March 13, 2007

Okkadunnadu

It was startling to me why the press is not writing anything about Okkadunnadu. Last week when I saw the movie along with 100's of Bay Area patrons, all for Yeleti of course , I was amused at the turn up as well as the movie, for more than a reason.

Before I even elaborate, if I want to put this in one line , I would say Okkadunnadu is by far the best movie of 2007 . Baring some minor shortfalls of below par songs and dragged climax, this movie should be watched for the mere showcase of a directors ability to knit such a totally original & novel idea together as a movie (I would bet a million that this script will make a blockbuster in Hollywood, if ever remade, with Protagonist – Matt Damon & Antagonist – John Travolta, my favorites!). It's very rare to find a totally original storyline which is equally exciting these days, including Hollywood & Bollywood as well (May be except Lage Raho...). Yeleti showed that he is a real and authentic movie maker by trying totally new subjects and yet being very interesting all the 3 times. Let's peep deep into the movie .

The beauty of movie's subject lies in the very fact that the protagonist and the antagonist have a directly related tug of war. If you recall the movies we normally watch, the hero ends up fighting over the villain mainly due to a situation or for someone or for a noble cause or for REVENGE ( the most common template in tollywood !! ). Given such a plot, both Gopichand and Neha did exceedingly well throughout the movie. For a new face, Neha was totally at ease facing the camera. Mahesh Manjrekar fits the bill, but I would have preferred Kota any day for such a tailor-made role.

Another section worth mentioning are the Stunt Sequences in the movie, For the first time since tollywood started using the graphics (blue rope / screen technique) for stunts, the choreography of all the fights in this movie are nerve wrecking( except the climax one!). Finally, we are getting close in using the technology to produce REAL ACTION ala hollywood , unlike Indian films which are using this technique to produce Fake Action Choreography showing their lack of niche to use technique to create a surrealistic feel. I must say, Okkadunnadu scores over this.

I commend Yeleti, not only for his Script writing skills, but his ability to use technology aptly.

To me, this skill, once acquired will take Bolly/Tolly/Kollywood higher in standards. Now I am convinced that the day is not too far to watch an Indian Jason Bourne fighting for his Identity, Supremacy & pass on an Ultimatum.

I agree if the climax and dialogues are much more crisp Okkadunnadu would have been a blockbuster , but anyways Kudos to Yeleti & Cherry , it's definitely a worth watch film - not only coz it's a good one but also to encourage this genre of films. And, this movie should be watched on the 70MM than on a DVD.

Movie Patronage and movie making should complement each other; it's not a one-way equation. The more we encourage, the more they make.

Anand A
[email protected]

More My Movie experiences:
Black Friday by Ratnakar
Desamuduru by Krishna Prasad
Guru by It's opinion
Dhoom 2 by Lalitha Spoorthi
Dhoom 2 by ASK
Don - Syam
Boss - Anand
Boss - Hrithik
Stalin - Bala
Bommarillu - Nandini
Bommarillu - Darsakudu
Bommarillu - Vasu
Bommarillu - Harsha Prakash
Bommarillu - Lalitha Spoorthi
LRMB - Shravan
Bommarillu - Anirudh
LRMB - Srinivas
LRMB - Darsakudu
LRMB - S Sridhar
Bommarillu - Shridevi
Bommarillu - Vasudev
Bommarillu - Roopa
Sriram - Godavari
Sarath - Bangaram
Bala - Pokiri
Srinadh - Allari Pidugu
Sudheer Allari Pidugu
Anu - Athadu
Shyam Krishna - Iqbal
Purnesh - Grahanam
Sudhindra - Super
Vijay - Aparichitudu
Madhav - Aparichitudu
Hazaraon Kwaishein Aisi
Swades
Shyam - Black
Sai - Anand
Rohit - Anand & Veer Zaara
Jaya Prakash - 7GBC
Raj - Anand
Purnesh - Anand
Purnesh - The Village
Sriram - Gudumba Shankar
Purnesh - Gharshana
Purnesh - Lakshya
Purnesh - Yuva
Leenesh - Yuva
Kis - Lakshmi Narasimha
Indian Pride - Tagore
Raj - Boys
Phani - Gangotri
Phani - Khadgam
Vikram - CKR
BKR - Indra (Singapore)
Ram - Indra (Dubai)
Ranjeet - Idiot
Rahul - Indra
King Koduri - Indra
Srilakshmi Katragadda - Mitr: My Friend