Gopichand Malineni’s Pandaga Chesko (2015) Movie Review

Gopichand Malineni’s Pandaga Chesko (2015) Movie Review

Star Cast: Ram Pothineni, Rakul Preet Singh, Brahmanandam, Sonal Chauhan, Sai Kumar, Vennela Kishore and M S Narayana
Music Composer: Thaman SS
Director: Gopichand Mallineni
Censor Certificate: UA
Runtime: 162 Minutes

Karthik Pothineni (Ram) is a millionaire and head of KGC group. Weekend Venkat Rao (Brahmanandam) comes up with a marriage proposal to Karthik of millionaire Anushka (Sonal Chauhan). In a short time, they plan to get married. At this time, Mother (Pavitra Lokesh) reveals the emotional flash back episode and wanna stay together with her brother in Bobbili. But things turn around when one of his companies get closed due to a case registered by Green Army headed by Divya (Rakul Preet). Karthik sets for India to sort things out. When he was in Green Army, he happens to see Divya and falls in love with her at first sight. In fact, Divya’s father and father in law (Sampath & JP) were renowned people around Bobili and they get separated due to some family issues. Once Satya’s (Adithya Menon) brother tries to kidnap Divya. Bhupathi (Sampath) imagines, Divya wanted to escape from family as she loves Karthik. He calls him to Bobili to win the hand of Divya. How did Chandu managed to convince the both the families? What’s the role of Weekend Venkat Rao? What happened to Anushka? Answers to all forms these questions form part of the remaining part of the film.

Ram Pothineni is okay, he is getting repetitive, may be his choice of the films has a lot to do with this. But manages to pull his act very well.  Rakul Preet Singh is sincere but the script doesn’t give her the scope to do something different, her choice of film is also discreet. Brahmanandam is next on the rank with his role, he is the one who actually manages to make you laugh with his comedy timing. Sonal Chauhan is sizzling in the songs. She needs to work on her dialogue delivery and expressions. Sampath, Sai Kumar, Bhramaji, Aditya Menon and Raghu Babu are okay in their respective roles. Pavithra Lokesh, Surekha Vani and the other female supporting cast are confined to small characterizations. Prudhvi & Shakalakka Shankar spoof on Seethamma Vakitilo Sirimalle Chettu is hilarious.

The story of Pandaga Chesko in itself reminds you some of those films in the late 2000’s Ready (Returns to separated family and make them realize the family values), Sukumarudu, Greeku Veerudu, Panjaa, Attarintiki Daredi (Millionaire returns to India to make his family come together). There is nothing new in here, and the film holds very little surprises in store too.

Pandaga Chesko suffers from complete lack of originality. You will see a tons of similarities and Kona Venkat’s clinched stuff in the film. The movie rests on a wafer thin storyline and after a point it gets humdrum to sit through. Movie screenplay is nothing, but a slapdash placement of silly jokes in a routine senseless plot. A few sequences are funny but that’s about it. If the script was a bit original and the sequences were well arranged, the movie would have been a better entertainer. For this kind of story it tells, Pandaga Chesko is terribly long and has a running time of two hour and forty two minutes. Almost three hours of narration unfortunately doesn’t merit this storyline. Trimmed of probably a good twenty minutes the move could have appeared a bit more compact. Director Gopichand and Kona Venkat script lacks poignancy, empathy, refreshing humour and bite. Direction by Gopichand Malineni is not up to the mark.

Coming to other Technical aspects, Songs and Background Music by Thaman SS is not upto the mark. Cinematography by Arthur A. Wilson is adequate. Dialogues by Kona Venkat works in parts. Ex; Life lo goal unnavadu reach ayyaka cool avuthadu ye goal leni vaadu ekkadi kaina doosukellipothadu, Ennalu paaganu gellipincharu ee oka saari premanu gellipinchandi, Kontha mandiki mirror la kontha mandiki error la kanapadthanu, Mogathanam annedi mattalo kadhu ra chathallo untundi, Neeku BP vasthe panni vadu vanukuthadu naaku BP vasthe prathi vaadu vanukuthaadu..etc. Fight choreography is middling. The production values of United Movies banner is alright.

The first half of Pandaga Chesko has some moments that tickle the funny bone and keeps you entertained but post intermission the film derails and the mode sporadically switches back and forth from comedy to inspired drama. The sequences leading to the climax is overtly dragged, especially when the result is extremely predictable. With all the above mentioned ingredients in inappropriate doses, Pandaga Chesko remains nearly close to what you expect it to be – A Kona Venkat’s film. But it suffers from too many pompous elements that are sickly written and it very rarely hits its marks.

Survi Review: 2/5