Veeranjaneyulu Vihara Yatra Review

"Veeranjaneyulu Vihara Yatra" delves into the heart of a middle-class family, exploring the complexities of their personal and professional lives as they navigate a series of challenges. The film centers on the dynamics between the grandmother, father, mother, daughter, and son, revealing their individual struggles and how they ultimately come together to overcome adversity.

The narrative showcases the everyday trials and tribulations of a typical family, highlighting the challenges they face in maintaining their relationships and finding happiness amidst life's complexities. The film promises a heartwarming journey of resilience, love, and the enduring strength of family bonds in the face of unforeseen circumstances.

Story:

"Veeranjaneyulu Vihara Yatra" follows Nageshwar (Sr. Naresh), a middle-class maths lecturer striving to maintain a harmonious family life. He navigates the complexities of his family, which includes his mother Kantamma (Sri Lakshmi), wife (Lakshmi), son Veeru (Rag Mayur), and daughter Saroo (Priya Vadlamani), all harboring their own hidden secrets.

To protect his family, Nageshwar keeps these secrets buried, creating a facade of normalcy. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when he makes a daring decision about his late father, Veeranjaneyulu's (Brahmanandam) property, and plans a family trip to Goa.

This decision throws the family into chaos, exposing their secrets and forcing them to confront their long-buried truths. As tensions rise and misunderstandings escalate, the story takes a twist with the introduction of Saroo's potential suitors, Tharun (Raviteja Mahadhasyam) and Aishwarya (Priyadarshini), further complicating the family dynamics.

The film explores the consequences of Nageshwar's decision and how the family navigates through the ensuing chaos, ultimately revealing the depth of their love and resilience in the face of adversity.

Analysis:

Sr Naresh delivers a polished and adept performance, perfectly embodying a role that seems tailor-made for him. He skillfully varies his body language, expressions, emotions, and dialogue delivery, bringing depth to his character. Lakshmi, playing his wife, complements him well, comfortably fitting into her role. However, her character doesn't offer much room to showcase her talent, aside from a few scattered dialogues.

Srilakshmi shines in her portrayal of the grandmother, leaving a lasting impression with her strong performance. Rag Mayur is adequate as a passionate young man striving to make his mark. Priya Vadlamani takes on a complex role, balancing moments of submission with bursts of rebellion, adding layers to her character.

Brahmanandam makes a brief appearance in a climactic scene, though his voice is a recurring presence throughout the film, adding a familiar touch. Raviteja Mahadhasyam and Priyadarshini deliver performances that align with their roles.

Unfortunately, the film’s editing, handled by Naresh Adupa and Hari Shankar TN, falls short of expectations. Despite a runtime of over 2.5 hours, the film feels much longer due to unaddressed drags and repetitive scenes. This lack of tight editing leads to a tedious experience, making viewers yearn for the end.

Director Anurag Palutla aimed to explore the inner emotions of a middle-class family and the turmoil that ensues when these emotions finally erupt. While the concept holds promise, the execution falters. The story, screenplay, and direction remain routine, predictable, and monotonous from start to finish.

In an attempt to evoke emotions, the director ends up repeating many scenes, whether they depict father-son or father-daughter relationships. This repetitive approach results in a flat narrative that struggles to engage the audience. By the midpoint of the film, viewers’ energy and interest wane, and although there are a few decent scenes in the second half, they’re left scratching their heads, relieved when the film finally concludes.

C. Ankur’s cinematography is competent and aligns with the story, while Vikram RH’s background score and songs are merely average. The dialogues are unremarkable, and the production values are just standard.

Verdict:

"Veeranjaneyulu Vihara Yatra" unfortunately falls short of its promising title. While the presence of veteran actors like Sr. Naresh and Brahmanandam initially suggests a light-hearted comedy, the film delivers a predictable emotional journey instead.

The comedic duo's presence is largely wasted, with Brahmanandam relegated to a mere voiceover and Sr. Naresh surprisingly opting for emotional outbursts rather than his trademark humor. The film's overall tone is far removed from the lightheartedness implied by the title, leaving audiences disappointed with a predictable and emotionally heavy plot. Even a stronger script wouldn't have salvaged the film's core problem: a lack of comedic execution that fails to meet the expectations set by the title and the star cast.