Siva Kantamaneni stars in the upcoming film, Madhurapudi Gramam Ane Nenu, directed by Mallikarjuna aka Malli who is known for his impressive work for films like Pranam and Katthi is back again after a break with a content-baaed film this time. The film is scheduled for release on October 13, 2023. Let's delve into the intricacies of 'Madhurapudi Gramam Ane Nenu' and discover what it has in store for movie enthusiasts.
Madhurapudi Gramam Ane Nenu unfolds the compelling narrative of a village, interwoven with the intricate involvement of politicians and its profound impact on the lives of two close friends, triggered by the entry of a young woman. Babji (Venkata Satyadev) harbors a fervent ambition to secure the role of an MLA and emerge victorious in the ZPTC elections, pitted against the formidable Arudra (Kallu Krishnarao) within the confines of Madhurapudi village. His journey to attain this goal is significantly aided by his unwavering comrade, Soori (Siva Kantamaneni).
While Babji's political aspirations take center stage, Soori experiences a blossoming affection for Girija (Katalyn Gowda), who arrives in the village with the intent of promoting digital banking awareness. As Girija reciprocates Soori's sentiments, unexpected and shocking events ensue, catapulting their lives into turmoil. Unraveling the mysteries behind these events and exploring the intricate connections between MLA Muddu Krishna (Bharani Shankar), IT Minister (Abbulu), and the unfolding proceedings becomes the central focus of the story.
Venkat Satyadev portrayed the role of an aspiring MLA commendably, exuding a strong on-screen presence. His engaging smile and charismatic looks leave a lasting impression. Siva Kantamaneni delivered a noteworthy performance, effectively conveying a range of emotions as a friend who goes to great lengths to support his comrade's dreams, while also convincingly displaying his anger and concern when his fiancée faces trouble.
Katalyn Gowda, in her role, portrayed grief and pain adequately. At times, she showcased a photogenic charm that resonated with her character as a girl from a rural background. Bharani Shankar and Abbulu delivered convincing performances in their respective roles as politicians. The rest of the cast played their parts in accordance with their characters, contributing to the overall ensemble.
Madurapudi Gramam Ane Nenu, scripted by Malli (Mallikarjuna), explores the life and events within a village. The director chose to narrate the tale from the perspective of the village itself, rather than focusing on individual characters. While the concept is promising, he fumbles a little bit while narrating the story. But, delivered a different film towards the end.
Furthermore, the portrayal of the so-called antagonists as people devoid of values weakens the overall narrative and undermines its intended message. The first half of the film is disappointingly below par, and though the second half shows slight improvement, it fails to rescue the film from mediocrity. The director's undue emphasis on depicting violence once again detracts from the overall experience, making the story feel feeble, with average screenplay and direction, ultimately leading to a predictably clichéd conclusion.
Mani Sharma's musical contributions are passable, with just one or two emotional songs. His background score, however, manages to enhance certain scenes. Suresh Bhargava's cinematography effectively captures the natural essence of the village atmosphere. Gautam Raju's editing is adequate, though the film could benefit from the removal of some scenes, especially those depicting violence. Dialogues are mundane, and production values fall below the expected standard.
Altogether, Madhurapudi Gramam Ane Nenu is an undeniably dated narrative. Despite director Malli (Mallikarjuna)'s earnest intentions, the film falls short of effectively delivering its intended message, primarily due to poorly developed characters and an excessive focus on glorifying violence. In light of these significant shortcomings, Cinejosh assigns a rating of just 2.5 to Madhurapudi Gramam Ane Nenu.
Actor Siva Kantamaneni should be commended for trusting and entrusting the director Mallikarjuna Malli for believing in the interesting plot and coming up with a risky and noteworthy project.