Andhra Pradesh

Predictable, yet engaging

Allu Arjun

Film: Parugu

Cast: Arjun, Sheela

Direction: Bhaskar

After ‘Bommarillu’, director Bhaskar comes up with yet another emotionally candid film that revolves around a father-daughter relationship.

Prakash Raj’s daughter Poonam Bajwa elopes on her wedding day with her boyfriend and the distraught father begins hunting for her. Arjun, who helped the couple run away, is compelled to join the search and in the process, falls for Prakash Raj&# 8217;s youngest daughter Sheela. Will Sheela follow her sister’s footsteps or will she uphold her father’s honour by marrying a man of his choice?

‘Parugu’ is an uplifting drama that might seem implausible were it not for the fact that it really happened in the actor’s family. Many small details have been embellished and many dialogues sound right and situational giving it a sentimental impact. Bhaskar runs a compassionate thread throughout the film even while he spends the first half of the film introducing the characters and seamlessly breaks the flow of characters with humour and minimum violence.

There will be a lot of comparisons to Bhaskar’s first film ‘Bomarillu’. There are a few emotionally intense, and fewer tear-jerking moments in the film but they serve to move the character forward. But to enjoy this film, watch it without any expectation and you will be surprised with the engaging and a racy tone of the first half and the interesting development of Prakash Raj’s character post interval.

The usually loud and energy-effusing Arjun downplays his role. Sheela is aptly cast, plays a trembling girl consistently and does her job well.

The music is not very elevating, but visually it is. Probably the biggest weakness in the film and it’s a minor one - is the predictable storyline. But because of the overall richness of the film — the strong characters, the performances, the screenplay and simple dialogues — we keep tuned in.

Y. SUNITA CHOWDHARY

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