A S Ravikumar’s Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham (2014) Movie Review
Starcast: Sai Dharam Tej, Ragina Cassandra, Shafi, Shayaji Shinde, Prakash Raj, Hema and Raghu Babu
Music Director: Anup Rubens
Director: A S Ravi Kumar
Censor Certificate: A
Runtime: 132 Minutes
Sreenu (Sai Dharam Tej) is a rugged guy, goes to local goon Maisamma (Jagapathi Babu) and asks to kill him for seventeen thousand rupees. That’s when Sreenu starts narrating the flash back to Maisamma.
Sreenu a happy go lucky guy falls in love with Shailu in the first instance and starts following her. After couple of trials Shailu (Regina Cassandra) rejects his love. But things turn around when Sreenu gets to know about the murder attempt on Shailu. Who is trying to kill her? Why is he trying to kill himself? Who are Prabhakar (Prakash Raj) and Ganga Prasad (Shayaji Shinde)? What’s their issue with Shailu forms the rest of the storyline.
Debutant Saidharam Tej is just OK as he hams in most parts of the movie. He impressed with his dancing capabilities. The director has given him all scope to flash his talents and he carries it off well. Now he needs to work on his look and mannerisms. Regina Cassandra just tries to look pretty in the film. Though the movie runs around her, but her character has very limited scope to perform. Veteran actor Jagapathi Babu is powerful in his role. Shafi plays an important character in this film and leaves his mark with his acting capabilities. Raghu Babu’s succeeds in tickling the funny bones. Satya Krishnan has given a decent performance in a brief role. Prakash Raj, Shayaji Shinde, Prudhvi, Jayaprakash Reddy, Melkotte, Chandra Mohan, Hema provided decent support to the lead cast.
A S Ravikumar last hit Yagnam (starring Gopichand) was way back in 2004. Since then Aatadista, Em Pillo Em Pillado, Veerabhadram and Manasutho have all failed to click at the Box office. But with Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham director changed his style to suit the modern audience. This is a film that rims with life, and which has punctiliously trimmed off the dramatics that could have otherwise spoilt the piece. And Ravikumar, almost fussily places one thread against another, tugging against each one of them, before methodically tying them all together.
Although the movie has been stylishly shot it lacks in content and narration. Also, the way climax is shot is totally disappointing. As more characters walk into the film, the more messy things turn out to be. Like, the lead characters are said to be collage going, but the director never tries to show that on screen. Many things were just told, but never showed on screen. Dialogues turn out to be petty, and things get stretched a bit too much to evoke a titter here or a guffaw there. The situations end up tacky as well.
Music by music director Anoop Rubens truly deserves a lot of praises and of course Background Music by Chinna deserves a special mention. Music helps in keeping the film together. Music is of course onemore strength for PNLJ. Editing of the film by Goutham Raju should have used his scissors well for the second half of the film. Fights in the film are fine. Cinematography by Sivendra is neat, and he elevated songs with his picturization. Production Values of Geeta Arts and Sri Venkateswara Arts are grand.
Contrary situations, testing times and prickly goons have always been the budding ground for romantic films. First half of PNLJ works due to continuous comedy, but movie drags in the second half due to under developed concept. Even major logics miss in the film, for example; Sai Dharam Tej gets arrested while traveling to Kerala in the train, but Maisamma chases and tries to kill Ragina, but by that time Sai Dharam Tej returns and saves her (How did Sai escape from the custody and reach before the goons). Keeping things aside, Pilla Nuvvu leni Jeevitham is a simplistic love story narrated ably. Besides, the comedy by Raghu Babu, the gripping first hour and of course, the Hit musical score should contribute to its triumph.
Survi Review: 2/5
Theatrical Trailer:
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