'Krishna Vrinda Vihari', produced by IRA Creations, hit the cinemas today (September 23). Here is our review of the latest release.
Story
Krishna (Naga Shaurya) is a Brahmin man who is steeped in orthodoxy while in Gopavaram in West Godavari. His mother (Radhika Sarathkumar) is hyper strict and also sentimental. Krishna moves to Hyderabad to do a tech job. Once in the city, he gets drawn to Vrinda (Shirley Setia), a North Indian migrant, who is his manager at the office. Vrinda reciprocates and love blossoms. But she has a medical issue. The broad-minded Krishna doesn't have any problem with her disorder. But he has a major hurdle ahead. He has to convince his mother at home. This makes him invent a curious lie, which leads to unforeseen consequences after his marriage with Vrinda.
Performances
Naga Shaurya combines the flavour of his acting seen in his previous movies like 'Varudu Kavalenu' and 'Kalyana Vaibhogame'. He is watchable more in light scenes than otherwise. Shirley Setia, who makes her Tollywood debut with the film, is decent.
Amitash Pradhan is seen in a typical role as Vrinda's suitor. Vennela Kishore, as a comatose Dr Satya, is funny but he doesn't have many scenes. Satya and Brahmaji are rib-tickling, while Rahul Ramakrishna is boring. Himaja, Annapurnamma, Jayaprakash and others don't make any impact.
Radhika, the senior actress, gets to play a weakly-etched character. Because of the flawed writing, her acting doesn't come through.
Technical aspects
Music director Mahati Swara Sagar scratches the surface and doesn't go beyond in composing BGM. 'Emundi Ra' is a beautiful song, while 'Varshamlo Vennella' is passable. Sai Sriram's cinematography is just good enough. Tammiraju's editing works better in the first half than in the second. Art director Ram Arusuvilli shows little promise, if at all.
Analysis
By now, many are aware that this film has got similarities with 'Ante Sundaraniki'. But the emotional drive of the two films is completely different. 'KVV' is what happens when a director makes a 140-minute mess because of an itch to deliver a below-the-belt comedy by tinkering with a plot turn found in 'Ante Sundaraniki'.
Like Nani was a Brahmin in 'AS', Naga Shaurya is one in 'KVV'. But the similarities end here. Krishna's mother (Radhika) is like a matriarch who inspires fear in everyone. She is like a school headmaster who is feared by kids and teachers alike. This trait is deployed in the second half for some cliched humour and outdated drama.
As for the hero, he is a lucky guy. Vrinda is so beautiful and eligible but the male colleague running behind her is a cheap dude. This becomes easy for her to see Krishna as a virtuous, cute guy. This trope has been used hundreds of times in our films. Until the pre-interval block, most of the scenes are rooted in a beaten-to-death template.
The workplace comedy involving Shaurya, Vennela Kishore and Rahul extracts a few laughs and nothing more.
In the second half, the drama takes low-brow, convenient turns. Brahmaji draws some laughs to save the day. The hero-heroine track has nothing memorable going for it. Himaja is present in a couple of serious scenes.
Closing Remarks
'Krishna Vrinda Vihari' is undone by a weak conflict point. The emotions don't tug at your heartstrings.
