One too many stories

Saarathi (Kishore) is a realistic novelist who specialises of real life occurrences. His little daughter is fighting malignancy. His challenge is to raise funds for her treatment, As the Suthradhar of the story he narrates not just the story but also the mindset and the stance of the writer. Lisa Smith (Lakshmi Manchu), a model who is in the evening of her career: with age is hardly on her side and younger competitors walking the ramp. She is rejected by her live-in partner DK (Prithvi Raj) which only adds speed to her alcoholism. She is compelled to move into a middle class apartment with only Zeus, her dog for company.

Ashraf (Abhijeet) runs a small time grocery store in the neighbourhood and is in love with Haseena (Richa Panai), who procrastinates a clear commitment. Ashraf refuses to see the writing on the wall. Haseena plays along and gets married to a guy from Dubai – Ali who owns two cars. Raghu (Naga Shourya) looks dazed and not on talking terms with the world. He slowly unveils his tale of woe. Back in the village while he had nothing to do or was anyway doing nothing he would woo Gowri (Amitha Rao). Raghu and Gowri are married. The marriage is set to doom from the start. Raghu and Gowri move to Hyderabad. Raghu lands up with a job in MCH as a cleaner but that does not change things at home. Mohan (Naresh) is back from the USA and wears his acquired culture on his sleeve. He renews his association with Saritha (Aamani), now a widow who is a witness to her two sons debating who should have her custody when the flats are to be rebuilt. Tragedy and rejection only gets her closer to her past.

30-year-old G Venkateshwara Rao (Krishnudu) is paranoid that he is yet to be married. He is the software engineer who also has an Aadhar card after three months of struggle, desperately wants to get married before he turns 30. From matrimonial advts, to visiting Gurujis, he has tried every trick in the trade. Nothing is working, at least for now.

Krishneshwara Rao: A beggar sees a ‘for sale’ sign and wants to buy a house priced at Rs 12 Lakhs. Collects 10 lakhs for the house and keeps it in 10 different locations. Regularly visits the broker and finally succeeds in negotiating the price to 10 lakhs and is at the threshold of his dream becoming a reality. Even as love falls apart, dreams somewhere turn into reality. Santa Claus is coming along.

Raghu (Chaitanya Krishna) and Renu (Shamili Agarwal): Renu is the daughter of a MLA. Raghu is a poor man’s son who dreams big. Sells stolen petrol for his pocket money. Raghu traps Renu and films their ‘act’ to marry her so that he can become rich. This never to take of love story gets the space it deserves.

Just at a time when the cineaste expect nothing from Tollywood, Praveen Sattaru offers something different. This is an experiment that has worked elsewhere. (Delhi a metro, Yeh Hai Mumbai mere jaan, ……) and though albeit late, it arrives at Tollywood. The anthology is a welcome development. It is not a class act, nevertheless worth mentioning. The multiple stories do no thread up together, nor are they told with the dame degree of passion. The film could do well with a better editor. Told crisper, the tales would have far greater effect.

There are boring moments, serious moments, moments of compulsive viewing and some dreary, but such is life. Life in a metro is about the brewing angst. It takes a defining moment to alter an ordinary tale into a short story or a dramatic piece like Alchemist or a O Henry short story.

In his own little way the filmmaker is asking:

Seene mein jalan aankhon mein tufaan saa kyon hai?

is shahar mein har shaks pareshaan saa kyon hai ?