'Thank You' hit the screens this Friday. In this section, we are going to review the latest box office release.
Story:
Abhiram (Naga Chaitanya) runs a successful start-up company in the US. His growth in the corporate world has been meteoric in the last four years. While he is self-centered, he loves his girlfriend Priya (Raashi Khanna) a lot. A life-changing incident involving Priya and another character puts Abhiram on a path of self-introspection. He has to revisit his past to mold his character. What is the incident? How does his journey into the past change his life? Answers to these questions are found as the film progresses.
Analysis:
This is one of the rare occasions when a notable Telugu film has been made by a director who didn't write the story. The conception came from writer BVS Ravi, while the screenplay was developed by director Vikram K Kumar. Imagining someone like Naga Chaitanya in a biopic-like tale was a bold decision on the part of the makers.
The first act is not in the typical mold. The pace is racy, with the love story between Abhi and Priya narrated without many frills. There is a romantic song and even it is not indulgent. It's also commendable how the film tries to build a narrative around the issue of live-in relationships and more. The purpose is clear. The narration wants to rush headlong into the actual story, where Ahi's past is explored.
The story shifts to the Narasapuram of 2002 where Abhi, as a teenager, fell in love with the daughter (played by Malavika Nair) of the village head (Sampath Raj). His doting mother (Tulasi) was his life. How the brief love story impacted his life and personality are narrated in this long-lasting stretch.
In 2006, Abhi lived life king size in Vizag. Sharwa Reddy (Sai Sushanth Reddy), his college mate, was his rival. How his tryst with Avika Gor's character as well as Sharwa changes his thinking is narrated here. One would have expected the narration in the final act to be more compact and involved. For some reason, the proceedings are wrapped up in a hurry. Eeswari Rao's character comes off as too stock-y.
One would have expected the narration in the final act to be more compact and involved. For some reason, the proceedings are wrapped up in a hurry. Eeswari Rao's character comes off as too stock-y.
Naga Chaitanya's performance is classy. As the teen Abhi, he looks the part. He had to shed many kilos in a span of two months for the part. The actor also had to get trained in hockey to pull off the hockey match portions; and he shows skill with regard to the same. The director should have taken care of his businessman portions better in terms of look and acting. Raashi Khanna gets to show emotions, while Malavika Nair could have been better. Prakash Raj is impressive as ever in a consequential role. Bharath Reddy is seen in the portions with the hockey backdrop.
SS Thaman's songs are well-composed; with better visualization and picturization, they would have been winsome. PC Sreeram's cinematography is wow.
Verdict:
'Thank You' deserves applause for its sincerity. The storyline is conceived well. But the standard-fare narration leaves much to be desired.
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