Cast: Vijay Devarakonda , Ritu Varma
Director: Tharun Bhascker
The small film Pelli Choopulu released this week, marking the debut of short filmmaker Tharun Bhaskar as director. Raj Kandukuri is the producer while Vijay Devarakonda and Ritu Varma are the lead pair. Prashanth (Vijay Devarakonda) wants to become a chef but his father is against it. But Prashanth can’t fit into any job and his father thus decides to get him married. They go to see a girl named Chitra (Ritu Varma), who has completed her MBA. Chitra, however, tells Prashanth that she is not interested in marriage at present as she plans to go to Australia. For that she wants to start a food truck business and asks Prashanth to join hands with her if he is interested.
The two then tell each other how they have been cheated by their earlier lovers. Meanwhile, Prashanth’s family comes to know that they have came to a wrong address. The alliance is cancelled but Chitra feels that Prashanth is the right guy for her business. Meanwhile, Prashanth finds another girl, but the girl’s father has a condition, that Prashanth should be successful in a business. So with no other option, Prashanth joins hands with Chitra in the food truck business. The crux of the story is how Chitra and Prashanth prove their talent, make their parents proud and come together.
This is not a great or an offbeat story, but full marks to debutant director Tharun Bhascker for giving the film a fresh and interesting look. He has used his short filmmaking experience and has neatly narrated the story. One can identify with most of the characters. The screenplay is also good and there is no confusion, though a few flashbacks come in between. He has also recorded the sound when shooting, so it gives more freedom to the actors and it shows on screen.
When it comes to the performance, Ritu Varma is the best. Though she has acted in a few films earlier, this is her best performance. She is perfect as Chitra, the strong individual girl. Vijay Devarakonda too looks a natural actor. He has already proved his mettle with his debut film Yevade Subramanyam, but this film allows him to showcase his talent. But the find of the film is debutant Priyadarshi, who entertains with his Telangana slang and punch dialogues. Technically the film is good with neat photography and natural locations. The music is also nice and the dialogues are entertaining.
The only minus point about the film is that the story is completely predictable. Finally, Pelli Choopulu is a breath of fresh air and gives one a break from the regular commercial masala films. Tollywood has got a talented director in Tharun Bhascker, who has hit the nail when it comes to narrating a story connected to the present generation and the mindset of their parents. The film is a must watch.
