Falaknuma Das movie review: Das the way it is in Old City!

Vishwak Sen makes his debut as director by remaking the Malayalam hit ‘Angamaly Diaries’ but locating it in the Old City. Vishwak also plays the lead role, and secured backing from the major production house Suresh Productions.

Das (Vishwak Sen) wants to become like the local goon Shankar and settle local issues but he is usually a loser. He starts a mutton business and sells at low rates which invites rivalry from other businesses. A local gang attacks him, during which a Das gang member kills a rival. That leads to a police case.

Meanwhile, after two break-ups, Das finds Zoya (Saloni) who stands by him.  This sets the stage for the unravelling of the police case and the gang rivalry.

The Malayalam film Angamaly Diaries is directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery and the story is set in suburban Kochi. Pellissery deals with the pork business, gang wars and the local communal set-up in an interesting manner.

The movie was critically acclaimed for the realistic approach to every scene.

For the Telugu remake, Sen does well to locate the film to the Old City of Hyderabad, where the lifestyle is unique. The problem is that his narration isn’t as gripping as in the original.

Falaknuma Das is a scene-for-scene copy and is shot in a realistic manner but the emotional content is missing. Therefore, some scenes are interesting but not the entire film.

Sen uses the typical Hyderabadi lingo and captures how young people behave in the Old City, the accent, visuals as well as the rawness, but that’s not enough.

The climax scene is very important in the original but Sen does not manage it in the Telugu offering.

The 11-minute climax shot very cheaply which is low on the technical and emotional front too. The depiction of too much alcohol is another minus point.

When it comes to the performances, it is Vishwak Sen all the way. He has the charm and the fit for the lead role of a young Old City boy. He is a bundle of talent and one to be watched. Senior actor Uttej gets a meaty role after a long time and puts in a very natural job.

Tharun Bhascker played a cop and he plays the entertainer with ease. Most of the supporting case is new. Of the three female actresses Salomi is good.

The dialogues are entertaining and the cinematography is good. The music is just average.