Loukyam Review

A reason why Brahmanandam has so forcefully endeared himself to the audience, of late, is that he gives vent to the latter’s feelings/frustrations like no other character.  At one point in this film where the difference between villain and comedian is blurred, Sippy the Brahmi says to the second most important character of the film, “You are a jaffa” (or something to this effect).  Needless to say, a film where such an important character chides his unmarried sister for becoming pregnant in the presence of his henchman, and goes ahead with the cunning hero’s solution apparently because he wants to, ironically, secure honor can only be called a mindless entertainer.

There is this girl, the proud sister of a dreaded gangster who wants to insult our hero because he doesn’t swoon over her figure.  She walks up to him in a skimpy outfit, says that she is a hottie and even informs him of whose sister she is.  Effect: She ends up looking like a vamp instead of a heroine.  As for the gangster, he barely smiles and so we have to assume that the director intends to portray him as a villain and not a comedy villain.  The non-comedy silly villain, who is Warangal’s dread, can’t catch the person he is looking for even though he has got the phone number!

Then there is a whole ecosystem built on the foundations of the only classics that our writers seem to know: Gudumba Shankar, Dhee, Ready, Aata, Denikaina Ready and Doosukeltha.

Of course, the only constant factor – whether it is double entendre, comedy, romance, silly villainy, action, music or even end credits - is Brahmanandam.  The only two places where Brahmi is not seen is in two of the film’s most boring parts – Censor Board certificate and duets.

Venky (Gopichand) believes in using tactics to get things done.  He comically escapes Babjee’s (Sampath) sister while she is getting married.  After escaping to Hyderabad, he bumps into Chandra Kala (Rakul Preet), knowing full well that she is the sister of a ruthless goon.  After being slapped by a hero who believes that girls have to be sensitive, she falls in love with Venky after performing an SRK ‘feat’.

Venky however can’t hope to marry Chandra Kala, as her brother her other plans.

The first is packed with nothing more than a series of gags where nobody, except the hero, uses their brains.  The behavior of Babjee makes it clear what is going to be in store in the second half.  With Brahmi accidentally seeing all the wrong scenes, he invites troubles upon himself.  Coupled with Chandra Mohan (who is Puppy), Sippy and Puppy strike a better chemistry that the lead pair.

The technical values are sub-par and the screenplay fails to pack the punch.  A heroine can’t make a calm expression even though she believes that her man may never be seen!

There are flashes of creativity here and there and that’s the blessing of having Kona Venkat, Gopi Mohan and Sridhar Sipana in the writing department.  Prithvi Raj as a tv artiste is convincing.  The dialogues are witty here and there.

Gopichand in the role of a mind games player strikes the chord for his fans, but he hardly is praiseworthy in a rom-com like this one.  Rakul Preet will be remembered for giving a stiff competition to her hero in looking tall.  Sampath is routine and others are simply there going overboard.  Hamsa Nandini sizzles in an all-family item song.

Verdict: Loukhyam or no loukhyam, copying is not being inspired.

Rating: 2.75/5

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