Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana Review

Can love be boring? After seeing every movie in India about the same subject, love should indeed bore. But it may not especially if it is narrated in an attractive and acceptable way as they have in Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana.

The story is old (xeroxed from a couple of Hindi films like Maine Pyar Kiya) and the treatment is also nothing original. But the whole packaging (casting, acting, music, camera work and production values) lifts the movie to higher levels. You know all jeans are the same, but a Lee or a Levis gives a better feel and comfort. Likewise, all romantic entertainers are the same, but Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana gives you a better feel.

The story angle is simple. A NRI youngster from London (Siddharth) comes to India with his parents to attend a family wedding. Here he sees a comely young girl Siri (Trisha) and falls for her instantly. She also has a thing going for him, but doesn't come out openly. So where is the hitch? Her brother Sivaramakrishnan (Srihari) who has brought up her in life, doesn't like rich people. From Siddharth's side, his mother (Geeta) is opposed to the idea of her son going for a poor girl.

But Siddharth is adamant and steadfast. So Sivaramakrishnan throws the gauntlet, and gives him a piece of land and asks him to come up with more produce than he could. You know, Siddharth being the hero will do it. But it is also like watching Michael Schumacher. You understand that he will win in the end. Yet, he makes the whole thing watchable. Here too the director has kept up the tempo till the end.

Though it is a story out of M & B manual, debutant director Prabhu Deva comes up with plausible situations to make you feel involved. The first thing that he has got right is the cast. Siddharth and Trisha, as the lover duo, are just about perfect. The former is an inspired but obvious choice for the character of a rich NRI in love with a poor Indian. His urban background allows him to come up with the right nuances. Trisha has a vulnerable beauty to her. And as a doting sister and a hesitant lover, she gets to give full play to all her talents. After Varsham, this is the kind of film that she would have been hoping for.

Srihari as the protective brother is decidedly good and his histrionic abilities stand the test of a new kind of role for him. Geeta as Siddharth's mother, Prakash Raj as his helpful father bring dignity to their roles. The comedy track (Sunil, Brahmanandam) is also unobtrusive.

Devi Sri Prasad's music is a major asset to the film of this nature. Romantic feelings get accentuated in his rhythms and lilts. This is one of his best efforts till date. Camerman Venu Gopal (a national award winner) shows that what talent is all about. Splendid, in one word, describes his effort. The visuals are not only eye-boggling but also have an everyday allure to it.

The screenplay of M S Raju is admittedly very good. He doesn't let the plot confuse or confound you. And Prabhu Deva, the director, shows that he is just brilliant dancer alone. His skill and his understanding of the medium are very good. He doesn't shortchange you with a larger-than-life hero mouthing baffling and bombastic dialogues. He doesn't go for those bone-breaking fights that make you cringe. He doesn't lapse into useless song and dance grind.

Prabhu Deva lets the story tell itself and just seems to have captured it for you.

If M S Raju as a scriptwriter is winner, then as a producer he seems to be a champion. After Varsham, this looks to be the biggest hit of Tollywood. It is no coincidence that he has produced both.

On the whole it is a quality entertainer and watching the film is like hugging a Teddy Bear --- cuddly and warm.