Movie: Naa Rakumarudu
Cast: Naveen Chandra, Ritu Varma
Director: Satya Thadelu

Story: Bindu is a happy go lucky girl, who lives with her mother. Her only problem is that she hates studying. Yet, much to her annoyance, her mother insists on her getting good grades. One day, Bindu’s college Principal slaps her for her negligent attitude. An angry Bindu decides to take revenge by playing a prank on the Principal. Unfortunately for Bindu, Vaishnav, a relative of the Principal becomes the unintended target of the prank. Angry with Bindu, Vaishnav blackmails her saying that he would report the incident to the Principal unless she followed his instructions for two months and do everything he says. Bindu agrees and during the two month period, Bindu and Vaishnav end up falling for each other. Yet, after their return from an outing, Vaishnav starts avoiding Bindu and asks her to get out of his life. Why did Vaishnav act this way and what happens afterwards forms the crux of the story.

Analysis: Ritu Varma as Bindu is clearly the key to the film and she does a very good job. She definitely needs to be appreciated for her performance. Naveen Chandra plays a meritorious, super-rich kid and looks good. However, in all fairness, it isn’t a role that offers him much scope for performance. In fact, he piggy backs on the strength of Bindu’s character. Yet, he has shown his dancing skills in the movie and also proves that he can play an urbane, romantic character with ease. Debut director Satya has done a pretty decent job for a first attempt. The first half of the movie is alright. However, where Satya disappoints is in the very important second half. The climax does not have the necessary build to it, it is too passive. Also the screenplay makes it predictable. The songs are also timed inappropriately and they are loud on the ears. A couple of numbers are good, but the background score is ordinary. Cinematography is beautiful and the cameraman gets all credit. The scenes between Kondavalasa and Krishna Bhagwan, though well written are completely unrelated to the movie. On the whole, the topic of the movie, that education is a must for girls is a very good one and director Satya needs to be complimented for coming out with a clean film which has no vulgarity in it. As a director, he shows promise. But the expense spent on picturing the songs abroad could have been spent for promotion and the scenes shot in India itself. NaaRakumarudu is a good project for Naveen Chandra, Ritu Varma and Satya. The biggest challenge would be for producer Vajrang (PS Reddy). It is a decent first attempt and hopefully, he should be able to get his investment back.

 

- Sridhar Adivi