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.