Anaganaga Oka Raju, produced by Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas, hits the cinemas today. In this section, we are going to review the latest BO release.
Plot:
Driven by a sting of humiliation and a desire to restore his family’s former glory, Raju sets out on a calculated mission to secure a wealthy marriage. His pursuit leads him to Charulatha, a traditional woman whose high status promises to solve his financial woes. Through a series of orchestrated encounters, he successfully wins her heart and secures their union. However, his problems now threaten to worsen.
Performances:
Naveen Polishetty's performance is both physical and subtle. His chest-thumping bravado suits the beats of his semi-loud character. His kind of acting is evident, enlivened by the village setting and the effortless one-liners that keep coming the audience's way. Meenakshi Chaudhary's performance revolves around aspirational elegance; her screen presence should have felt more real in the second half.
Rao Ramesh makes way for another important character, played by Tarak Ponnappa, whose Erri Babu looks distant and imported. Between Mahesh Achanta, Bhadram, and Chammak Chandra, the last one was used better. Goparaju Ramana plays a marriage broker with no scope for laughs. Master Bheemala Revanth's acting doesn't have the zing. Saanve Megghana is seen in a cameo appearance as a dancer in the song 'Andhra to Telangana'. Faria Abdullah, Jhansi, and Sameera Bharadwaj have cameos.
Technical Departments:
The songs provide a materialistic update to village life, where the quality of life is abysmal. Music by Mickey J. Meyer's background score is okay. The cinematography by J. Yuvraj is highly saturated, suiting the festive vibe, in some places. The high-key lighting helps. Gandhi Nadikudikar's art direction is apt. The film is edited by Vamsi Atluri.
Post-Mortem:
Co-written by Naveen himself, Chinmay Ghatrazu and director Maari, the film paints a colorful caricature of reality. At one level, AOR is escapist entertainment. At another level, it is a commentary (although not a serious one) on materialism. Although the charm lies in exaggeration, the script doesn't overdo anything. The make-believe Goa episode is among the most hilarious stretches.
The entire story revolves around Naveen's Raju, whose juvenile urge to lead an opulent life lends itself to a hilarious opening sequence. Some of the artists around him serve as the audience to the leads' antics, either feeding his ego or providing puzzled reactions to his absurdity. He is so full of himself that he is not ready to take the steps to the village temple; his 'gumastha' has to carry him on his shoulders.
Meenakshi's Charulatha is sorted. Or, so we think. She comes across as an angel to the desperate and emotionally stunted Raju. The way her intro scene is staged, her character's twist becomes evident, if you are attentive that is. Had she been vocal and thought-provoking as the story progresses, the love track would have been more robust. Since she is a pet lover, we think she is sensitive and empathetic.
The second half is where the plot assumes the conventional, time-tested Telugu cinema template. Behind the comedic veneer, the film essentially has a start-middle-finish structure that is milked effectively to generate laughs as much as a coming-of-age arc.
Closing Remarks:
Anaganaga Oka Raju is a colorful, loud, and largely entertaining satirical take on materialism, powered almost entirely by Naveen Polishetty’s impeccable comic timing.
