Class film for masses

At one go, MCA the acronym for the latest ‘Natural Star’ Nani starrer, packs in a lot. The setting is in Telangana, the characters speak the dialect without sounding forced and a whole lot of characters – from the hero’s brother Rajiv Kanakala at one end to Posani at the other- other than the impactful sis-in-law role to Bhumika Chawla, all leave a good impression. Of course, the zing that Sai Pallavi adds is unique and impactful.

She is a natural on screen and then her dance moves in the songs clearly overshadow the hero Nani, who is seen sporting enough to allow her to take centrestage.

In a long time, a flashback narration carries on grippingly throughout its long running time in this film. Spacing out and placing the variety fare of family emotions, youth angst, middle class attitude and impish fun which is the leading lady’s USP, the director Venu Sri Ram presents a smoothly rendered production.

Taking up the topic of illegal bus transporters and their callous attitude towards public safety, the film interconnects the dots between the villain ( Hyderabad-based Vijay Varma, seen in a few Hindi films) who is a cool dude and a definite plus and the hero, who blooms late but turns out to be a fiery counter-attacker, protecting the family honour. The notable issue is that the tension is maintained between them until the final moments of the movie, with a good climax twist.

Nani’s run of luck is bound to carry him ahead with this venture too and he is surely having one more lucky charm in his team, the bubbly heroine, who is a welcome break from the overdoing, cutesy North Indian ones.

Not one to be blessed with gorgeous looks, Sai Pallavi dominates whenever she is around, a point to be considered when she is likely to be seen with bigger heroes. Bhumika Chawla fits the bill of the Nadiya types in a Telugu filmsetting but manages to carry her role with grace.

Devi Sri Prasad is not in his usual cacophonous zone but his final number in which the music is pulsating and the dance numbers high octane is bound to catch on well.

As the film is shot in and around Telangana, it manages to showcase the beauty of it which is largely unexploited and which may change for the better in the days to come. In all, this ‘Abbayi’ entertains well.

By K Naresh Kumar