'Sapta Sagaralu Dhaati - Side A' was released in theatres today. Dubbed from Kannada, the film has been presented in Telugu by People Media Factory. Let's check out its review in this section:
Plot:
Manu is a car driver. Bujji is an aspiring singer. Somehow, they develop a fascination for an own house by the side of a beach. Manu unexpectedly turns greedy and resorts to a short-cut to make a quick buck. A combination of legal punishment and bad luck spells unmitigated calamity for him and Bujji. Their inescapable collective fate will unravel to the fullest extent in Side B (slated to hit the cinemas on October 27 in Telugu, a week after the Kannada original).
Performances:
Rakshit Shetty as Manu and Rukmini Vasanth as Priya complement each other. They elevate the visual and aesthetic set-up of the film to the zenith. The '777 Charlie' actor doesn't overdo the brooding aspect of his performance. He doesn't show the urge of seeming unkempt for the sake of it. Rukmini is good. But she appears too minimalistic, though.
Achyuth Kumar as Prabhu, Pavitra Lokesh as Bujji's mother, Sharath Lohithaswa as the senior in the jail get to play different important parts.
Technical aspects:
Charan Raj's music carries heft. Edited by Sunil S Bharadwaj and Hemanth M Rao, the drama is laced with forceful imagery. The sound design is another area worthy of appreciation.
Advaitha Gurumurthy's cinematography's is top-notch. The makers suggested that the use of sea as a metaphor was meant as a symbol of Bujji's love. On the other hand, the rain has been used as a metaphor for Manu’s heartbreak. This has been brought out by reviews of the Kannada original as well. The visual flavour of the film is apt.
Post-Mortem:
The romantic drama film under review is the dubbed version of the Kannada film 'Sapta Saagaradaache Ello – Side A'. Upon its release, film critics feted it with a delectable range of panegyrics. From being called immersive and heart-wrenching to being described as a poetic love story, the film has had everything.
The film's recurring motifs draw the viewer into its world. The natural elements are not exotic. The focus is on the emotional dance on display. The drama affords the love story the dignity and depth it deserves. That's why, when the actual tragedy strikes, the drama feels tight.
In the second half, the themes of fate and destiny feel strong. A sense of inevitability kicks in. If the performances capture the dramatic tension, the writing department does a nuanced job when it comes to character development.
On the flip side, the film doesn't fully achieve the needed emotional depth at times. In the name of poetry, Manu has been robbed of his share of dialogue. Also, the film lacks the level of music that was needed.
Closing Remarks:
'Sapta Sagaralu Dhaati (Side A) is compelling and soars with its emotional resonance. Watch it!
