Director: Jai
Cast: Raj Bharath, AP Shreethar, Tejaswini, Pooja Devariya
Andhra Mess tries to provide a uniquely flavorful experience but comes out forced and undercooked. Directed by ad-filmmaker turned director Jai, this movie is technically all sound, but lacks the synergy to make it work.
Devaraj (Vinod) is a gangster, and he is hired to steal a valuable bag from a home. His subordinates Varadhu (AP Shreethar), Rathna (Raj Bharath), Ritchie (Madhivanan Rajendran) and Sethu (Balaji) take up this task, and when they find out that it’s full of money, they abscond with it instead. They head to a remote village and one of them get shot. When they reach the village, they take shelter under Janardhanan (Amarendran) - an aged man who is the descendant of zamindars. He lives with his young wife Bala (Tejaswini), with whom Rathna has an affair. Meanwhile, Arasi (Pooja Devariya) - Richie’s girlfriend, joins the fray as well. Now how long can they stay hidden from Devaraj? Furthermore, there’s a lot of moving parts involved in their plot and friendships. Will they stick together against all odds?
One could very well ask the same questions of the film itself: will the various elements come together as a whole? Andhra Mess has its eccentricities and some adult elements. But these things don’t naturally come out of the characters and seem a bit forced. AP Shreethar brings some fresh ideas to Tamil villainy. And Tejaswini has surprisingly been given an intriguing role. Raj Bharath is adequate.
Technically, the film is strong with G. Mukesh, the cinematographer, leading the way. Visually you’re in for a treat. And backgrounds by Prashanth Pillai are decent as well. Worth a watch if you’re in a curious mood to steal a few ideas for your next project and perfect them.
