Bedurulanka 2012: Novel plot, evokes laughs; still missed opportunity

Cast: Karthikeya, Neha Shetty, Ajay Ghosh, Srikanth Iyengar and Satya

Director: Clax

Ratings : 2 stars

Young actor Karthikeya who rose to fame with ‘RX 100’, has been waiting for elusive hit after flops like ‘Guna 369’ and ’90 ML’. This time he has chosen an interesting story on ‘doomsday’ prediction which evokes some fun. After playing angry young man roles, he showcases his flair for comedy and does it well. His admiration for megastar Chiranjeevi in the film is well-registered.

It’s a conman story but it has its moments and could have been even better if the director had avoided formulaic songs, love tracks, few cinematic clichés since unique plots demand novel narration to keep the audience glued to their seats. Popular actor Ajay Ghosh, who played a dreaded villain in ‘Pushpa’, steals the show along with Srikanth Iyengar and Auto Ramprasad in this laugh-riot.

Neha Shetty, who impressed in ‘DJ Tillu’ tries hard to salvage a poorly-etched village belle role. Director Clax deserves kudos for working on the fears of villagers who come to know about their impending death and exposing greed, envy, and other grey shades of human beings captivatingly.

It is the story of a graphic designer (Karthikeya) who returns to his village Bedurulakana, set in the year 2012. He falls in love with Neha Shetty and spends time with his friends. When he gets a task on hand, he doubts the intentions of Godman Ajay Ghosh who wants to terrify people on possible apocalypse and loot them. He raises key questions against superstitions and religious beliefs. Finally, how Karthikeya and his friends expose Ajay Ghosh and his gang forms the crux of the story.

Karthikeya who even played baddy roles in films like ‘Valimai’ and ‘V’, has surely found the right story to make his comeback of sorts. He looks fit and handsome and his expressions have become more natural this time. His comic timing showcases him in a new light. Ajay Ghosh is back with a bang and this role is similar to the one he played in Nayantara’s devotional film ‘Mukuthiamman’. Srikanth Iyengar and Satya also fit into their roles. Manisharma impresses with his background score but his songs are not up to the mark. Close-to-life dialogues are another highlight of the film.

Director Clax has chosen a theme that has enough potential and it gives some life lessons about honesty, greed, and stuff. He throws logic to the winds in the name of cinematic liberties which lets down the audience a bit.

It would have been another ‘Virupaksha’ that touched upon black magic but stuck to gripping narration.

In this case, the commercial inclinations of the director have played spoilsport and the unnecessary dragging of scenes also adds to audience woes. A missed opportunity indeed.