Touted as a celebratory entertainer amid raised expectations, 'Rarandoi Veduka Chuddam' releases this Summer.  Here is our review:

Story:

Krishna (Jagapathi Babu) and Adi (Sampath Raj) were friends for life before Adi found to his horror that the former eloped with his sister.

Approximately 25 years later, Krishna's son Siva (Naga Chaitanya) starts wooing Brahmaramba (Rakul Preet Singh), who is the unpredictable daughter of the expected character.

Although friendship blooms fast between the lead pair, Brahmaramba is a tough nut to crack.  She starts to confound Siva in peculiar ways.

However, a bigger obstacle threatens to throw Siva and Brahmaramba's life out of gear when past comes back to haunt them.

The climax is about how the Siva takes it upon himself to re-unite a lost friendship, turning out to be the true Rajakumarudu of the narrator's (Nagarjuna's voice-over heard in the beginning and towards the end) dream.

Analysis:

One of the key indicators of a paper-thin story line is the interval bang turning out to be a sham immediately post-interval.  Brahmaramba says to Siva something as if it were an ultimatum (whenever she says that she can't help it, it's sealed), only to emotionally call him up for a jaded reason soon after interval.

But it's not the lack of an evidently interesting story that is underwhelming.  It's the fact that the hero's characterization is persistently light-touch to a fault.  A few scenes after the vacuous interval scene (a few months have passed in their lives), Siva calls it quits.  The kind of 'chaltha hai' emotions he shows in a party-style break-up song strips the proceedings of optimum gravitas, delaying the onset of a 'Ninne Pelladatha' moment for no rhyme or reason.

The first half goes on and on without Siva seeming to repeat the same kind of body language.  All the while, Jagapathi Babu, an important character with a heavy past, is dealt with shoddily.  Even in the second half, we have to wait for a prelude kind of scene between the father and son to no avail.

Then, twice in the movie, two immediate songs are not spaced properly.  The second time it happens, Brahmaramba's heart-felt number is followed by Siva's pointless break-up jamboree.

Throughout, however, Brahmaramba keeps surprising us with her whimsicality.  She is the one character whom writer-director Kalyan Krishna evolutes by getting into her mind.  When she wonders if Siva cares more for her father, oblivious to her own suggestion that if he loved her she would stay away from him, you know Brahmaramba is deeply self-centered and therefore, self-forgetful.

When Siva is done, he betrays his pent-up frustration like no other male lead in our memory.  This beach-side scene (seen in the trailer) is the film's rare high-point.

The tone and tenor of the second half could find a chunk of takers among family audiences.  The last 25 minutes or so unfold well, although lines like 'Heart left lo unna eppudu right eh cheptundi' are almost imbecilic.

Chay's declared first attempt at re-imaging his image works to an extent.  He is more confident and at ease than ever before, barring Gautham Menon's outings.  His chemistry with Rakul helps the matters.  On her part, Rakul delivers her career's most wide-ranging role till date.  She oozes innocence or imbecility with ease, all the while coming across as a charming girl.

Jagapathi is OK, while Sampath is routine.  Vennela Kishore as a henpecked hubby passes muster.  Kousalya as Sampath's wife is good.  Annapurnamma is not going to get old any time soon.  No small-time character succeeds in creating an impact, be it Sapthagiri, Tagubothu Ramesh, Prudhvi or Raghu Babu.

Devi Sri Prasad's 'Meghallo Dancing Nenu' and 'Takita Takita' are impressive, while the same can't be said about his BGM.  SV Vishweshwar's cinematography could have been much better.

Verdict:

A wafer-thin and predictable story, 'RVC' comes with an excellent characterization of the heroine, and largely fine performances.  Proper spacing of songs was needed.  All said, there are elements that could appeal to family audiences.

రారండోయ్ వేడుక చూద్దాం తెలుగు వెర్షన్ మూవీ రివ్యూ