Okka Kshanam movie review: Parallel lives concept adds thrill to movie

Cast: Allu Sirish, Surbhi, Avasarala Srinivasa Rao, Seerat Kapoor.
Director: Vi Anand

Young Allu Sirish joins hands with the director of Ekkadiki Pothav Chinnavada, V I Anand for Okka Kshanam. Anand tries out an unusual idea —  that of people leading parallel lives

After graduating as an engineer, Jeeva (Allu Sirish) meets Jyotsna (Surbhi) and they fall in love. While hanging out at Jyotsna’s apartment, Jyotsna points out a couple living opposite who she says are always quarrelling.

The couple are Sreenivas (Avasarala Srinivasa Rao) and Swathi (Seerat Kapoor). One day, out of curiosity, Jeeva meets Srinivas and asks him about his story. To Jeeva’s surprise, Srinivas’s love story and other life experiences are similar to his and Jyotsna’s. He realises that he and Jyotsna and Srinivas and Swathi are living parallel lives.

Jeeva consults a psychologist, who confirms that such parallel lives exist. The psychologist tells Jeeva that whatever happens in the lives of Sreeinivas and Swati will be repeated in the lives of Jeeva and Jyotsna. Then Swathi is murdered and the blame lands upon Srinivas.

Though the concept is new and interesting, the director fails to keep his narration interesting till the end. The suspense flags after the interval. The second half shifts to corporate hospitals and how they mint money illegally — an issue highlighted in many Telugu movies.

Allu Sirish is trying to do something new in Okka Kshanam after his successful family drama Srirastu Subhamastu. His performance has improved but he is ill-suited to the action scenes.

The female lead — Surbhi — looks completely different and her performance has improved a lot. The role suits her perfectly.

Seerat Kapoor is average. While Avasarala Srinivas plays an important part and acts well, the role is not crafted properly. Praveen and Satya provide a few laughs. 

The surprise factor is Dasari Arun Kumar, the younger son of the late Dasari Narayana Rao. Arun makes a comeback in a negative role. He appears in the second half and his screen presence is quite impressive.

The dialogues are well written and Mani Sharma’s background music is good. The cinematography too is good as most of the film was shot indoors.