Krishna Chaitanya’s Rowdy Fellow (2014) Movie Review

Movie: Rowdy Fellow
Director: Krishna Chaitanya
Cast: Nara Rohit, Vishaka Singh, Rao Ramesh, Posani Krishna Murali, Ajay, Bhanu Avirineni, Satya, Gollapudi Maruti Rao, Paruchuri Venkateswara Rao, Talluri Rameswari and Supreet
Cinematography: OM (Aravndan P Gandhi)
Production: Movie Mills & Cinema5
Music: Sunny M R

“Puranalu anni Ego problems ye”

Rana Pratap Jayadev (Nara Rohit), a happy-go-lucky guy returns from foreign, and can go to any extent to satisfy his ego. Believing “Oka Manishi pranalu kapadadaniki enni rules ayina break chesthanu” Rana tries to save a severely injured person conking out the political campaign of Asuraghana Durga Prasad (Rao Ramesh). That’s where Superintendent of Police Pavan (Ahuthi Prasad) offends Rana’s ego. Taking the shortest route (corrupting) Rana turns SI and gets posted in Elluru. This town is troubled because of corrupt politician Durga Prasad, who rules the perch, threatening people to cooperate in his illegal activites. Rana starts trammeling Durga Prasad’s business in short time. But things turn around when Head Constable’s wife (Talluri Rameshwari) comes with an issue. What was the issue? Who is involved in it? Will Rana be able to satisfy his ego? How did he change the corrupt society forms the rest of the storyline.

“Koppam chaala costly maata matti mattiki vadakudodu”

The credit of the movie mainly goes to Nara Rohit as he was the central character of the movie, whole movie revolves around him. I must say, Rohit has improved a lot compared to his earlier films. The police station scene and Swecha scene has been able to bring out the essence of the character. Nara looks uber cool in his grungy beard and stylish in the police casuals. Debutant Vishaka Singh does a fairly good job, but her character just isn’t convincing enough. Moreover, there is no tingling chemistry between Nara Rohit and Vishaka Singh. The two look complete misfits. Rao Ramesh plays the baddie once again, is impressive and so is Ajay. Veteran actress Talluri Rameshwari makes a decent comeback. Gollapudi Maruti Rao does a fine job in a confined role. Poster designer Bhanu Avirineni, Parchuri Venkateswara Rao and Ahuthi Prasad are decent in their cameos. Posani Krishna Murali’s comic timing doesn’t hit the bull’s-eye.

“Prapancham lo manishi gurinchi alochinche prathivadu pichode”

Talented lyricist Krishna Chaitanya takes a leap in to film direction with ‘Rowdy Fellow’. Krishna has also written the script adding some real life incidents (Kolluru scenes) to it. Debutante director presents a slick and stylish product that is high on visuals but less on content. Director has nice messages like; low salaries create incentives for corruption, Justice Winks at crimes stumbles on innocence sometimes and ego is goal oriented. The story has a point to convey. What lacks is the screenplay. The film drags most of the time because of lousy editing. The first half of the film holds your interest a bit with some good meaningful dialogues and good music, but it peters out in the second half which becomes preachy and romantic angle acting like a speed breaker. Krishna Chaitanya went a little too far with the tried and tested political clinches. He takes his own sweet time to establish the story line and plays his final card in the climax testing the patience level of audience. The love story between the Rohit – Vishaka, Rohit’s family angle, Talluri Rameshwari episode could have been elaborated for betterment. But the problem is films don’t work only on the message attached to it; it needs interesting moments, chemistry between the leads and a crisp screenplay.

“Charitra eppudu cheddodine guruthupettukuntundi”

The music by Sunny M R is a complete surprise Ra Ra Rowdy, Yedo and Aa Seetadevi are pleasing to ears. Background score is good and it complements the movie. A strong point of the film. The editing by Karthik Srinivas is crummy. The film could have been tightened post interval (Especially Love Proposal & its continuation Sitadevi song could have been easily trimmed off. Barring the Ra Ra Rowdy track, rest all act as speed breakers. Cinematography (By OM) is exotic, vibrant and stylish. Introduction scenes of Rohit, Talluri Rameshwari Scene, Kolluru fight episode and Rao Ramesh – Rohit conversations are very well shot. Fights in the film are middling. Production values of Cinema 5 and Moviemills are good.

“Nenu Saayam cheyanu nyayam chesthanu”

Rowdy Fellow is stylish but marred by a few drags and flaws. We are not told why did Nara Rohit return to India? Why is he so rich? Why did Reckless Vishaka falls in love with a simple man? What happens to Talluri Rameshwari post investigation? What keeps Rohit motivating post his ego satisfaction? Shunning Rohit, rest of the characters lack depth, situations look vacuous and uninspiring. The narrative is uneven and the tempo – not exactly girdling. There’s so much tumult and not much content or depth in the telling. The sub-plots are all so timeserving that they hassle big time. On the whole, Rowdy Fellow tries to say much that it ends up saying very little.

Theatrical Trailer: