill.
The movie is worth the odd outing.
Rating : 3
+ Dare
– Lack of courage
L. Ravichander.