Film: Fidaa
Cast: Varun Tej, Sai Pallavi, Raja, Satyam Rajesh
Direction: Sekhar Kammula
Rating:
There are some love stories that leave a lasting impression on us and Fidaa is one such fascinating tale that represents the conflict in love. It’s all about a spirited young girl Bhanumathi, who crosses path with Varun. The film directed by Sekhar Kammula has moments that go straight into the heart. One such instance comes when Sai Pallavi walks back and hugs Varun Tej, who was consumed by love and struggling to win her heart.
It’s a scene packed with heart-warming emotion and is performed truthfully by the actors. Fidaa has a balanced narrative that’s filled with striking moments on a consistent tone. Not surprisingly you will go ‘Fidaa’ over these characters. Varun (Varun Tej) and Bhanumathi (Sai Pallavi) first meet in a railway station under tricky circumstances and subsequently love blossoms between them. An unpredictable and impulsive girl she is, Bhanumathi always wonders why daughters alone have to go away from their maternal families post marriage.
The film is from the fairer sex’s perspective and oscillates between the intense emotions of love-hate-love routine. The silver lining is Sekhar Kammula’s realistic presentation of characters, their conversations, and the picturesque Banswada village, Nizamabad.
It’s the scintillating performances of Sai Pallavi and Varun Tej that keep you hooked onto the story, even at times when one may feel the script is going around in circles. Varun displays fantastic maturity with the right amount of restraint in the most complex scenes, thus reiterating the fact that he is an actor with talent in abundance. Sai Pallavi is a powerhouse of talent and was a perfect choice for Bhanumathi’s role. She takes the center stage and acts with natural ease. Her Telangana dialect is perfect and was laden with punch lines.
On the flip side, the film lacks a strong supporting cast as the story revolves around two principal characters — Varun and Bhanumathi. Had Kammula explored the camaraderie of Varun with his brother a bit, the film would have added more emotional weight to the tale. Also, Varun’s conversation with his sister-in-law looks contrived. Satyam Rajesh is entertaining in a brief role and master Aryan did well.
Shakti Kanth’s music and Jeevan Babu’s background score elevate the mood of the film. Especially, the cheeky wedding song and the duet are a delight to watch. Vijay Kumar’s cinematography accompanies the narrative smoothly.
Director Sekhar Kammula, who gave an impressive account of himself with a slew of blockbusters like Anand, Happy Days and Godavari, allowed all his skills to get into the groove. He narrates a simple story with superlative treatment and once again proves a point that he is a master of storytelling.
Despite its conventional arc, Fidaa rides on the crackling chemistry of the lead actors with strong emotion and humour. The film is a perfect weekend treat. Go ‘Fidaa’ over it!