Film: Vaana
Cast: Vinay, Meera Chopra, Sunil, Suman, Ajay, Jayasudha, Seetha, Dharmavarapu and others
Dialogues: Paruchuri Brothers
Music: Kamalakar
Lyrics: Sirivennela Seetarama Sastry
Cinematography: Sekhar V Joseph
Editing: K V Krishna Reddy
Presented by: SPR Entertainments
Screenplay, produced and directed by: M S Raju
Release Date: Jan 15, 2008
CBFC Rating: U
What's it about?
Abhi (Vinay) falls for the charms of Nandini (Meera Chopra) in Hyderabad. One day he goes for a wedding with his mother to Anantagiri and he finds that Nandini is daughter of his mother's friends. He proposes love to her but the twist is that it is her wedding that is taking place in two days. When she finally realizes how he loves her and accepts his love, there is another twist.
Analysis
The most difficult job in making a love story is to hold audiences' interest till the climax and make them connect with the story. M S Raju's maiden directorial venture Vaana doesn't have any interesting or novel points to sustain the interest.
Remake of a Kannada hit (Mungaru Male), Vaana is a mix of two 'plot points' that are beaten death in Tollywood by ace writer Trivikram Srinivas. They are 1) hero falling in love with an already engaged girl/woman - Nuvvu Naku Nachchav, Nuvve Kavali, Chirunavvutho, etc 2) Then he is torn between family honor and love. Only difference is that it is a doomed romantic drama.
One wonders why M S Raju picked up such predictable theme. One should always remember that the standards of commercial Kannada films are much lower than our Telugu films and it is always safe game not to fall prey for them (remember Yogi?). Although the film has fairly good first half, it soon peters out to be predictable towards the climax.
The scene when hero gets drunk and expresses his feelings in the rain is best executed and rest of the film lacks consistency and characters exhibit artificial emotions. Sekhar V Joseph's eye-catching camera work and some comedy are the saving graces.
Performances
Vinay makes decent debut into Telugu but he looked handsome in Nee Valle Nee Valle. In Vaana with the thick moustache, he doesn't look that appealing. Meera Chopra is better now compared to her Bangaram days. Senior actors Suman, Seetha, Jayasudha and Naresh are okay. Dharmavarapu's character provides some good laughs. Ajay's character lacks strength.
Technically, Sekhar V Josheph walks away with the honours. He captures the beautiful locations of South Karnatka and Sakleshpur so well; picutirisation of
'Eduta Nilichindi Choodu' is perfect example for his splendid work in the film. Director M S Raju's mark is visible in the first half but it seems he stuck to the original film to the most. Unlike his other works (Varsham, NVNV), one doesn't easily connect with the storyline. Kamalakar's songs are appealing.
Bottom-line!
Vaana has unconvincing storyline and lacks the mark of M S Raju's movies. Its box-office fate purely depends on how the youth and urban audiences accept it.
Rating: 3/5
Reviewed by Navya Vailta
Related Links
Vinay - Interview
M S Raju on Vaana
USA Schedules
