Baby Movie Review: Vaishnavi Shines in Male-chauvinism-laden Triangular Love
Cast: Anand Devarakonda, Vaishnavi Chaitanya, Viraj Ashwin, Nagababu and others
Director: Sai Rajesh
Rating: 2 stars
Undoubtedly, young actress Vaishnavi Chaitanya steals the show as a baasti girl who transforms into a pretty damsel after joining an engineering college. She also makes new friends including her classmate (Viraj Ashwin). Of course, she is already in love with her childhood school mate (Anand Devarakonda) and their relationship is going strong over the years. Differences crop up between the two lovers when she goes to the pub overruling his order and she gradually gets closer to Viraj, who is besotted with her.
Director Sai Rajesh of ‘Hrudaya Kalayam’ fame starts off well by depicting the heroine as a free-spirited girl who loves lavish lifestyle besides loves to make friends. But when she commits one mistake in a pub, the director makes every character in the film to mock and demean her as if she has committed the biggest crime in the world. It is clear that the director wanted to elevate the self-piteous role of Anand Deverakonda and blame the girl (despite repenting) for all the issues towards the end, hence the climax looks more contrived than real.
It’s a story of an auto driver (Anand Devarakonda) who is in love with his childhood classmate (Vaishnavi Chaitanya) and their love blossoms in a crowded baasti. She dreams of lavish things and when she steps into college, she finds herself uncomfortable among trendy girls. However, her friends give her a makeover and now she transforms into a pretty angel, attracting the love of her classmate Viraj. Unwilling to reveal about lover, she wants to remain best friends with Viraj. After a big fight with Anand who calls her a bitch for her new look, she in a drunken mood commits a mistake with Viraj and her life turns miserable thereafter.
Anand Deverakonda pulls off a self-piteous role with consummate ease and has surpassed his earlier performances, while Vaishnvavi showcases multiple shades to score big. Viraj just plays a rich guy but his character loses sting after sometime. Nagababu as the supporting father of Vaishnavi is just ok. Music of Vijay Bulganin is impressive and background score spot on, while cinematography just fits in.
Director takes the clichéd template of two heroes and one girl triangular romance and adds pubs, students and cuss words to give it a modern tweak. But the second half turns judgemental and defines how a woman should be, which is as old as hills and smacks of chauvinism. Director wanted to engage the audience riding on confusions in youngsters in dealing with relationships, but falls flat barring some moments.
