Date:15/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/15/stories/2008031550820200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Good enough for a laugh Film review

Film: Premabishekam… Veediki Cancer Ledu

Cast: Venu Madhav, Sunil, Ali

Direction: Vikram Gandhi

Venu Madhav turns producer with this film which is a spoof on the yesteryears hit Premabhishekam (1980) directed by Dasari Narayan Rao.

Apparently the same director has helped in penning the script but half the jokes in the film don’t work. The writers also try hard to ensure that all characters have a funny line in each scene, so much that after a couple of scenes, even the ord er of dialogue delivery becomes predictable.

The film begins with Venu refusing to marry an obese Geeta Singh and escapes, only to land in a similar situation. He overhears from a doctor that he has cancer and tries to wriggle out from his love story but his problems don’t end. This is where inane limericks take over and the director runs out of ideas to take the plot ahead.

However, Srihari’s entry makes the post interval slightly interesting, he plays the same old role of a doting brother and don.

Venu Madhav throws enough gags at the Telugu actors, awards and finally himself. But the bright side of the film is there is no vulgarity.

‘Vandanam Abhivandanam’ song has been remixed and Brahmanandam is novel this time round bugging Venu Madhav with his team of professional mourners. Naga Babu’s role is limited to the confrontational scenes with Srihari.The movie could have been exhausting and one point, looks a little stretched but swift editing towards the end saves the film. Music is passable.

Y. SUNITA CHOWDHARY