vrachakonda Reviews

Satya (1998)

Understandably Rated Amongst the Greatest; Must Watch

[9/10 · 6 July 2020]

Satya is a master class in filmmaking. From the beginning to the end, the movie is raw and gripping. Despite the weighty subject matter, it never comes close to evincing the melodrama that is common in Indian movies today. So many of RGV's choices stand out as unique even today; the scenes where no BGM plays, the "documentary style" shots of Mumbai that add to the content of the story, and the intentionally mysterious Satya character. I particularly enjoyed how naturally the love arc between Satya and Vidya is created (as well as the action of both actors in these bits), the realistic informalism with which Bhiku Mhatre's gang is shown to operate (along with M. Bajpayee's outstanding action), and the music throughout the film.

The strengths of this film are well known but I'll state them one more time. The screenplay is incredibly natural and well structured. For example, the scenes where the new commissioner character is introduced and the background is given on him flow well along with the more specific narrative of Satya's rise in Mhatre's gang. The dark, quiet, almost chilling cinematography sets the tone of the movie, which is to be taken seriously. The music + background music is of course an all time great. I'm glad RGV was forced to have music in the film. Perhaps the most fun part is recognizing all the great current actors and assistants who got their break with this movie (Bajpayee, Kashyap, Sushant Singh, and so many others.

Shiva (1989)

Watching in 2019 is a different feeling

[8/10 · 27 November 2019]

It's hard to rate an industry classic honestly and accurately, especially one as hallowed as Siva. Watching in 2019, some plot holes (i.e. how does he get married and acquire power so quickly) and technical mishaps (i.e. many scenes where extras are out of character or poorly shot) tend to weigh on the viewing experience a little heavier than in 1989.

With all that said, Siva is still an absolute must watch. Its obvious directorial innovations, Nagarjuna's and Raghuvaran's acting, and the realistic elements of the storyline continue to dazzle 30 years later. What frankly surprised me is how outstandingly gripping the movie is; I didn't expect to be on the edge of my seat for so long. I cannot imagine what the experience must have been like in the theaters.

It's clear why the film retains an iconic status in the pantheon of Telugu cinema. Highly recommend for all viewers.

Green Book (2018)

Regressive movie

[3/10 · 3 March 2019]

Cant believe this cliched, regressive movie that caricaturized Don Shirley got Best Picture

Pelli Choopulu (2016)

Pellichoopulu is the one of the best Telugu movies I've seen in a while!

[8/10 · 13 August 2016]

I watched Pellichoopulu without much hope of being impressed or even of being entertained. Recent Telugu movies have been passable, but nothing that really got my attention. Pellichoopulu totally blew these thoughts out of my head!

The first half of PC was riotously funny, as the gang led by Prashant (Vijay Devarakonda) are goons who engage in the same dumb things college guys do around the world. Koushik (Priyadarshi) was unbelievably funny--the last time I remember laughing that much at a comedian's antics was maybe the Sunil of old (movies like Dhee, Ready, etc.). Ritu Verma as Chitra was awesome--I distinctly remember being amazed that there was finally a true-to-life strong female character in a Telugu movie. Perhaps the most striking aspect of the first half was that it was so current and relevant. Every teenager sees aspects of their group of friends in Prashant's gang, and the insertion of jokes about social media was timely and hilarious. Chitra's determination and modern character makeup was far more reminiscent of today's Indian women than the made-up doll roles that Tammannah, Samantha, and even Kajal frequently find themselves in.

The second half slowed down considerably, as the focus shifted to the emerging love story between Prashant and Chitra. I was a little less enthused about this half, but I believe it to have been very well done in its own way. The tension between the two kept me engaged, and the non-obvious way in which it resolved itself left me more satisfied than the usual fight scenes that Telugu movies use as a way of having a hero save the heroine.

Overall, Pelli Choopulu is a must-watch with great writing, direction, and action. I know I will be watching it again for many years.