Pavithra Review

Behind the Movie Pavitha: Popular glamorous heroine Shriya in the character of a prostitute is the unique selling point for this project. Director Janardhana Maharshi used this single point to promote the film aggressively and finally, Pavithra graced into theatres today. Let us see, what is this movie all about?

In the Movie Pavithra: To save her mother from a life threatening disease, Pavithra (Shriya) takes up prostitution as a business since the teenage with assistance of her uncle (AVS). She comes across different kind of clients with varying psychologies ranging from a corrupt MLA Sudarshan (Sai Kumar) to Donga Swamy Sarva Roga Nirodaananda (Ravi Babau). There is also other angle to Pavithra who saves a group of models from the harassment of Photographer Shiva (Shivaji) and send shim to jail.

Story takes a turn when, Sudarshan sends his introverted and jejune son Munna (Kaushik Babu) to Pavithra with a political plan behind. With in one night of experience, Munna falls completely in love with Pavithra and decides to marry her upsetting the plan hatched by his dad. What happens later when Swamy Sarva Roga Nirodaananda contests against Pavithra in Assembly elections after the sudden death of Sudarshan? What is that one noble reason behind Pavithra entering into politics? How did Shiva harm Pavithra by escaping from jail? All these form rest.

Values & Out of the Movie Pavithra:  As a writer Janardhana Maharshi is capable person who can pen any kind of dialogues with ease. When it comes to directing a movie, it is not the same. Coming to basic storyline and writing department, Maharshi is appreciative in ‘Pavithra’ but as a director he is still apprehensive. Portraying the inner side of a sex worker with lot of mental trauma and suffering isn’t easy. As a writer Maharshi gave a strong line of cinematic expression for the role of Pavithra. Then it is the responsibility of Shriya to get into the skin of character and duty of Maharshi to extract the flavor needed for presenting on screen. This is the area where, the task remained half completed. Very rarely do we see conviction in Maharshi’s portrayal of emotions and Shriya’s performance was primarily dominated by the show of her curves in diverse range of costumes. Cinematographer Suresh Kumar’s work is also pretty average while Ramesh’s editing work was obtuse. 

First half deals with life style of Pavithra and introduction to key characters. The sub plot of Shivaji and six models was very badly presented yet there is a message in it from Pavithra’s point of view. As the pointless story travel towards a point by end of first half with introduction to Kaushik, audiences are extremely tired. Thanks to Sai Kumar and his screen presence with sharp dialogue delivery, second half scores positive with actual concept on move. Once Sai Kumar takes an exit, again narration suffers ending with an unsharpened political message. In fact, the transition of Shriya from a sex worker into Politician was by itself flimsy. 

Among the remaining star cast Tanikella, Ravi Babu, Yamdamuri, Telangana Shakuntala, Raksha, AVS were good to their portions. Roja is really dumb and deaf while Kaushik is still babyish. Brahmi as writer was just okay. MM Sreelekha’s musical score is worth humming for a couple of melodies. Production values of Adesh Films are also just average.

Finally, Pavithra is good at elevating many of the problems women in our current society are troubled with and ugly shape of politics are also touched. What misses is the sensitive narration without any heart touching episodes. Sometimes, movie runs on a very slow pitch resembling a TV serial. Overall, the bottom line could be simple…a writer is needless to become a director until he learnt the clever knack of playing with scenes and characters, of course also along with mental state of audience. 

Commercially, ‘Pavithra’ may be a table profit film because of budgetary restraints and Shriya being the saleable face, minimum opening are also guaranteed. Let us wait and see, whether this can stand for a couple of weeks or not?

Cinejosh Verdict of the Movie Pavithra: Sensitive Issues in Insensitive Treatment.

                                            Cinejosh Rating: 2/5

                                                                                                         Reviewed by Srivaas