Date:09/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/09/stories/2008020951680200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Out of sync with present day market Film Review

Charmme in a scene from ‘Sundarakanda’

Film: Sundarakanda

Cast: Charmme, Naresh

Direction: Bapu

The basic storyline in Sundarakanda is simple. It’s all about how the heroine (Charmme) makes an effort to unite her parents, like lord Hanuman uniting Sita and Rama in Ramayana. Charmme is the daughter of Sunil and Prema.

The father is oblivious of his daughter’s presence as he is kept away from her for most part of his life.

Background

Sunil’s family wants him to wed his cousin but he marries Prema, much to the chagrin of his people and in Sunil’s absence the family members heap humiliations on Charmee’s mother. They create compelling situations for her to leave home.

Sixteen years later, Charmme takes upon herself to restore her mother’s rightful place and also brings her parents together.

The casting is flawed. Prema and Charmme don’t look like mother and daughter at all.

Charmme’s vivacious character doesn’t gel with her personality. This film exemplifies a kind of outdated film-making that’s increasingly difficult to envisage in the present day market.

There is no novelty in the story and it moves at a snail’s pace right from the word go.

Catalyst

Wonder what made the director think that village politics can be used as a catalyst to bring a family together and for Charmme it is child’s play…tackling Kota and company.

Charmme stands out in a dance number, her expressions are graceful.

The film appears crisp with surface sentimentality. The ‘Ooyala’ song has a north Indian accent to it.

Comedy is insipid, photography is fine, a few tunes are okay, but the editing could have been better.

Y.Sunita Chowdhary