'Butta Bomma' hit the screens today (February 4). In this section, we are going to review the latest BO release.

Story:

Sathya (Anikha Surendran) is a young girl from a small village. She is miffed that her conservative parents restrict her freedom. Just as she starts dreaming about owning a smartphone and taking the social media world by storm, she inadvertently dials up an autorickshaw driver named Murali (Surya Vasissta). Their phone conversations start off on a regular note but soon feelings of love crop up. When Sathya decides to meet Murali in Vizag, she is in for a roller-coaster ride. Out of the blue, a seemingly toxic man (Arjun Das) enters the scene. 

Analysis:

By now, it is well-known that 'Butta Bomma' is a remake of the 2020 Malayalam movie 'Kappela'. Director Shourie Chandrasekhar T Ramesh, together with his writing department (led by screenplay and dialogue writer Ganesh Ravuri), make adequate changes to the original.

The casting is adept. Anikha looks the part of an immature young girl who has a misguided fascination for freedom at all costs. Acting as a child artist in many Malayalam movies over 15 years has taught her the art of being subtle. Surya, who is just starting out, follows the acting template of artists who have played similar roles in the past. Arjun Das' character is well-written; the 'Master' actor didn't have it easy, given the nature of the drama. He performs superbly and with ease. The artist who played Sathya's friend, the seniors who played the heroine's parents, and the rest of the cast add to the drama.

Gopi Sundar's background score should have conveyed tension. The first half's world-building scenes are somewhat dampened by the ordinary BGM. The songs (one of which is composed by Sweekar Agasthi) don't overdo it. They flit in and out of the script with commendable brevity. Vamsi Patchipulusu's cinematography amps up the production values. Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas stay robust. 

The actual story takes off from the interval. The second half is racy. The climax is where the actual message is delivered without much fuss. The film doesn't squander its energies worrying about social commentary and certain pet agendas (themes that can't be raised in this review without doling out spoilers) of feminists. It gets its act together with conviction. 

The drama involving the three main characters is narrated effectively. There are no deviations, no bad casting choices, and the game of deception has been played with smartness. The track involving Navya Swamy is another high. If you are someone who likes social thrillers and crime thrillers, you would be clued into the beats of 'Butta Bomma' more. 

Had the first half been an adaptation where the screenplay was tailored to suit the tastes of the Telugu audience, the film would have been even better. 

Verdict:

'Butta Bomma' comes with a tight storyline. The twist, the tension, and the compelling climax are its plus points. The performances and the technical output are praiseworthy. But the first half takes too long to come to the point.