Film: Nava Vasantham
Cast: Tarun, Priyamani, Akash, Sunil, Rohit, Ankita, Kota Srinivas Rao, Ahuthi Prasad, Sana, Sudha, Mallikarjuna Rao, Brahmanandam and others
Music: S A Rajkumar
Cinematography: Sarvesh
Produced by: N V Prasad and Paras Jain
Presented by: R B Chowdhary
Banner: Mega Supergood Films
Story and directed by: K Shahjahan
Release Date: November 9, 2007
CBFC Rating: U
What's it about!
Ganesh (Tarun) comes down from the village to meet his uncle and his daughter Ammu (Priyamani), whom he has not met since childhood. His uncle refuses to acknowledge his presence and doesn't want his daughter to be married with Ganesh who is too poor. He meets his friends Prasad (Akash), Raja (Rohith), Vijay (Sunil) who are living in miserable condition to achieve their dreams. Prasad prepares for civil services, Raja aspires to be a singer and Vijay wants to be big time mimicry artiste. Touched by their hospitality and friendliness, Ganesh promises the three to achieve their ambitions. He runs a hotel, sacrifices money to make their friends settle in life. The rest of the film is how Ammu and Ganesh unit in the end?
Analysis
Nava Vasantham is remake of a Tamil hit, Punnagai Desam, which was also starred by Tarun in Tamil. Nava Vasantham is faithful remake of that film by the same director Shahjahan. There is no original bone in the film but it works due to two factors - Sunil's excellent comedy and good sentiment scenes. Seeing Tarun in completely different character (far from his 'lover boy' image, he plays Venkatesh kind of role) gives good impression. In fact, in the first half, it is Sunil who drives the pace with his comic act as Mimicry Basha.
The film is amalgam of many Vikraman films (from Pudu Vasantham to Venkatesh starrer Raja). Hero getting sympathy for his sacrifice and do-good activities is what we associate with Vikraman movies. In Nava Vasantham, the basic story line is almost similar to Vikraman directed Pudu Vasantham (which was later dubbed into Telugu by the title of Nava Vasantham too). The only difference is that Tarun doing such role, and the fresh combination of Priyamani, Tarun, Akash, Rohit and Sunil has worked to the film's advantage.
The Tamil director Shahjahan has packaged it well but his understanding about present economic social conditions seems to be zero. In these days, can anyone become popular singer just because you gave a performance at one of the kacheri in an auditorium? Hero Tarun comes to city with an 'inland cover' in search of his uncle's house and doesn't have a phone number. These kind of old and archaic scenes are plenty. Climax is also tedious.
Despite nothing new in the story, formulaic sentiment scenes, it works because the narration is very smooth and doesn't really get you feel bored. Jokes make you laugh.
Performances
Tarun dons a sympathetic role. He does the role convincingly. After long gap, he is back to screen and Tarun gets good character in this movie.
Sunil is the hero, here. His comedy is too good.
Akash and Rohit are okay.
Priyamani is gorgeous and her chemistry with Tarun is also excellent. She looks glamorously as well and dances with ease.
Ankita's role is pretty small. Kota Srinivas Rao's character is stereotype character that is normally played by Manivannan in similar Tamil movies.
Technically, camera work gets noticed. It is bright and gives cool look. Music by S A Rajkumar is below average. Songs are biggest weak aspect. Dialogues are impressive but preachy.
Bottom-line
If you are looking for simple time pass, Nava Vasantham gives enough entertainment. Sunil's comedy and Tarun's characterization and his performance are major assets. It il nothing but copy of Vikraman's Nava Vasantham but the director packages it freshly. You don't get much boredom. And don't look for novelty, then you can enjoy the proceedings.
