Vihari - Review

Monday, June 25, 2007
Poor portrayal of triangular love story
Tulsikumar, who had directed Harischandra (Annee Abaddhale) earlier, has come up with a beautiful love story this time. The director has tried his best in this triangular love story to prove that there is no alternative in true love. It tries to show that Indian tradition and culture has the real taste of love and that the western culture is nothing but an attraction. Director Tulsikumar has tried his best to prove these points.

Arthi (Polin) is an Indo-American girl born and brought up in the US. She is addicted to all vices and enjoys life that suits western life. A man by name Raj (Vasu) proposes her but she does not accept his proposal. She thinks of taking a break from western culture. She wants to spend her vacation in another country, and he chooses India. She wants to visit Kanyakumari and spends some time there. After reaching India, she meets Chandu (Mithun) a tourist guide. She learns about the greatness of Indian culture and tradition from him. Chandu did not accept any of her advances and keeps himself off from her. Arthi comes to know from Chandu's friends about Kavita (Nikeesha), Chandu's lover.

Chandu visits Kanyakumari on a study tour and settles there after falling in love with Kavita. Chandu marries Kavita against the wishes of her uncle Samudra (Raviprakash). He starts earning money by working as tourist guide and they start leading a happy life. On a fateful day, when they are on an outing, Kavita is drowned. Kavita has died but Chandu wants to fulfill her wish of giving life to art and crafts.

One day, Arthi proposes to Chandu but he refuses saying that he still love Kavita though she is not alive. Raj comes to India in search of Arthi and instigates Samudra against Chandu. At this juncture, Chandu kills Samudra and he lands up behind the bars. However, Arthi stays back in Kanyakumari and tries to fulfill Kavita's dreams. Later, Chandu comes back from jail and comes to know how Arthi has made Kavita's dream come true. As Arthi has fulfilled Kavita's, Chandu dies a happy and satisfied man.

Plus: Cinematographer Ramana Raju has done a good job in capturing the natural beauty of both Kanyakumari and foreign locales. Some of the graphics used in the film (especially the hurricane in the sea) are eye-catching. Production values of Dasami Creations are good. Comedy by Dharmavarapu, LB Sriram and Krishna Bhagawan is just okay. Bharadwaja's music is not that appealing while a couple of songs are good.

Minus: Kannada hero Mithun makes his debut in Telugu through this film and he has imitated Aravinda Swamy in various scenes. He needs to improve his body language a lot and should learn that there is no need to open his mouth so wide to give an impression that he is singing a song. Nikeesha is a bad choice, as she had neither glamour nor acting talent.

Remarks: Polin, though a foreigner, did a good job in the film. She looks more beautiful in traditional Indian saree. Her performance and dance sequences are also good. She has acted with ease. Director Tulsikumar has failed to narrate the subject properly. The screenplay plays a spoilsport and the movement of the film is also vague. The director has failed to showcase what he really has in his mind.

Producers: G Prabhakar, G Mahesh
Banner: Dasami Creations
Story, Screenplay, Direction: R Tulsikumar.
Cast: Mithun, Nikeesha, Polin Misha, Raviprakash, Vasu, LB Sriram, Dharmavarapu Subrahmanyam, Krishna Bhagawan, Kadambari Kiran, Rajesh, Ravikanth, Yousuf, Sandeep, Vijayasai, Vizag Prasad, Sudeepa and others
Music: Bharadwaja
Lyrics: Ramajogaiah Sastry
Camera: Ch Ramanaraju
Editing: Nandamuri Hari
Presenter: Revuri Chiranjeev

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