Live
- HYDRA focuses to rejuvenating lakes in Hyderabad
- ED seizes 300 sale deeds in raids on ex-YSRCP MP
- Minister lauds sacrifices of police martyrs
- Govt starves TSMFC of funds, slew of schemes go for a toss
- Pradhan Mantri Housing Scheme: AI-enabled PMAY App to pick beneficiaries
- Vehicle owners tamper with number plates to hoodwink cops, financiers
- HMWSSB addresses sewage overflow issues across city
- Man held for alleged public masturbation near school
- RR district sees 2,157 candidates absent on day-one of Group-1 exam
- Amid protests, Group-1 exam held without hitch
Of tactics, unfaithfulness and confusion
Highlights
Second Hand Movie Review: Of Tactics, Unfaithfulness And Confusion, Dhanya Balakrishna, Vishnu. Another golden week in Tollywood follows. First ‘Prema Ishq Kaadhal’ and now ‘Second Hand’. Both are films that break the commercial jinx of the industry. Without touching the regular norms of Tollywood - unrealistic action blocks, songs shot in exotic foreign locales and a premise that is too hard to relate too -- they both prove that story telling is a fascinating medium.
Another golden week in Tollywood follows. First ‘Prema Ishq Kaadhal’ and now ‘Second Hand’. Both are films that break the commercial jinx of the industry. Without touching the regular norms of Tollywood - unrealistic action blocks, songs shot in exotic foreign locales and a premise that is too hard to relate too -- they both prove that story telling is a fascinating medium.
The less expensive a film is the more ambitious the ideas and themes can be, said ‘Godfather’ director Francis Ford Coppola once. Proving the American filmmaker accurate over here is Kishore Tirumala, ‘Second Hand’ director. Seemed to have heart broken in his life multiple times, he chooses to tell that one needs to move on in life by taking heartbreaks with a pinch of salt. “You should go for another one,” one of character in the film says.
Unlike ‘Prema Ishq Kaadhal’, Kishore connects his three stories in the end, giving it a punch that most 20 plus individuals can take away home. Santosh (Sudheer Varma), a photographer falls at first sight for Deepu (Dhanya Balakrishna). After his vain attempt, she finally relents to his overture. The romance follows. Twist in the tale comes when her father sees a highly paid corporate employee for her.
She ditches her lover. About to take the extreme step of committing suicide, Subbarao (Kireeti) knocks the door of Sudheer. Subbarao begins to narrate his tale. A person with no bad habits, his funda is simple – the clean he is, the cleaner the opposite sex he gets. Opting for an arranged alliance, he likes Swetcha (played by Dhanya) who speaks about her former boyfriend at the first meeting.
He is okay with it but is helpless when she constantly approaches her ex. When Subbarao, the dental physician realises that she is yet to come to terms with her past even after tying the knot to him, he decides to call it quits from her. Listening to this, Sudheer drops his plans of committing suicide.
However, they both encounter Sahasra (played by Dhanya again) who is inconsistent coming to the choices that she needs to make in her life. What next? While it starts like most short films do, it evolves in the process. It offers much by way of its narrative novelty too, a factor that is missing in big Telugu films of late.
The biggest strength of the film is the writing which is simple and realistic. Music remains to be the biggest disappointment but Kishore ensures that Ilayaraja’s celebrated numbers are played in the background. He even springs a surprise with a cameo. Of the cast, Sudheer Varma shows promise but only in flashes. Kireeti is the fun element and he uses his face largely.
Vishnu gets a raw deal contrast to his magic charm in ‘Prema Ishq Kaadhal’. However, the show stealer turns out to be Dhanya Balakrishna. As the girl who tries to break away from her love with tactics of her own, as the girl who is worried about her former boyfriend and as the confused soul who needs to take a call between her best friend and former love, she infuses life into all the three characters.
Rounding up, this is Kishore Tirumala’s candid take on most young relationships these days. He doesn’t take sides instead explores the emotions of his principal characters which turn out to be biggest positive for the film. A light-hearted entertainer, this is progressive filmmaking at its best. Go and have fun.
Second Hand
Cast : Dhanya Balakrishna, Vishnu, Sudheer Varma and Kireeti
Music : Ravi Chandra
Direction : Kishore Tirumala
Genre : Romantic comedy
Rating : ***
Next Story
ADVERTISEMENT
