16 September, 2009

My Movie - Baanam

When was it that you saw a realistic movie in Telugu cinema,when was it you thought you had enough of 10 people dancing behind the actors meaninglessly,when was it you thought enough of action scenes of flying in the sky and needed a change,when was it you thought a story which is near by you- a story just believable in our neighborhood.Here is a movie which just inspired me to write about it screaming out my salute to this master piece

Banam, a movie with soul.A person's journey and his battle.The movie was like a breeze moving orderly and constructive into the crux of a journey.The initialization or opening sequence was beautifully shot giving the ample introduction to a hard working simple person and his work,not to forget the cinematographer who explored the fictional village based in 1989.Though the acting skills couldn't be judged from the main character played by Nara Rohit(as variance wasn't much required for the story) it was ample for the role portrayed where his mannerism and voice was an asset in-terms of the characterization,There was a silence required which was brilliantly executed, an emotion portrayed without much dialogues to distract.The love story was which was awaiting to blast on the screen after the hero's personal life,there was a realism in the way 1989 had woman issues which still prevails today.The actress's innocence and simplicity was well shot describing in simple frames.There was a beauty filled in the relation between the leads,the respect and emotions they shared.It was realistically shot where every dialogue was precise and apt.A dialogue which has meaning beyond the sentence uttered,a simple line explaining innocence and simplicity.One dialogue which reminds me of the female lead Subalakshmi (played by Vedika) "Meru Enti" asking about the caste of the main lead before eating with them explains a lot.

Moving ahead with the story i wished there was more scenes between the lead actors which was beautifully crafted,at times i wished i rewind up and watch again their encounter and journey.It was time for the problems to enter and just when i wished there was no un-realistic fighting i was happier to watch a well crafted fight,the credit to the Director Chaitanya Dantuluri who believed realism still works.There was no one instance in a fight which is unbelievable there was no single blows with mouthful of blood,the fight was as realistic as on street.The movies we watch which show 10-20 people dead after a fight was given a slap with the sequence shown where the lead is arrested in killing one person in the fight.The next forms the fight with the local villain who is un-touchable,the explanation given to the naxalism and police officers who have failed to eradicate goons in every village was well explained crisp and clear.The rest forms the solution and braveness in cleaning up anti-social elements.

The main credit goes to the director Chaitanya Dantuluri,with a story based in 1989 realistic,emotional and clean cinema.His belief in cinema which is story and character rather than sleazy women dancing around & romancing,fights which are like circus show,love story which cannot be even dreamt in our wildest dreams.The Producer Priyanka Chalasani who believed in cinema as a passion not as a candy to be sold and conned.The Dialogue writer Nagaraju Gandham is one person i will remember who had everything clear and there is no one instance where the dialogues are unnecessarily pushed in.Music by Mani Sharma was soul to the story.It was good to watch songs without meaningless dance steps.

My respect to the cinematographer Anil Bhandari,it was his work in the trailers which pulled me into the theater.Right from the first frame it was a brilliantly shot with excellent work especially to remember scenes of early morning jog across the woods,the bike ride montage shots.It is very less speaking about his work,one frame i will never forget is the crane shot of the pond with the lead and his associates discussing.The importance of lighting and shadows was art at its best,there are number of scenes to explain his brilliance which is to be tapped by many more directors.I would be eagerly awaiting to watch his future work.

Banam is a movie which will get to my DVD rack,a movie which is a medicine to this dying tollywood industry.A relief from all the potboilers.I seriously wish the mindset of our filmmakers and even audience change and accept such movies.

Even if it doesn't make it as a commercial hit Banam is a film to be proud of,to the producer,director and the actors.I can say Nara Rohit would always be proud of his debut film when looking back to all those debut masala flicks of star kids which were duds yet announced/declared hits.

I thank the makers of Banam for a good movie which will be remembered forever.

PS: This is not a movie review.This is my response to a movie.

Stanley M
stanley_m at aol dot in

More My Movie experiences:
Josh by Nathan
Magadheera by Ashok
Magadheera by Wannabe Director
Magadheera by Shanti
Magadheera by Anitha
Magadheera by SS
Oy by Prathna
99 by Bala Thirumalasetty
Veedokkade by Srinivas
Delhi 6 by Vamsi
KIKK by Sweta
Luck by Chance by Srini
KIKK by Lalitha Spoorthi
Arundhati by Naveen
Arundhati by Srini
Arundhati by Bharat
Sasirekha Parinayam by Santhi Venkat
Sasirekha Parinayam by Vamshi Muthapu
Sasirekha Parinayam by Niharika Reddy
Nachavule by Vamsi Krishna
Neninthe by movie lover
Avakai Biryani by Vamsi Krishna
Kotha Bangaru Lokam by Vamsi Krishna
Kotha Bangaru Lokam by S
Ashta Chemma by Deepthi
Ashta Chemma by Lalitha Spoorthi
Sarkar Raj by Pradeep
Jalsa by Lalitha Spoorthi
Gamyam by Sridhar
Gamyam by Sreekanth D
Gamyam by Sanjay
Halla Bol by Purnesh
Taare Zameen Par by Ashok Varma
Taare Zameen Par by Raja Simha
Happy Days by Krishna Sastry
Chirutha by Phani Kumar
Chak De India by Ravi
Yamadonga by Lalitha
Chak De India by Shyam
AMAV by Darsakudu
5 in March by Sashidhar
Okkadunnadu by Anand
Black Friday by Ratnakar
Desamuduru by Krishna Prasad
Guru by It's opinion
Dhoom 2 by Lalitha Spoorthi
Dhoom 2 by ASK
Don - Syam
Boss - Anand
Boss - Hrithik
Stalin - Bala
Bommarillu - Nandini
Bommarillu - Darsakudu
Bommarillu - Vasu
Bommarillu - Harsha Prakash
Bommarillu - Lalitha Spoorthi
LRMB - Shravan
Bommarillu - Anirudh
LRMB - Srinivas
LRMB - Darsakudu
LRMB - S Sridhar
Bommarillu - Shridevi
Bommarillu - Vasudev
Bommarillu - Roopa
Sriram - Godavari
Sarath - Bangaram
Bala - Pokiri
Srinadh - Allari Pidugu
Sudheer Allari Pidugu
Anu - Athadu
Shyam Krishna - Iqbal
Purnesh - Grahanam
Sudhindra - Super
Vijay - Aparichitudu
Madhav - Aparichitudu
Hazaraon Kwaishein Aisi
Swades
Shyam - Black
Sai - Anand
Rohit - Anand & Veer Zaara
Jaya Prakash - 7GBC
Raj - Anand
Purnesh - Anand
Purnesh - The Village
Sriram - Gudumba Shankar
Purnesh - Gharshana
Purnesh - Lakshya
Purnesh - Yuva
Leenesh - Yuva
Kis - Lakshmi Narasimha
Indian Pride - Tagore
Raj - Boys
Phani - Gangotri
Phani - Khadgam
Vikram - CKR
BKR - Indra (Singapore)
Ram - Indra (Dubai)
Ranjeet - Idiot
Rahul - Indra
King Koduri - Indra
Srilakshmi Katragadda - Mitr: My Friend