At the end of first half, one would think that 'Bale Bale Mogadivoy' would be doomed if it further stretches the same idea of the travails of a forgetful lover boy. However, Maruthi takes one by surprise by turning a hitherto romantic-comedy into a family entertainer as he involves an entire family in the situational comedy. The end result is a clean family entertainer that stretches one idea without being seen as spreading itself thin.
Nani plays a forgetful youngster whose bumbling ways border on the inane for a person of his age. This very element is universally appealing, although not novel. Such a one being a medico is a rare idea in South Indian cinema - an idea with not a mass appeal. He falls in love with Nandana (Lavanya Tripathi) but the catch is that moments earlier, he had fallent out with Murli Sharma, Nandana's daughter. This one, again, is not an exciting premise. But what follows outgrows the film's apparent limitations, infusing funny situations with the ever-so-affable Nani in tandem.
Nani is mocked at by his father (Naresh, yet again, goes overboard), and pampered by his mother (Sithara shines with her comic acting, in a rare act). He has a tough time hiding his 'lopam' from his sweetheart. Lavanya starts thinking of Nani as a Good Samaritan and her father too is impressed by his personality as described by his daughter. All troubles begin when Lavanya asks Nani to get himself introduced to her father.
If the storyline doesn't sound fascinating on paper, Maruthi's Midas Touch takes the film to another level. The situations are the stuff of romantic-comedies and Nani's guy-next-door persona cackles up the screen. The first half mostly features situational comedy involving the lead pair, complete with a spoof on Shankardada MBBS. A role like this would have tempted an actor to go overboard but Nani keeps himself from being caricaturish; he doesn't follow a cliched template and instead tries to be original. Years after 'Ashta Chamma' and 'Ala Modalaindi', this one is a big re-launch of a kind for him (omitting his eminently watchable act in 'Yeto Vellipoyindi Manasu'). He strikes an instant rapport with Lavanya, who with her unconcealed admiration for Nani's kindheartedness eminently comes across like a girl-next-door.
The second half would have seemed repetitious but Maruthi metamorphoses the film into a different genre. Vennela Kishore and Nani raise the laughter quotient. Ajay's villainism stands like an odd one until the climax when Nani's heroism is sought to be elevated.
Praveen needed better lines to complement Nani's efforts while the absence of a comedian is compensated for good by Vennela Kishore in the later half. Srinivas Reddy's confusion, Lavanya's romantic avatar, Nani's makeover - they all add zing to the proceedings.
Some part of the comedy of cheating has been seen many a time, but this one is deftly saved from sounding monotonous. Nani and Murli Sharma impress with their emotional acts.
As for Gopi Sunder's music, the songs are interspersed into the narration without seeming mainstream stuff.
Geeta Arts and UV Creations make sure the output is technically on a sound footing. All actors look better than they do normally.
Verdict: The story of a forgetful character's travails, this one is stuffed with situational comedy. It sustains interest throughout, avoiding the pitfalls of a stretched comedy. A clean one at that by Maruthi, 'Bale Bale Mogadivoy' is a rom-com and family entertainer rolled into one.
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