Reviews : Movie Reviews : Village Lo Vinayakudu

Film: Village Lo Vinayakudu
Cast: Krishunudu, Sharanya Mohan, Yandamuri Veerendra Nath, Rao Ramesh, and others
Story: Mahi
Dialogues: Mahi, Saikiran Adivi
Music: Manikant Khadri
Lyrics: Vanamaali
Cinematography: Rams
Editing: Marthand K Venkatesh
Produced by: Mahi
Banner: Moon Water Pictures
Screenplay and directed by: Saikiran Adivi
CBFC Rating: U
Release Date: November 5, 2009

What’s it about!
Karthik (Krishnudu) is a teacher by profession and falls in love with a medico Kavya (Sharanya Mohan). Kavya’s father Colonel Lakshmipati leads retired life at a farmhouse in a village with his brothers and all. Kavya loses her mother at young age, so her father doesn’t refuse anything she wishes. When she musters courage to tell her father about her love, Karthik comes to her home all of a sudden. He tells Lakshmipati that he is in love with his daughter. Lakshmipati doesn’t like this stout guy to become his son-in-law. Lakshmipati’s friend Bhaskaram (Yandamuri) further complicates Krishnudu’s prospects with some silly ideas. Rest of the drama is how Krishnudu wins the heart of Lakshmipati.

Analysis

Village Lo Vinayakudu is sequel to the hit flick, Vinayakudu, which was a commercial hit and also won some awards. But this sequel has no continuity to the original movie; it is a different storyline except that protagonist Karthik remains the same. The original had urban setting and had completely relied on love, and on the aspect of how a fat boy wins the heart of a beauty with his wittiness and good-hearted charm. Whereas, Village Lo Vinayakudu focuses on how hero wins the family of his love and has rural milieu.

The basic conflict of this sequel – a father’s reluctance to accept his daughter’s selection of life partner and at the same time not saying no to her – sounds good. Looks like the plot line is straight lift from Meet The Parents (2000) but Village Lo Vinayakudu has fewer funny moments and less engrossing than the original. It takes time to connect to the storyline but once we glued to it, we can carry with it. It has some really funny moments especially between Rao Ramesh and Krishnudu, some nice songs and good visuals. Yet, the narration should have been fast and editing should have been crispier. Director Saikiran has good material on his hands but has focused on much trivial issues thereby diluting the script. Also the biggest minus is the pair of Krishnudu and heroine Sharanya Mohan - they really look odd couple. They seem like brother and sister than lovers as Sharanya Mohan seems really a teeny kid. On the whole, the film evokes some good laughs and is neat film for family viewing.

Performances

Krishnudu in the role of fat boy is, like in the original, is good. He doesn’t have much to do in the movie but he carries his character with ease. Sharanya Mohan has cute face but she has body of a 15 year old girl and there is no chemistry between the lead pair. When she drapes Sari around, she looks like a Barbie doll wearing Sari.

Rao Ramesh as strict retired military officer is good. He does his role with ease. Yandamuri’s character is not properly developed and is not gelled with the storyline. Bharat Reddy in a few scenes catches the eye with his honest performance.

The film looks visually stunning as Rams camera captures Konaseema (Dindi and Rajoul area in East Godavari district) so beautifully. Although we have seen several movies that are set in Godavari area, yet this film gives fresh look due to imaginative angles. Songs by Manikant Khadri are good to hear but his background score is horrible. Every time, when Rao Ramesh appears on screen he provides military theme music, and stock rural music is irritating.

Sai Kiran Adavi has shown his spark in penning some witty dialogues and capturing simple joys. But this time, he has lost grip on the screenplay. He has eye for good visuals. For a small budgeted the movie has rich artwork and good production values.

Bottom-line

Village Lo Vinayakudu, like the film’s original, provides some good laughs with neat narration. Although a bit slow, the movie is a film that can be viewed with all the family members. Good visuals, couple of hummable numbers and second half are its strength. On the whole, it is an okay movie.

Rating: 3/5

Reviewed by JP

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