Pakka Commercial Review

'Pakka Commercial' has arrived at the theatres. In this section, we are going to review the latest box office release.

Story:

Magistrate Suryanarayana (Satyaraj) faces an ethical dilemma when he fails to uphold justice in a sexual harassment case. He quits the legal practice and becomes a Kiran store businessman. His son, played by Gopichand, grows up to become a money-minded criminal lawyer who happens to defend Vivek (Rao Ramesh), an unscrupulous businessman, in a land-grab case. Decades ago, it was Vivek who became the reason for Suryanarayana's guilt. What consequences do Suryanarayana and his son face as a result of the latter's unethical alliance with Vivek? Can the father ever convince his son to walk the path of fairness and justice? What is on the son's mind? Answers to these questions are found as the story progresses.

Analysis:

Director Maruthi's low-stakes film 'Manchi Rojulochaie' last year hinted at his waning comic timing. In 'Pakka Commercial', he relies heavily on below-the-belt jokes and slapstick comedy to sell the excessively cinematic idiom of the movie. Like in many films where the commercial mindset has to be questioned, a female victim is a crucial link in the plot. This premise looks too old-fashioned to be taken seriously.  

When the pace slackens, the conversations between various characters refer to commercial tropes in movies. The special number between the lead pair in the second half is billed as an entertainer in an attempt to onboard the audience into the commercial cinema format. After the song, Raashi Khanna's character is sidelined (we are not complaining about it). The female lead doesn't get much space in the second half.

Of late, Telugu cinema directors have been using too many English-language words. Maruthi has excelled the 'art' over the years. In 'PC', the dialogues use alliterations.

The inadequacy of Satyaraj's character sticks out like a sore thumb. The double entendre alluding to illicit affairs and fertility is old-school. The Satyaraj-Praveen track comes with a touch of sentimentality. Ajay Ghosh gets to play a character deeply steeped in double-meaning language. The father-son scenes could have been written with more emotional value. The son wants his father to realize that pragmatism is the only way ahead. The father, on the other hand, sticks to immaculate ethics. How this clash of ideologies between the duo plays out is not satisfying.

Rao Ramesh's villainy doesn't quite engage the viewer, thanks to the dated ideas it is stuffed with. Somewhere, he says that the past is like a rearview mirror that shouldn't guide every inch of the present. The line is profound and acquires a unique aura when uttered by an accomplished artist like Rao Ramesh.

The rom-com track doesn't have any highs, barring a couple of sparkles in the characterization of the heroine. Viva Harsha and Saptagiri fail to evoke laughs despite getting able support from Raashi. Praveen is overshadowed by Ajay Ghosh's comedy. The latter gets to share screen space with the antagonist. Varalaxmi Sarathkumar's special appearance is neat. Chitra Shukla is seen in a cameo, while Adithi Goutham's characterization is too crass.

Jakes Bejoy and Karm Chawla, as the music director and cinematographer, respectively, deliver goods. Gopichand and Satyaraj get their characters right.

Verdict:

'Pakka Commercial' is sometimes loud and over-the-top. An outdated premise and silly jokes test the audience's patience.