Vundile Manchi Kalam Mundu Munduna Review

'Vundhile Manchi Kalam Mundhu Mundhuna' is a kind of film where the audience is expected to take things more seriously than its characters do.  In this non-story of a film, all slice-of-life situations together fail to make the film look like a true-to-life fare.

Sudhakar Komakula as Raju ('Life Is Beautiful' fame) plays the son of Radhika Sharat Kumar and the son-mother duo lead a happy life despite leading a not-so-blessed life.  Karthik (as Dhana) is his best pal, who looks up to his father (played by veteran actor Naresh) as a source of sustenance.  Sudhakar and Karthik are all-weather friends and share their dreams together while doing menial work to make ends meet.

Sudhakar is smitten by Juliet when Vijju (Avantika Mohan) enters his life six years after leaving his life while in 10th Class.  Karthik wants to make it to the national hockey team and in his endeavour, he has the full support of his doting father.

The film is like an unambitious version of Kammula's Life is Beautiful.  The writer-director (Arun Dasyam) seems to have thought that the very attempt at making a feel-good film relieves him of including anything substantial.

Vacuous stories more often than not bring out empty interval bangs, especially when the writer doesn't want to cheat the audience.  Sub-plots here are so dated that writing them would lead to the review itself smelling of tedium.  In the run up to interval, Karthik wins a bet match with a petty rival, his pal then announces a happy summer camp and then we see the interval bang!  In the second half, this rivalry gives way to another street fight.

On the face of it, the little sub-plots do not make a film on their own.  If anything is there that is worthy of it, it is the bonhomie between Karthik and Naresh.  The dialogues work fine as far as this element goes and that's all.  Some elements make a mark initially, like Vijju clicking her way unbeknownst to Sudhakar.  Thematically, the film raises a toast to those who enjoy the journey rather than the destination, and even pays a tribute to the legend Dhyan Chand.  However, besides having a character talk about the lack of sporting infrastructure in the country, there is not much content that is weaved around the idea.

Sudhakar is seen in a role that seems to be a dumbed down version of his LIB role.  After a point, his attitude itself starts to look tedious.  Karthik, on his part, seems to fit the bill when he looks intense and spirited enough to pull of a sportsperson's role but eventually, his becomes a stale role, trying in vain to emote with eyes.

An important part of films like this is songs.  Ram Narayan's music smacks of mothballs, although the visualizations passes muster.  Since there is no emotional heft going for them, the songs fall flat.

If Avanthika Mohan looks fit to play the girl-next-door kinda roles, Neethika Chowdhary may strike a chord playing a bit player in future.

Radhika is at her usual best, whereas Naresh delivers the best one.

The cinematography and other technical elements not off the mark.

Verdict: An attempt at making a feel-good movie falls flat in the absence of less melodrama and even lesser substance.

Rating: 2/5