Sampoo chimpesadu

This is unaltered stuff. Even grotesque, but it leaves every soul in the audience gasping for breath, laughing out of their seats and simply overawed. In the context of Telugu cinema, it could well be a milestone. I do not recall another punch-packed parody as this. When the ordinary looking guy with an average height is repeatedly referred to as handsome 6-footer you know that the film is on its way of creating a new matinee idol. Filmy hero often confused with the power of a demi God. Some sample moments: A robbery where the hero has to deal with a huge lock (made in Thailand); the hero and his friends robbing a supermarket as the police arrive; the investigating team of police officers headed by Bhairav Rathod (Mahesh Katti) and his ever admiring assistant; the dance at the auditorium; the reference of software as mettanitodugu; the creating of a new computer with neem and water named Neerusumpter….. The list could be endless.

Just some sample dialogues: Guppedu anta unnagundeki kotirupayala; background avasaramledu brain lo ground untechalu; jeevitham appudevesina tar road lantidi. This too can get endless. This premise is surely interesting. Outrageous it may sound but this Steven Shanker’s film could well be an answer to Sai Paranjpee’s ‘Chashme Badoor’. Unmistakably unpretentious and yet a chuckle filled dekho at Tollywood exposed to all its vulgar exaggeration (and strangely without touching upon its exaggerated vulgarity). Every minute of the two odd hours mirrors the abyss. The climax mocks crudely – but crudity is after all the characteristic subject matter of parody.

Our hero Sampoornesh Babu is the typical hero who survives all odds, performs all miracles, exhibits all talents and is a death defying genius. The lover, the blackmail, the black male, the heroics of the protagonist nimble- fitted and trigger happy with songs on his lips, tears in his eyes, with a melodramatic mug, adrenaline filled attitude, untiring biceps, killer aptitude, killing appetite, heartful of love, electrifying body (literally), Einsteinian brains – the Nietzscheian Superman is here.

In case you are looking for a product of finesse that would engage you in a serious debate on the prototype product that is delivered, oh! So often then the filmmaker surely disappoints. Sampoornesh Babu does not really add to the narration. Stripped of his crudity and blessed with some talent the film would have made a difference. It is the inspector, who alongside his assistant, gives amazing performances and add fizz to the tale. Names are specifically being avoided as this becomes yet another challenge in the context of Telugu cinema. The entire industry is blissfully unaware of the possibility of uploading such information for public consumption. The gravity of the industry is woefully behind times.

The film is a wakeup call to Tollywood. It is an alarm call asking nay begging off the stereotype filmmaker to return to terra firma with a desperate request to order for some grey cells to be employed in script writing and filmmaking. If we are willing to laugh at what we have called ‘entertainment’ this far, let’s walk this step.