Movie: Balagam
Cast: Kavya Kalyanram, Priyaarshi, Muralidhar Gold
Directed by: Venu Yeldandi
Music: Bohemian Ceciroleo
Quite a few Telugu directors focus on exploring the culture and tradition of Telangana with their films. One of those directors is Venu Yeldandi who made an emotional film called Balagam. This film, which hit theaters a few weeks ago, is now streaming with subtitles on Amazon Prime Video. Here’s the review.
What is it about?
Komurayya (Sudhakar Reddy) is a happy and jovial person who lives in a small village in Telangana. He wakes up early in the morning, spends time with his grandchildren, greets the neighbors and goes to his farm.
Komurayya has three children – two sons, Aillaya (Jayaram) and Mogilayya and a daughter, Lakshmi (Roopa). But unfortunately the family members have mutual clashes and nothing is the same anymore. His grandson Saayilu (Priyadarshi Pulikonda), a smart but self-centered youth, decides to get married to pay off his debts with the dowry he gets. Just before the engagement, Komurayya passes away and that changes the course of everything planned.
During the post-burial rituals (rice balls), where the whole village gathers, the crow does not come to enjoy the offerings. The whole village starts talking about the old man’s soul and that it is dissatisfied. It is the responsibility of the family members to know why Komurayya is dissatisfied and why the crows refrain from eating the offerings. Will the family resolve their differences, sort out and free the deceased soul?
What’s hot?
Balagam talks about the importance of family and why the members of the family should stick together not only for themselves, but also for their elders and the next generations. The Telangana culture, rituals, art, dialect and people are portrayed in the most beautiful way by director Location Yeldandi.
The performances of the protagonists are natural. Except for the protagonists, the rest of the actors are new faces and it is easy for the audience to connect with them as characters and not as performers.
Watch the Balagam trailer here:
Director Venu showed that no matter what and whatever happens, the family comes first and that it is important to keep the peace within the family. The small fight becomes huge and Komurayya’s daughter has not come to see him for 20 long years. Her children don’t even know what their grandfather looks like. So when he dies, the daughter is very emotional and those scenes were well rendered.
Director Venu hit the right note with his emotional story that is so close to reality and is in almost every family, but for different reasons. Priyadarshi and Kavya Kalyanram have done well as Komurayya’s grandchildren.
What not?
Balagam is a sad story. It’s a sad and emotional ride from start to finish. For people who want to watch a movie for some entertainment and laughter, Balagam is not their cup of tea. Also there is not much entertainment. Venu could have taken some time to develop the story instead of starting it directly with Komurayya’s death.
Pronunciation:
Undoubtedly Balagam is a must watch. It is a movie that you should watch with the family and not alone. Spend some quality time with your family this weekend by watching Balagam.
Judgement:
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