Review Overview
Performances
Screenplay & Direction
Technical Aspects & BGM
Lacks synergy, but the splendid performances make it worthwhile!
Yagavarayinum Naa Kaaka is a capable debut feature from Sathya Prabhas Pinisetty. Though the film lacks synergy, which is also the central concern for me, it is deftly handled in parts with good directorial skills.
Cast: Aadhi, Nikki Galrani, Mithun Chakraborty, Aadukalam Naren, Pasupathy , Harish Uthaman, Nasser and others
Cinematography: N Shanmugasundaram
Music: Prasan Praveen Shyam
Editing: Sabu Joseph
PRO: Johnson
Stunts: Dhilip Subbarayan
Written & Directed by: Sathya Prabhas
Release Date: 25-06-2015
Run Time: 02:31:00
Yagavarayinum Naa Kaaka is a capable debut feature from Sathya Prabhas Pinisetty. Though the film lacks synergy, which is also the central concern for me, it is deftly handled in parts with good directorial skills.
Yagavarayinum Naa Kaaka, surely, is a film that could be easily broken down into parts. It has all the essential genres bundled as a film – a superfluous romance track that occupy the first thirty minutes or so, a solid, riveting thriller that keeps us totally engaged over the in-between ninety minutes and a melodramatic climax that leaves us with a dim view towards the end. But, the film, surely, fares well if not more than that.
Sathya Prabhas doesn’t take much time to kick-start business. The story starts right from the first frame when we see two shadowy figures in the gloom towed away by someone. Then, the story is told in non-linear fashion from Vijay’s (played by Aadhi) point of view. The film is chiefly about a group of four friends – three of them hail from a big-shot background and the protagonist (Vijay), of course, belongs to a middle class family with a stern father and a doting mother. However, an incident, on the eve of New Year celebrations, turns their lives upside down. How they get back on their feet is told in an interesting way with some commercial compromises, the inexcusable being the first half-hour romance between the leads.
But full marks to Nikki Galrani as far as the film’s initial proceedings are concerned. She literally carries it on her shoulders. And, she has dubbed herself. Brownie points for the fantastic effort. Aadhi looks scratchy in romance portions before he switches gears with a terrific performance afterwards.
Sathya Prabhas has assembled a fine supporting cast with seasoned performers in Pasupathy, Harish Uthaman and Mithun Chakarborty. He has also managed to extract best performances from Lakshmi Priyaa and Richa Pallod. Here is a kind note to other film-makers who write emoticon-like roles for heroines. Interestingly, Sathya’s supporting female characters have extra-ordinary scope to perform than the lead lady. What an irony!
DOP Shanmugasundaram has superbly captured the mood of the film with tactically maneuvered shots. Sabu Joseph does make you frown at few junctures with chaotic edits but has neatly structured the non-linear narrative portions. The 150-minute runtime is a downer without doubt.
Yagavarayinum Naa Kaaka has mostly got all the basics right. Though not highly remarkable, the performances of the cast make the film worth its while.
Yagavarayinum Naa Kakka Movie Review Rating: 2.75/5
Written by Surendhar MK