Grahanam (2004) User Reviews

an engaging mystery/drama

[jai1 · 8/10 · 15 July 2006]

I've never seen a Telugu art film before and i've been watching Telugu movies all my life.

It suffices to say I was in for a pleasant surprise. This movie is one of those rare gems that never gets it chance to shine, although I heard this movie got some awards. This is a movie that one should view without any pretensions or any inkling of the story. Though it was somewhat ruined for me,since i had a vague idea of the story, i nevertheless had a great time watching this movie.

Director Indraganti keeps it moving at a very engaging pace, though at times it tended to drag a little. This is definitely not a Tollywood movie and belongs in the field of art-house cinema.

I can only hope that more movies like this are made. The story is really quite novel and engaging. Its set in a village amidst Brahmin families. A young boy who lives in the village and regularly eats at the head of the village's household falls ill. A nearby Tantra doctor comes to look, after standard remedies have failed,and concludes that the boy has Doshagunam. He has had illicit relations with an older woman and he needs the blood from the thigh of that older woman in order for the boy to heal. The mystery/drama revolves around the implications of the boy saying out Sardamba's(the village head's wife) name. Actor Surya is a treat and i don't think he has ever got a chance to prove his capabilities. He acts with great nuance, though his on screen time is not that much. Tanikelli, as usual is brilliant. He always gets relegated to villain rules and its very discontenting to see such a great actor get only such trivial roles. Its really quite an engaging story and its best to go into without any pretensions.

Happy to see such unconventional movies in Telugu movie industry

[uday0408 · 8/10 · 8 November 2006]

I am very pleased to see a movie like Grahanam being made, and that too in Telugu. Makes me proud that my native language is Telugu too! And in my 15 years of watching Telugu movies, I must have meant that only couple of times. Telugu Industry churns out movies like a popcorn machine, yet 99% of the movies are alike.

What makes this movie so special? 1) Its not a LOVE story! I think that should be enough reason to watch the movie :) Seriously. No songs, no fights, no hero rescuing heroine from 50 armed goons stuff. This is an art movie in Telugu. I'm not kidding. If you have seen movies like Show or Aithe, then you know what I'm talking about. The main actor from Show, Surya is also one of the main characters in Grahanam.

2) The entire movie is set in black and white. Why?! But it does affect you. Makes you feel a certain eeriness about the movie. I think for a story like this, the b/w did suit the movie. Hats off to the director.

3) The story is very sensitive topic (social taboo) about relationships. It is taken from a novel I believe. But one needs guts to portray such a sensitive topic in such a careful and precise way. Hats off again.

4) Acting was pretty high compared to current standards. But somehow I feel this movie deserves even better acting. I cant point out who should be replaced. Everyone did their part well.

Overall, this movie is not for the average Joe who likes to see conventional family movies Telugu Industry makes. I've warned you. Watch it and appreciate it. Definitely Not for kids!

This movie may jolt the beliefs and also make a few question what we stand for actually.

[braddugg · 8/10 · 20 September 2014]

I have watched this movie a month ago and writing a review now which is against the practice I adopt to write a review as an when I watch it. Still, the whole movie is very vivid for me coz its an unforgettable story and the images linger long time after we have watched this. This movie may jolt the beliefs and also make a few question what we stand for actually.

Based on a Chalam story 'Doshagunam' this movie is very placid in narration and slowly but surely enters deep into the mind. No escape can be made from past memories if they were those of Kanakaiah the boy whose story is told. The main protagonist as per me would be Saradamba though as she is the one who drove the story and its more important to know what happens to her.

Chalam, my favorite Telugu writer and trust me there are very few writers in other languages who can match his sensitivity. He has already given such a great story that we just need a bunch of actors and a camera to capture the acting. Taken up by Mohan Krishna as his first directorial venture he should be lauded by telugu film fraternity that has been putting lackluster runs all through last decade with screenplays that either lackadaisical or languid.

Acting is top notch by all who have done but outstandingly it is by Bharani which can be expected as he has the valor in him to carry any character but the best comes from Jayalalitha as Saradamba. She was quite a revelation and it's sad to know that telugu film industry that they were not able to give her apt roles.

The entire film was in black and white and when I watched the movie in CIEFL (now EFL) hyderabad in 2006, the director was specifically asked said why was it in B & W for which the director answered that it was a matter of pure choice whether he wants Black and White or color and it was a just a button he had to play with. I was not i agreement with the answer as the reason seemed to abstract. I would have rather thought that the film wanted to stick to the story and black and white helps enhance the story and the emotions of characters as the colors and the cinematography are less observed also only dreams are in color which would rather substantiate a thought that reality is all in black and white its either good or bad but dreams are colorful as its how we perceive dreams.

Also, a mention to the title music that will haunt anyone. Kudos to K.Vijay, the music director.

I am going with 4/5 for a story thats a gem. Its rare that it has been made in Telugu, an industry that revels in heroes histrionics and heroines exposure more that the content of the story.

Grahanam has heralded the entry of a trendsetter

[balu331 · 8/10 · 15 December 2019]

Indraganti MohanKrishna should be lauded for venturing into filmmaking with such a bold theme.. Kudos to Tanikella Bharani Garu and Jayalalitha Garu for delivering justice for the wonderful story line.. It's gripping film with a racy screenplay, crisp dialogues, clean cinematography and, above all, realistic performances from all

Novel Story and simple but apt direction

[siddhartha-gunti191 · 9/10 · 28 December 2012]

Grahanam movie is thought provoking and has what some can say ambiguous plot. The direction is so apt that you go along with the story even though it is a black and white movie and not even have great background score.

Movie points out many facts which can be hard to digest. Every character in movie show how foolish and greedy we are. Even the central character played by jayalalitha asks how can she trust her mother-in-law in an argument with her husband. It's all about us, our senselessness, our typical behavior.

Nice performance from everyone. Dialogues suit the setting. Commendable direction. Overall, kudos to entire team for pulling off such an excellent movie at such a times when Telugu audience are coming to theaters just to laugh at routine poor jokes in star cast commercial films.