manasvegi Reviews

Ante Sundharaniki (2022)

Familiar story, Expertly Crafted

[10/10 · 19 June 2022]

I loved every second of this movie.

It is a familiar story about a couple's struggle against certain customs and family ideas to get a love marriage.

However, the exposition mechanism (1hr chats) and going back and forth in the story in the first half make the exposition feel very natural, riveting, and funny. The characters are extremely well fleshed out and the romance in the first half is very cute and sells well.

The second half kicks it up even more in terms of entertainment and storytelling with tons of incidents that are very unpredictable, thus keeping it fresh and never lagging. The comedy works very well too. The best part though is the ambiguity we feel in the lead characters as the lies catch up and their guilt keeps rising.

Not just the screenplay and editing, the direction works extremely well too with gorgeous frames and fun camera angles and techniques throughout.

The acting from the lead characters to the parents to the other supporting characters is spot on too, special mention to young Nani.

I feel this movie's attention to detail in every element of the film is commendable, and I hope everyone supports this movie so we can see more excellent films with smaller budgets.

Petta (2019)

Finally a movie that Rajni fans can be proud of

[8/10 · 11 January 2019]

First half is very very entertaining with the charismatic hostel warden generating fun and swag.

Second half slows down the movie but it's still pretty good. Only complaint is that I wish they could maintain a little more consistency in the movie.

Rajni killed it!

Vinaya Vidheya Rama (2019)

Disappointed that Charan chose this script

[3/10 · 11 January 2019]

The only thing even remotely good about this movie is Charan's charismatic performance and great dance. But as a movie, this movie is a major disappointment after Rangasthalam (which is one of my favorite films and performances of all time).

The movie has an atrociously routine script, with underwhelming action and hardly any substance. The screenplay is pretty bad, it even left me confused about the order of events. The heroine has 0 role and is only there for songs. It's ridiculous that the movie talks about mahila sangams and all and opens with shots sexualizing the heroine so grossly. She has barely any role. Most of the acting is pretty cringe. Beyond a very poor script, this movie is plagued by unnecessary and horrible CGI, which takes you out of the movie and is laughable.

I'm very disappointed that Charan accepted this script after a National Award worthy performance in Rangasthalam. I wish this movie does poorly so that Boyapati Sreenu learns a lesson and goes for substance in script rather than gratuitous explosions and songs.

Spoiler: this movie is 50% wind guns.