'Prema Entha Madhuram Priyuralu Antha Katinam', starring Chandrakanth Dutta, Radhika Mehrotra and Pallavi Dora, hits the screens this Friday.  Here is our review.

Story:

Jai (Chandrakanth Dutta) has been on a hunt for Mythili (Radhika Mehrotra) ever since he accidentally dashed into her at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad.  Knowing that she has joined California University, he shifts base to the US along with his uncle (Gemini Suresh).

In the US, Sara (Pallavi Dora), an impulsive and stubborn girl who also does drugs, falls in love with Jai even as he is on a constant lookout for Mythili.

The guy eventually finds his girl and they bond big-time.

At interval bang, Jai receives the shock of his life when he learns that Sara has other plans and if she were to have her way, he may not be able to live happily with Mythili.

By and by, we learn that when the writer says the 'priyuralu' is 'katinam', he means it.

Analysis:

Described as a romantic-thriller, the movie is also a semi-horror flick that doesn't take the apparition part too seriously.  Had the makers gone the whole hog in making it look like a full-blown horror, it might have well led to odious comparisons with other films which remotely belong to this genre.  To be sure, writer-director Goverdhan Gajjala avoids a major pitfall to this extent.

The first half is fairly interesting, if not gripping.  By telling two stories in parallel, curiosity is thoroughly maintained.  Jai's tryst with the adamant and even unpredictable Sara on the one hand, and his blossoming relationship with Mythili on the other hand, are narrated well.

Sara's romantic obstructionism is stylized by background music.  The signature BGM is evocative.  No time is wasted in establishing her character.

All through, the inexperienced actors do a neat job.  Their demeanour is quite authentic.  The scenes may not be novel (the way Jai gets close to Mythili has always been seen in many movies) but the aura is rather fresh.  We anticipate something shaking to turn up.

And it does happen.  The interval bang gets it right.

But the problems begin in the second half.  Once Sara's gameplan is known, it's almost very easy to predict the inflection point, especially having known her past.  When our films are dreary exercises in sentimentality, it's not difficult to see through the anti-climax and/or pre-climax points.

Gemini Suresh sticks out like a sore thumb with his old-fashioned comic style.  For God's sake, this is 2017.

The ending is rather stale.  At the end of the day, 'PEMPAK' is a known triangular love story with an eerie spin.

If the male lead (who is largely convincing) seems like a mix of Karthi and a few North Indian TV actors, the female leads are impressive, too.  Radhika's variations are commendable.  Pallavi can evoke both disgust and sympathy at once, which is what her character demands of her.

Jithin Roshan's songs make a mark outside the film.  The BGM has a class.  Manojh Reddy's cinematography is a big plus, while Srinivaas Thota's editing is good, too.

Verdict:

'PEMPAK' is a known triangular love story with an uncanny innovation.  Watch it for the performances and visuals.  Don't expect a gripping tale.