Appatlo Okadundevadu Review

Appatlo Okadundevadu Review, What’s Behind: Actor Nara Rohit’s new avatar as a producer starring his friend Sree Vishnu in main lead with Sagar K Chandra as director enjoyed a good pre release buzz. This film’s subject is made based on row of true, sensational incidents happened in 1990s. Let us see, what is this all about?

Appatlo Okadundevadu Story:  Cricketer Railway Raju (Sree Vishnu) living in Railway colony is the highest run scorer at local level in Andhra Pradesh during 1990s and a possible prospect for National level and Ranji. He lives with widow mother (Rajya Lakshmi) and is in love with Nithya (Tanya Hope). Life gets upside down when Police Officer Imtiaz Ali (Nara Rohit) ruins Railway Raju’s cricket career because Raju’s sister Ahalya is a Naxalite and Imtiaz Ali is on a mission to wipe off Naxalism. As Raju loses everything in life, he joins hands with a business man cum politician Aditya Reddy (Rajeev Kanakala) and begins taking revenge on Imtiaz Ali. Down by 20 years, the course of incidents which changed their lives is rest.

Appatlo Okadundevadu Artists and Technicians: Periodic films with Telangana nativity are a rarity and that too in the backdrop of 1992 to 1996, is there anything in specific that has to be analyzed at depth? Writer, director Sagar K Chandra’s blending of fiction with reality made the content very strong. Every character is neatly etched and spotless writing further improvised the essence. Screenplay is neatly placed although it strolls here and there before coming towards a touching climax. Sagar seems to have made in-depth research on events from past. Direction wise, he is highly convincing, pushed the bar high with emotional ending. Dialogues have been one of the major strengths. Naveen Yadav’s camera work is just ok while editing Kotagiri is worth appreciative. Though Sai Karthik’s musical score for the songs is again average while Suresh Bobbili’s background score is exceptional. Production standards are very much in sync with the casting and commercial viability of the overall product. Nara Rohit made a brave choice to bankroll this sort of script. 

Onto performances, AO is completely Sree Vishnu’s film. It’s his story; remaining artists merely support him as per situational demands. Though Sree Vishnu starts off on sluggish note, as story unfolds gradually we sympathize with Railway Raju. His emotional pain and circumstances playing game with his life are neatly projected. There is lot more scope for Sree Vishnu to better his skills but towards climax he showed impact. Strictly, Nara Rohit remained to a key supporting artist part of Imtiaz Ali. His mouthing of Hindi dialogues was interesting. Tanya Hope is glamorous and did a good job. Sasha Singh is also fine for climax. Brahmaji as Vithal Seth is one more pivotal pillar. Ajay, GV, Rajeev Kanakala, Sathya Prakash have references to 1990s popular personalities in news. Rajya Lakshmi and rest of the artists were good enough.

Appatlo Okadundevadu Advantages:

Strong Content

Neat Screenplay

Background Music

Writing

Sree Vishnu

Second Half

Climax

Appatlo Okadundevadu Drawbacks:

Missing 1990s Nativity

No Commercial Ingredients

Fluctuating First Half

Disturbing Songs

Appatlo Okadundevadu Rating Analysis: Rolling back nearly 20 years on time scale to study the transition phase in Indian economy with Globalization, Naxalism, Politics and gruesome Criminals rooting at ground level wouldn’t be an easy script work. Yet, Sagar Chandra tried to pack as many influential elements as possible into the final version. This actually led to piece work brilliance failing to get bona-fide coherence. Here’s where Sagar made certain portions cinematic and climax was the best of it. A wannabe cricketer’s future affected by surroundings leading to evolution of a criminal is basic plot. Re-enacting these past surroundings and events is the challenge where Sagar missed in narrative depth. Yet, he kept on moved with story-telling as viewers left unconcerned imagining the time scale.

First half is interesting and takes us slowly into the core plot. Introduction of Sree Vishnu, Tanya hope and cricket is engaging. As soon as Naxalism issue enters, Nara Rohit and Sree Vishnu conflict becomes main thread. Cricket episode of Sree Vishnu, Raj Madhiraj is well written and executed well. Though romantic track lags in areas, locking Sree Vishnu in a murder case is a satisfactory interval bang.

Into second half, advancement of Sree Vishnu into a gangster followed by stamp paper scam, real estate business are realistically handled. On other side, Nara Rohit’s down fall with Human Rights Commission cases keep story to move on. Pre climax begins a new start where loosely left characters and episodes are tied together one after other. Climax is the pinnacle which can’t be revealed here. 

All in all, AO is a differently attempted film worth encouraging. There’s strong content, decent performances and pulls the heartstrings with deep emotions. While commercial verdict is left to common audience choice, from reviewers view point I feel AO is first class product eligible for 3 star rating. Those who welcome and adore fresh film making thoughts, this is your cup of tea.

Apptalo Okadundevadu Cinejosh Verdict: Ippatlo Ido Fresh Cinema.

                                                 Apptalo Okadundevadu Cinejosh Rating: 3.0/5.0

                                                                                                     Reviewed by Srivaas