Life is Beautiful – Movie Review

Two years after the release of his hit movie Leader, Sekhar Kammula is back with another family entertainer. His latest Life is Beautiful has a beautiful story and superb performance by lead actors. But the movie suffers from dragging narration and its length. However, it is a good time-pass for this weekend.

Life Is Beautiful is a coming of age story of six youngsters and the movie is set in the beautiful nostalgic world of a working-middle class neighborhood. The film tracks the journey of the youth of Sunshine colony through the different seasons, festivals, romances, street cricket, colony fights, and family gatherings.

This Sekhar Kammula directed movie is a story about new beginnings and celebrates life and its smaller joys. With the beginning of responsibilities and adulthood looming around the corner, their dreams and aspirations bring them all together, to make the whole experience magical. The climax is a major highlight and it is sure to make everyone weep. The mother sentiment has come out well.

The movie is set in the Sunshine Colony in Secunderabad. Srinu (Abhijit), Satya (Rashmi) and Chinni are staying with their maternal grandparents. They make friendship with Abhi (Kaushik) and Nagaraju (Sudhakar). Abhi falls in love with Paru, (Shriya) a Miss India title aspirant from the Gold Phase from the same colony. At the same time, Srinu loses his heart to his sister-in-law Paddu (Shagun). Nagaraj is in love with Lakshmi and also has hots for beautician Maya Aunty (Anjala Jhaveri). With these love stories, the movie turns a roller-coaster ride. At this juncture, Srinu and his friends realise a bitter truth about their mother Amala. What is the bitter truth? Will they win the hearts of the girls? What are their actual goals? Answers to all these questions have to be seen on the screen.

Amala Akkineni and Shriya Saran have delivered wonderful performances. Amala has done classy work in the emotional moments, while Shriya filed glamour slot. Anjala Zaveri is also good in her comeback movie. Newcomers like Abhijeet, Sudhakar, Shagun, Zara have also delivered decent performance.

On the technical front, Vijay C Kumar's camera work is the major attraction. Micky J Meyer's background score is good, but his song compositions are average. Sekhar's dialogues are good in parts. Marthand K. Venkatesh could have chopped down the length. If his scissors had done little more sharp work, the movie could been a big treat.

Verdict: Some emotional scenes in the second half and the climax are enough for the paisa vasool of your ticket. Don't watch the film with high expectations.

Director: Sekhar Kammula

Producer: Sekhar Kammula

Cast: Shriya Saran, Amala Akkineni, Anjala Zaveri, Abhijeet, Sudhakar, Shagun, Zara

Music: Mickey J Meyar

Release date: 14 September 2012