‘Ee Nagaraniki Yemaindi’: A classy buddy flick

Undoubtedly, leading producer Suresh Babu is breaking new ground these days. After making a gripping family thriller ‘Drushyam’ and a sports-centric film ‘Guru’, he has now come up with a buddy flick to connect with new-generation viewers. Despite flaws and some narrative glitches, the plot of four childhood friends who reunite and set for a mission- begins well but loses steam as it progresses.

New-age director Tharun Bhascker who impressed with the national award-winning film ‘Pelli Choopulu', has chosen to make a road-movie this time around and definitely offers a refreshing film on four buddies who have a gala time on their trip to Goa and thereafter. Despite being new faces, these youngsters put in a decent performance with catchy onliners, banter and bring lot of energy and above all their onscreen chemistry is spot on. Maybe, the goal of the protagonists to make a short film, could go over-to-top for general audience.

Actually, it is a tale of four childhood friends-Vivek (Vishwaksen), Karthik (Sushanth Reddy), Upendra (Venkatesh Kakamanu) and Kaushik (Abhinav Gomatam). Briefly, Vivek is an aspiring short filmmaker and sulking a break-up, while Upendra is a wedding photographer. Kaushik tries his luck as a small screen actor, while Karthick is about to marry a rich NRI girl. They get a chance to come together once again for Karthik’s wedding. When the would-be groom loses the wedding ring given by his father-in-law, the four friends resolve to make a short film and win the prize money to buy the expensive ring. Will they accomplish in their mission, that forms the rest of the story.

Young actors Vishwaksen Naidu, Sushanth Reddy, Abhinav Gomatam and Venkatesh Kakumanu fit the bill, while actress Anisha Ambrose and Simran Chowdary have nothing much to do. However, Abhinav Gomatam steals the show with his comic-timing. Composer Vivek Sagar just manages one or two good songs, but couldn’t match up to his earlier works- ‘Pelli Choopulu’ and `Sammohanam’. Cinematography is good, some shots are top class. The production design (art work) and production values are perfect. The movie’s pace is dead slow. Even at short runtime, it gives the feel of a lengthy movie.

It looks as if the film is inspired by the Hollywood film ‘Hangover’ and ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ and loaded with friends who booze and enjoy besides trying to overcome small differences among themselves or recovering from heartbreak, funny dialogues and much more.

After making ‘Pelli Choopulu’, may be, director Bhascker wanted to show a ‘a slice of his life’ in ‘Ee Naganariki…’ as he was a short filmmaker-turned-director but how far audience would connect to trials and tribulations of a budding filmmaker is a matter of debate. Of course, his writing skills are intact and comes up with matter of fact conversations and evokes laughs without resorting to slapstick.

The director’s emotional plot of Vivek and Karthik, who go in their own ways, for their own reasons and reminds Aamir Khan and Siddharth Akshaye Khanna track from ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ but it comes in too late for the audience. It has its moments of fun and emotion, but not enough to pull the audience beyond youth.