ONAMAALU (2012) - TELUGU

Its refreshing in some ways and preachy in many but makes its point.

I liked it, for one reason, that is Rajendra Prasad, the man who is now pioneering message oriented films and once was an epitome of comedy hero is undoubtedly superb in his performance. 

The story is of a village and how it was and how it is today, it was great and colourful and comprised of unbelivably good people, maybe thats how they were in 70's and 80's. And now, we have people who are corrupt, greedy and yes unwilling to be at home but rather stay away from homes and homeland for their own reasons. Too many things are actually put in in what would have better if there are subtleties and niceties rather than heavy dosage of lectures or classes. It runs through the first hour in a village that  is colourful, cheerful and so happening where each one helps each other, festivals are celebrated collectively and every joy others is made their own. Narayanarao (Rajendra Prasad) brings his own subtleties and like looking at the comb to which her wife's hair is struck and remembering her when she is away, sure though they seem so fabricated, they went well with the mood as I watched it. 

It gave me memories of Swades which was superbly made and in comparison, though is just 2 hours it seems longer and by the end actually too over the board, yet there a few things we ought to know and we are still missing to learn them as we grow. I can relate to a few feelings of Narayanarao though as I had been abroad and was eager to be back home.   

Casting is simply not good and art direction is OK OK. Cinematography is sure appreciable but it could have been better. Acting of most is just there while Rajendra Prasad gave something to look forward to in his role as Narayanarao.  Editing could have been done well, at least songs could have been cut and a few scenes I felt, are they just there to convey a message. Like a water supplying boy decides not to supply mineral water any more just after a few words by our protagonist Narayanarao. Oh, can't this be cut. Anyways, I gave in to most of such things which actually I thought was necessary to a generation that thrives on un natural means from water to food to air. Overall, the screenplay is well written and a few dialogues have touched a chord like "Magaallu Meesalluna Chinna pillalu" (men are kids with moustache). Now, all together the direction seems so much like a lecture being told than a film being watched. 

I would go with an average 2/5 rating for a movie that surely has a point but alas it actually has too many points told in high pitch that after a point it seems like noise being made out of musical instruments. May be this generation does not the nice attitude to appreciate such lectures and since I am one among the new, I did not like it. Yet, go and watch Swades 10 times and you would love it than watching this once.

Surely, in a Telugu film industry that is deprived of some native films and where concepts are borrowed from either hollywood or bollywood, this is a refreshing film and I wish that Narayanarao truly did something active than passing passive dialogues. Good attempt Kranti Madhav, just that you can do much better if you are not so possessive of educating the audience at least like me.