'KA', produced by Chinta Gopalakrishna Reddy, is currently showing in theatres. In this section, we are going to review the latest box office release.
Plot:
Vasudev is a postman in Krishnagiri, an idyllic village that is shrouded in darkness in the afternoon due to his unique geographical setting. When a mystery man runs into him, fear stalks him. His habit of reading others' letters has put him in trouble. Locked up in an eerie interrogation cell, he has no memory of his past. A mysterious interrogator uses a hypnotizing gadget to uncover his life. Does Vasudev's past has anything to do with girls mysteriously disappearing in the village?
Performances:
Kiran Abbavaram is evolving as an actor. Since 'KA' happened after he consciously gave himself a break, he looks more motivated and involved. He looks like the postman-next-door in a simple world with no frills. Tanvi Ram shows a potential for performance. Nayan Sarika is seen in the romantic track.
Achyuth Kumar and 'Balagam' Jayaram are decent. Bindu Chandramouli, Saranya Pradeep, Annapurna and Ajay are seen in roles whose importance becomes clear only in the second half. Redin Kingsley gets to play his first noteworthy role in a Telugu movie.
Technical aspects:
Sam CS balances the score with sound effects and dialogue to create a cohesive soundscape can be complex. Production Designer Sudheer Macharla designs the sets and props that pass muster. Editor Sree Varaprasad does non-linear narration.
Cinematographers Viswas Daniel and Sateesh Reddy Masam successfully make use of practical effects to create seamless and believable sci-fi environments.
Post-Mortem:
The film has a sci-fi element but, at its core, its not a sci-fi suspense thriller. It is more of a mystery suspense thriller with a philosophical undercurrent. To ensure that the audience keep guessing about Vasudev's true motives and identity, it is hinted that he might be bearing the inadvertent consequences of his unwitting Karma.
After the interval bang, Vasudev's confusion should have turned into a delirium. The plot's central conceit of holding the protagonist accountable for his past actions does not give the viewer a high. A sequence outside a court should have been staged more dramatically.
The conversations between Vasudev and his captor are more in the tone of expository narration. The conversations between the various characters are shrouded in ambiguity. The viewer is expected to wait till the final stretch for the suspense to unravel.
The characterization needed to be edgy and intriguing. The final 20 minutes were touted by the makers to be nail-biting. To an extent, writer-directors Sujith and Sandeep manage to do that. But the climax portions, where Krishnagiri itself becomes a character, needed to be executed with a greater flourish and finesse.
Closing Remarks:
'KA' is a decent mystery suspense thriller.
