Telugu Funda’s reveal of the plot:
Radha (Raj Tarun) is a saree draper brought up by a single mother. Krishna (Manisha Kandkur), a bank employee, falls in love with him. They decide to get married with their elders’ approval. Just before their engagement, Krishna grows suspicious about Radha’s masculinity. It doesn’t help matters that Radha’s behaviour is indicative of sexual dysfunction. Is he fit for marriage at all?
Telugu Funda’s take on the Performances:
- Raj Tarun: Weak on the comedy front, strong on the emotional front.
- Manisha Kandkur: She looks somewhat too young for the role. The character needed someone who looked a bit more aged than her.
- Abhirami Gopikumar: Excellent as the male lead’s mother.
- The comedians: VTV Ganesh plays a failed director who takes an interest in Radha’s strange story. Hyper Aadi plays Radha’s sidekick cracking his kind of jokes. Nellore Sudarshan plays a stock character (that clownish ‘pelli koduku’). Srikanth Iyengar plays an Ayurveda doctor with an itch for double-meaning dialogues. Krishna Bhagawan gets a forgettable part.
- The elders: Singeetham Srinivasa Rao and Leela Samson play an elderly couple.
Telugu Funda’s take on the Technical Departments:
- Music Director Shekar Chandra tries a couple of interesting tunes. For example, the heartbreak song is not in the typical mold.
- Cinematographer Nagesh Banell’s work is respectable.
- Editor Srikanth Patnaik didn’t have much to do.
- Overall production values: Decent for a film of this genre.
Telugu Funda’s take on the Hits:
Writer-director J Sivasai Vardhan stretches a small line into a 137-minute film. The forced ‘creativity’ shows. Even so, some moments work.
The interval block is comical enough and creates interest in the second half.
The last 20 minutes, complete with an emotional outburst, are really good. The emotional consequences of childhood trauma have been verbalized.
Compared to Raj Tarun’s recent movies, ‘Bhale Unnade’ is far better.
Telugu Funda’s take on the Misses:
The lead pair never behaves like grown-up adults until the climax. What stops them from having an open, frank conversation? You never understand it.
The film keeps beating around the bush. Everything is an excuse to indulge in bedroom jokes in the name of comedy. Out of nowhere, references are made to testosterone levels and Oyo rooms.
‘Bhale Unnade’ would have been a thorough coming-of-age film in the hands of a profound filmmaker. Since Telugu cinema is obsessed with entertainment and not drama, the meaty parts are relegated to the pre-climax and climax portions.
Telugu Funda’s Verdict:
‘Bhale Unnade’ should have ideally been a 20-minute short. Barring a few scenes that work, the film is either superficial, cheap, or both.
Rating: 2/5
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