Andaru Bagundali Andulo Nenundali review: A simplistic yet thoughtful dramedy on the perils of social media

2.5/5

Story:

Srinivas Rao is a hearing, speech-impaired employee in a governmental library, who’s content with his middle-class life and loving family. He’s sleep-deprived for several days while taking care of his critically ill son in a hospital and fatigue gets the better of him on a metro ride. Sameer, a co-traveller, mistaking him to be a drunkard, clicks his image and mocks him on social media. An insensitive social media post alters Srinivas’ life beyond imagination.

Review:

Actor, comedian Ali, who forays into film production with Andaru Bagundali Andulo Nenundali, the Telugu remake of the Malayalam film Vikrithi, has begun his new innings with a sensible choice. The decision to retell this simple yet relevant story to Telugu audiences reflects his genuine commitment to making good cinema. This Kiran Sripuram directorial is an effort to make a viewer pause and introspect in times when social media insensitivity has reached its peak across the globe.

The dramedy revolves around the repercussions of a stray, irresponsible social media post that wreaks havoc in the life of a common man. Andaru Bagundali Andulo Nenundali taps into the average netizen’s urge to leave their imprint in the digital space for instant gratification sans any forethought. The storyteller uses a fair bit of exaggeration to enhance the drama and the impact of the conflict. The filmmaking isn’t exactly top-notch either though the intent remains sincere all along.

The story is told through two characters - Sameer, a social media enthusiast and Srinivas Rao, a simple middle-class man who bears the brunt of the former’s impulsiveness. While the former, a Dubai return, is on the cusp of marriage, Srinivas’ world doesn’t extend beyond his job and family. The film reflects the twisted side of social media and how a misinterpretation of a post can turn someone from a hero to a zero overnight. Srinivas isn’t the only victim in the story, the guilt consumes Sameer later too.

While it takes a lot of effort for Srinivas to restart life on a fresh note again, the film is more effective when it shows how Sameer’s marriage is affected by the incident. The humour quotient in Andaru Bagundali Andulo Nenundali isn’t what you expect from a typical Ali film; the drama takes more precedence here. The main issue with the narrative is the old-school, uni-dimensional screenplay. The trajectory is extremely predictable and on several occasions, it runs the risk of being bland.

The casting isn’t particularly the strength of this outing. There’s no doubt about Ali’s range as an actor and his ability to pull off drama but the film needed a younger face and a more vulnerable performer to understand the character’s guilt better. The on-screen pair of Ali and Mouryani looks odd and the dream sequence featuring the duo adds insult to injury. Ram Jagan’s part as Ali’s on-screen brother was completely unnecessary and doesn’t add any value to the story.

Surprisingly, the comedy works in parts and it’s only because of Ali and Bhadram’s timing. The portions where Sameer and Dil fall for one another could’ve been written better – the comic thread around the cactus plant and the meat shop isn’t exactly explosive. Once you look past Ali’s desperation to look like a young, romantic lover-boy, the film grows on you. Naresh, Pavitra Lokesh and Ali hold the film together in critical junctures of the second hour and ensure the essence of the story isn’t diluted.

Naresh responds well to the challenge of playing a speech-impaired man and showcases why he’s aged so well as a performer in recent years. Mouryani does a fairly decent job as a wife who doesn’t comprehend her partner’s conflicts. Manju Bhargavi is strictly okay while the likes of Sana and Madhusudan don’t disappoint. Saptagiri’s blink-and-a-miss appearance hardly makes any impact. The decision to rope in SV Krishna Reddy and Atchi Reddy for a cameo shows Ali’s regard for the mentors who shaped his career.

The music by Rakesh Pazhedam is another major highlight. Although the song situations aren’t very innovative, the composer exhibits his musical range with his warm, hummable melodies. The limitations of the budget reflect in the technical aspects, more so with the cinematography and the editing. Despite its shortcomings, Andaru Bagundali Andulo Nenundali makes for a decent watch on OTT.

Review:

Andaru Bagundali Andulo Nenundali is a simple, straightforward film that works more like a sugar-coated pill addressing the perils of social media. The conflict is largely simplistic, but the earnest performances by Naresh, Ali and Pavitra Lokesh ensure that its intent resonates with the viewer. Ignore the casting and technical lapses and you won’t be disappointed.