'Bethaludu', the dubbed version of 'Saithan' (Tamil), has been released in about 500 theatres across the Telugu States. Here is our review:
Story:
The film opens with Dinesh (Vijay Antony), a newly married IT guy, consulting a psychiatrist to complain about some strange voices that he is hearing. Back home, his wife Aishwarya (played by Arundathi Nair) and mother are nervous about Dinesh's pathological behaviour. While the voices egg Dinesh on to kill himself, he embarks on a surreal journey in search of the elusive Jayalakshmi. Who is she? Is she a ghost, a living monster or a figment of Dinesh’s imagination is what the screenplay is all about.
After doing with a transient flashback told in voice-over mode, the second half introduces a crime element that has an element of suspense in its own right. Aishwarya's character keeps one guessing, while Dinesh's mental trauma becomes the antagonist's nemesis.
Analysis:
Director Pradeep Krishnamoorthy, novelist Joe D Cruz and Karthick Krishna are credited with the screenplay, which is engrossing in the first half and themed around such elements as schizophrenia, past lives and mental trauma.
The darkness in Dinesh's life is neatly projected, not in the least by the spooky whispers alone. The suspicious characters in the hospital and the bus in the backdrop of a song, give goosebumps. Dinesh's journey to Macharla gives a high, although the way he succeeds in finding the answer he wants is not very imaginative.
On the downside, the film abruptly switches genres twice, thereby unsettling the viewer for some time.
The hyping up before the release made one expect a gripping high-point from the flashback portions, but to some disappointment, it's not only too brief but also not engagingly narrated. The screenplay also doesn't take much care about creating the right bond between the husband-wife duo. When Dinesh risks his life, there should have been a strong emotion going for it. The pre-climax and climax portions are glib in that the villainy is portrayed in a dull way.
Vijay Antony is a self-confessed actor of limited capabilities and his strength is that he knows his weaknesses. As both Dinesh and Sharma, he is absolutely measured. He effectively brings to life a man suffering from schizophrenia quite effectively and ‘Bethaludu’ most definitely is a step forward for him.
Arundathi Nair is innocence personified and there are many shades of her character which she expresses with ease, making her a talent to look out for in the future. The veterans Y. Gee. Mahendra, Kitty, Meera Krishnan and Charuhaasan have all done a neat job. The actor playing the villain’s henchman Thomas grabs the attention, but the main villain’s antics are cartoonish and a bit of a let down.
In all his movies Vijay Antony has delivered at least two hit songs that linger in the mind, but in this one, his touch goes missing. That said, the background score complements the proceedings. Pradeep Kalipurayath’s cinematography is a big plus as the angles, lighting and tone set the viewers up perfectly for the unfolding of a two-shaded screenplay. In a subject like this most editors tend to resort to fancy cutting, but Veera Senthil Raj has thankfully given a smooth and flowing cut that works. Art direction and sound design are spot on.
Verdict:
'Bethaludu' is a psychological and crime thriller. For all the hits like the dark thrills, spooky whispers, traumatic experience of the hero, the misses come a bit late but come prominently, eroding the enjoyment rather lastingly. It's Vijay Antony all the way. The technical departments score full marks, although the music director fails with respect to the songs. The mix of emotion and action in the climax did lend a monstrous opportunity to write a stunning screenplay by working backwards, but then, we are living in not-so-serious times.
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