Tharun Bhascker’s Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi (2018) Movie Review

Star Cast: Vishwak Sen, Sai Sushanth, Abhinav Gomatam, Venkatesh Kakumanu, Anisha Ambrose and Simran Chowdary.
Edited by Ravi Teja Girijala
Music Composed by Vivek Sagar
Cinematography by Niketh Bommi
Directed by Tharun Bhascker Dhaassyam

“I am lost soul in vast universe
Still, I wander to view all the wonder
I lust all the beauty but I fear fragrance
I desire all the happiness but I deserve none
I like to be myself but I am afraid of me
I have a face that you love but I bury it under my ego
I am lost soul in the vast universe
Waiting for my redemption for a mistake I never committed.“

The beauty of a film lies in its soul and even Thanos couldn’t escape the weight of sacrifice, a soul demands. Somehow, filmmakers especially, younger generation find it tough to catch the soul while they have style and flavour. Mainly, it is the inspiration that guides them rather than the story. We see a unique film and try to ape it, in our own style. It is not wrong to do so, but there is a difference between Sarkar and Aag. Both are inspired by classics and made by same in form technician. While one became a classic, another one doesn’t even find a place in the trash bin. What is the difference? Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi Movie Review

Well, the maker’s viewpoint and his deal with the soul of the story are the major factors here. You may have a story and a strong view that you want to tell. It needs to come out the same way otherwise you fear a failure. You fear being grilled and trolled by destiny that will easily destroy your self-confidence. So, you make a deal with the soul of the story, you ask it to reflect in every frame through your lens but the problem is that you shouldn’t steal it somehow but sincerely ask yourself to reflect it. Some do it well time and time again, some fall for the style of the view and fail to capture the essence. Sunrise and sunset are beautiful only when you have a horizon that can add to the beauty otherwise however stylishly shot, it just ends up lifeless.

The problem with taking inspiration from Hangover, Zindagi Naa Milegi Dobara, Rock On and Dil Chahta Hai is that they are one river that got divided into different distributaries. One flows wild tapping into dark and deep emotions while other reflects the same in brightness. Trying to mix it up all will end your story and film, as a hard follow up to them than a unique piece. Tharun Bhascker did find a unique way to catch the soul and present it in his own style with Pelli Choopulu, even though it had heavy inspiration from other popular films.

Here is an almost autobiographical film, the director relies on some funny jokes more often than really concentrating on catching the soul of the film. A collection of photographs, the screenplay, just dilutes the impact as one good location after another appears on the screen where the essence is all lost in the flavor. You get likeable leads, connectible situations, and sleek storytelling, but it doesn’t touch our hearts like Pelli Choopulu’s love story. We do feel the gradual acceptance and then, love of the two individuals there. Here, we are asked to concentrate on the side character more as he drives the picture more with his comic timing than the real story of two almost at war friends.

It is a story of two friends who are close to each other from 5th standard and who like to celebrate each other’s victory. Somewhere life drives them to become more and more selfish. Each of them has same complaints with the other, that the other one is ignoring them. Still, both don’t try to come out in open until situations force them. This is a beautiful story of every close friend, still, it remains a story of a group of friends with one bright spot trying to hog all the light while important parts are pushed to tertiary.

Don’t get me wrong, the film has some unique moments like two lovers expressing love by sharing a song and dancing through a glass window. Another bright moment comes when the lead realizes that his love really broke up with him when she returns the dog he gifted. There is a weird comparison with the dog too, as men are called Dogs, we just see them calling each other in accordance to their situations as different dogs and being happy about them too. Such bright unique spots are more in Pelli Choopulu but very less here.

When it comes to technical aspects except for writing all other departments shine to make the film look really close to an European film. Mainly, visuals have great quality but writing depth harms them. Performances too are enjoyable while you are in theatre but you don’t carry them with you back home, as comedy dominates any serious situation and dilutes the impact.

In conclusion, a top angle view does give you a great and unique look into other’s life but it still doesn’t take you deep into the roots unless you zoom-in. The anamorphic lens could have helped to add the beauty but they were just used to enhance style than really using them to reflect the content. Slice of life also means a touch of uniqueness but we get only a bite of it as much goes unexplored.

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