Date:27/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/27/stories/2008072757520200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Archaic plot fails to appeal

Wasted talent: Sivaji and Meera Jasmine in ‘Ma Ayana Chantipilladu’

Film: Ma Ayana Chantipilladu

Cast: Sivaji, Meera Jasmine, Sangeeta

Direction: Raja Vannem Reddy

Sivaji and Subburaju are half brothers. Both of them grow up in the same village but are arch rivals as the latter is born out of an illegal relationship. Subburaju is waiting for an opportune moment to wreak vengeance as he doesn’t get the same treatment as his brother and is often seen settling scores with him.

There is yet another plot, a love story that runs on a parallel line. Sivaji and Meera Jasmine are cousins, both are in love and just the day before they get married, a woman enters Sivaji’s life. Subburaju complicates his brother’s marital life and from thereon it is an unending saga of misunderstanding, dispute and forgiveness.

The story and the title have nothing to do with each other. The second half of the film is too dramatic and the dialogues are rife with forced sentimentality.

Venu Madhav gets to play a dominant role and Chandramohan is given a flippant and a strange character. It’s Sivaji all the way but he is stuck in a story where he can’t do justice to his role, which is neither innocent or mature.

The sentiment not only fails to evoke emotion. The director has chosen an archaic plot, the story moves in different directions leaving the audience with no clue to react.

Y. SUNITA CHOWDHARY