Maa Oori Polimera review: A gripping rural thriller with a handful of delicious twists

3/5

Story:

Komarayya, Balji and Jangayya are three brothers residing in Jasthipalli, a sleepy hamlet in Telangana. While Komarayya and Balji are married and ride an auto-rickshaw to fend for their family, Jangayya lands a job as a police constable in his own village. The women in their family are constantly ill-treated but the husbands do little to take on the notorious lot, particularly the sarpanch. 

One day, the sarpanch dies in a road accident under mysterious circumstances, an event that's also followed by the death of Komarayya and a pregnant woman Kavitha. Do these deaths have a common link? Do they have anything to do with black magic?

Review:

Stories revolving around age-old superstitions (like black magic) in villages aren't the easiest of terrains for any filmmaker to enter into. It's a thin line that separates portrayal from the glorification of such practices - a fact that filmmaker Anil Vishwanath understands quite well in Maa Oori Polimera. 

A plot about black magic may sound archaic for an audience watching it in 2021, though that isn't the only selling point of this story. The rural drama takes on superstitions but is smartly packaged like a murder mystery, aided by a riveting screenplay, arresting performances and a series of delicious twists. 

The initial moments leave you slightly uneasy, especially with the way women are portrayed through the eyes of the perpetrators. Though it's quite obvious that the men concerned view those women as objects, the film goes a little too far to suggest that (at the risk of appearing voyeuristic). This eccentricity aside, the film is quite successful in drawing you into the world of the protagonists' family and their concerns in a small town. 

Maa Oori Polimera starts on a sluggish note and grows on you with time. With a wide bunch of oddball characters, the director succeeds in creating an air of tension before he arrives at the core conflict. From corrupt cops to creepy village heads to casteism and the helplessness of the marginalised, the rural ambience may seem predictable but still wins your curiosity.  

The narrative gains steam with the death of a pivotal character and holds its ground till the climax, well almost. Though the filmmaker hints at the black magic angle early in the story, the depth with which he explores its perils later gives you creeps and strangely keeps you hooked to the screens too. A storyteller's tact lies in preserving his bag of tricks for the right moment and it's only in the second hour that you realise what the filmmaker is upto. 

The courtroom sequences could've been dealt with more seriousness - there was a great opportunity to generate drama, but the proceedings end up looking silly and simplistic. The humour surrounding a judge receiving calls from a nagging wife during a court hearing is in poor taste too. These minor niggles aside, it's worth applauding the film is quite focused in its storytelling and leaves little scope for any distractions. The cliffhanger ending, hinting at a sequel, is a job nicely done.

In terms of the casting, Maa Oori Polimera is a perfect case of 'anti-stereotyping' working in its favour - especially in the case of Satyam Rajesh, Chitram Sreenu, Getup Srinu, who're known more for their light-hearted roles to date. Their intense side makes for a superb watch and it just shows how terribly under-utilised they've been as performers in films to date. 

This is exactly what the doctor ordered for Bala Aditya as well, who made an impressive comeback with Gods of Dharmapuri, following it up with Unheard and now, with his commendable performance as a cheeky constable in Maa Oori Polimera. His dialogue delivery continues to be his major asset, while his 'stammering act' could've been utilised better in the context of the story. Sai Kamakshi passes muster yet again after Priyuraalu in the role of a woman hailing from a marginalised community. The likes of Ravi Varma, Ramya Ponduri impress in brief roles. 

The sharp edits, the pulsating music score by Gyaani add up to the film's impact.

Verdict:

Maa Oori Polimera is another small film to spring a surprise on OTT. Despite having only a handful of familiar faces, the director Anil Vishwanath packs a punch with a taut thriller bolstered by fine performances and a riveting screenplay. Watch out for Satyam Rajesh in what's certain to be one of his finest performances, if not the best. This one is worthy of your time!