Rating:3/5
Film: Venkatadri Express
Starring: Sundeep Kishan, Rakul Preet Singh
Director: Gandhi M
Producer: Kiran
Banner: Anand Arts Creations
Music: Ramana Gogula
Story
Sundeep (Sundeep Kishan) is a happy-go-lucky guy, son of a strict retired headmaster Ram Murthy (Nagineedu) who imposes rules and doesn’t tolerate indiscipline in his house. Vexed with his son’s behavior who does 99 mistakes, Ram Murthy says he would be thrown out of house if he does one more mistake. The family boards Venkatadri Express train for Sundeep’s elder brother Brahmaji’s wedding. Sundeep misses the train and he tries his best to catch the train from being banned from his family. How does his journey happen form the rest.
Performances
Sundeep Kishan does a decent job and is impressive in the first half. He is apt for the role and there are good action scenes for him.
Rakul Preet look cute and she does her part well with in the limited role she had. Nagineedu is first-class, Brahmaji is entertaining, Thagubothu Ramesh is hilarious, Sapthagiri as Dasthagiri excelled, MS Narayana is boring. Others were adequate.
Technical Analysis
Chota K Naidu’s cinematography is first-rate while Ramana Gogula’s music is impressive and Mella Mellaga song is shot well. Direction by debutant Merlapaka Gandhi is commendable. Screenplay is neat and racy especially in the first-half. Editing is neat and dialogues are impressive. Production values are standard.
Analysis
Venkatadri Express has wafer thin storyline but director’s treatment worked well and it doesn’t go off the track. Screenplay is racy and the situational comedy works well in the first half.
Debutant Merlapaka Gandhi proves his mettle with the debut film. Emotional scenes and father-son plot were handled quite well. Thagubothu Ramesh and Saptagiri comedy scenes were at peaks that it’s fun watching them. Twists in the second half were handled well though it the second hour was a bit lengthy and predictable at times. First half of the film is quite good that it raises your expectations but the second half may disappoint due to predictability and abrupt climax episodes. All in all, Venkatadri Express is a fun watch despite its flaws, and coming from a debutant director, we call it a commendable attempt.
Final Verdict
Good comedy and taut screenplay makes Venkatadri Express a fun journey, despite very few flaws.
