Peddha Kapu has been promoted a lot in the last few days. Directed by Shrikant Addala, the film stars Virat Karna and Anasuya in the lead roles.
Virat Karrna (Hero)
Pragathi Shrivatsav (Heroine)
Rao Ramesh, Nagendra Babu, Tanikella Bharani, Rajeev Kanakala (Cast)
Srikanth Addala (Director)
M Ravinder Reddy (Producer)
Mickey J. Meyer (Music)
Chota K. Naidu (Cinematography)
Story:
The film is based in a small village in the Godavari region in the 1980s. Peddha Kapu (Virat Karna) belongs to the oppressed community and often faces problems due to his aggression. The village is dominated by two landlords Athya Rangayya (Rao Ramesh) and Bhaiyayanna (Aadukalam Naren). Things change when NTR announces a political party and caste-based issues start coming to the fore. How a common man from an oppressed community stands tall and proves a point, is the story of the film.
Performance:
Virat Karna made his debut as an actor with Peddha Kapu. He has good screen presence and performs well in his character as well. But when it comes to emotional scenes, he appears a little raw. Rao Ramesh has breathed life into his role which is one of the best in recent times. The director has extracted a strong performance from him. Anasuya got a meaty role which was much talked about. He acted well but this role did not make that much impact. Ishwari Rao and Rajeev Kanakala give their best performances. Heroine Pragati Srivastava looked good in her role. Tanikella Bharani was regular in her role. Srikanth Addala was quite good as a villain.
Technicalities:
Peddha Kapu appears remarkably ambitious in its visual presentation, showcasing impressive production design and a grand scale that incorporates vast landscapes and extensive crowds within the frame. However, the downfall of the film lies in its screenplay. The director relies heavily on technical aspects such as cinematography and background music. Unfortunately, the songs did not live up to expectations and Mickey J. Mayer’s talents don’t seem well suited to this particular genre. Additionally, the slow paced story of the film had to be controlled through editing.
Analysis:
In Peddha Kapu, Srikanth Addala places significant reliance on daring and adventurous material, opting to tell a raw and rustic story. Furthermore, the director seems to have indulged in too much violence, including graphic scenes of decapitation, resulting in the film being drenched in blood and gore which is new to him. These elements collectively suggest that Peddha Kapu is a deliberate and courageous effort.
The film has a large canvas, a huge scale and a remarkable group of artists and technicians. The dialogue “Meeku Ente Vunte, Maku Entha Vandali” depicts the plight of Peddha Kapu. The first part shows promise and provides a somewhat intense experience. The interval scene is thrilling and provides a moment of excitement and it feels like Addala has got it right.
However, the film takes a huge downturn in the second half, leaving the audience disappointed. A twist related to Anasuya creates curiosity among the audience. After his entry the film becomes predictably formulaic. The climax fails to engage, and the storytelling is a mess. The drama is thinly drawn without flashy visuals or depth, relying heavily on background music for build-up and levity.
The film lacks a solid supporting narrative base. However, in the end the desired effect is not achieved. But still, Srikanth Addala ensures that there is enough meat, although the narration is predictable. The base and performance of Peddha Kapu 1 is great but it also has some shortcomings.
Verdict: Overall, Peddha Kapu 1 has a unique world and amazing production design. The casting and performances are also top notch. The first half of the film is good but the emotions don’t make much of an impact and make it average.
