Kothapallilo Okappudu review: A thoughtful concept let down by half-baked narrative

Kothapallilo Okappudu Story

The film is set in the year 1997 and revolves around a moneylender named Appanna (Ravindra Vijay). The main lead, Ramakrishna (Manoj Chandra), works under him and loves Savitri (Monika). Appanna promises Ramakrishna that he will help him get married but dies in a freak accident. His sudden death creates new tension in the village, and Ramakrishna is forced to marry another girl whom he does not love. How he comes out of this situation forms the basic story of the film.

Kothapallilo Okappudu Review

Kothapallilo Okappudu is directed by Praveen Paruchuri and presented by Rana Daggubati. After watching the film a few months ago, Rana came forward to present this social drama set in a village backdrop. The film showcases how small-town people and their silly beliefs can change lives. 

Praveena Paruchuri creates the character of Appanna as a filthy-rich landlord and how he becomes a deity for the whole village after his death forms the basic story of the film. However, to establish all this, she takes a lot of time. But once she arrives at the main conflict point, her narrative lacks clarity. Why the villagers consider a bad guy as a god is not established properly. 

. As the director spends too much time establishing other characters, she doesn't have enough time to explore key episodes related to the bike, the villagers’ beliefs, and other aspects. One of the best parts of the film is the way each character is established. Every character has an arc and is given importance in the narrative. 

 The climax and the way things are explained are okay, but more depth in the proceedings would have made a big difference. The way the hero's arc develops after his master's death is not fleshed out well. The emotional thread in the second half is weak and should have been stronger. Although the entire film revolves around marrying the heroine, sadly, she has no narrative weight in the setup.

Coming to the performances, Ravindra Vijay is top-notch in the role of Appanna. Known for his negative roles, he brings depth to the film. One feels he should have been given more importance in the story. The main lead, Manoj Chandra, is very good in his role. 

Though he looks a bit rustic initially, as the film progresses, he performs well and makes an impressive debut. The female lead, Monika, is just about okay and doesn’t have much to do. However, the actress playing the heroine's friend excels in her role. Her character faces racial abuse, and credit should go to the director for presenting this issue in a lighter tone. The way the actress holds your attention with her honest performance is among the best aspects of the film.

Satyam Rajesh appears in a cameo and is good. After a long gap, Telugu actor Benerjee gets a solid role and shines in his negative role, adding depth to the proceedings. The production values of the film are neat, and the way the small-town visuals are captured is impressive. 

There is decent comedy in the film, and the track between the hero and the heroine's friend is well-conceived and showcased in a fun manner. The dialogues are hilarious, but the screenplay is not engaging. The inconsistent narrative is the major drawback. Editing is decent, and the production design is handled very well.

Kothapallilo Okappudu is a small-time village drama with a decent story, but the execution could have been much better. The film realistically portrays how belief systems affect common people, but the overall narration leaves much to be desired.

Kothapallilo Okappudu Verdict

On the whole, Kothapallilo Okappudu is a village drama based on the belief systems in small towns. While the concept is good, the execution is half-baked and leaves a lot to be desired. Such films make for a decent watch on OTT.

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