Movie : Annapurna Photo Studio
Release Date : 21st July 2023
Starring : Chaitanya Rao Madadi, Lavanya Sahukara, Lalith Adithya, Viva Raghava, Uttara Reddy, Mihirah Gurupadappa, Yash Rangineni, Vasu Inturi, Krishna Mohan, Ramana
Director : Chandu Muddu
Producer : Yash Rangineni
Music Director : Prince Henry
Cinematographer : Pankaj Thottada
Editor : D Venkat Prabhu
Annapurna Photo Studio, produced by noted production house Big Ben Cinemas, hit the screens today. Check out our review to know how the film is.
Story :
Chanti (Chaitanya Rao), a videographer in Kapileswarapuram village, leads a happy life with his family and friends. He falls in love with Gauthami (Lavannya Sahukara), and she eventually develops feelings for him. However, things take a dark turn when Chandu attempts suicide, leading the police to investigate the case based on his suicide note. Why did Chandu attempt suicide? What happened to him next? The movie will unfold the mystery.
Plus Points :
The film’s protagonist, Chaitanya Rao Madadi, delivers a neat performance, particularly in a comedic role after his popular series 30 Weds 21. The director utilizes Chaitanya Rao’s impressive comic timing well.
‘Viva’ Raghav shines in his role, providing decent laughs. His interactions with the protagonist are pure joy to watch.
Heroine Lavannya Sahukara fits the role of Gauthami beautifully, portraying a traditional village belle character quite well. Her performance adds the required charm to the film, potentially making way for more interesting roles in her career.
Producer Yash Rangineni surprises with his performance in the movie. The rest of the characters perform well in their respective roles. The cinematography is quite impressive, showcasing the picturesque village locales stunningly.
The art department and costume designers deserve appreciation for giving the movie a 90s touch with their impeccable work.
Minus Points :
The story is straightforward, but the director’s execution makes the film enjoyable. After the movie ends, you might see the prefix ‘confused’ before the words direction, story, dialogues, and screenplay, which is Chandu’s perspective and not necessarily true.
Chandu narrates the story well in the first half, he fails to maintain the momentum in the latter half, which is dragged deliberately. The director should have taken better care to make the second half captivating.
The inclusion of unnecessary, predictable scenes becomes a hurdle to the narrative’s smooth flow. Some dialogues generate instant laughs, while others seem out of place and could have been better written.
Mihirah Gurupadappa and Lalith Adithya’s roles could have been written better to add more drama. Casting a few well-known faces in the film would have helped the audience connect better with the characters.
Technical Aspects :
As a director, Chandu does his best, but as a screenwriter, he could have taken better care to make the second half less boring. The music by Prince Henry is good, with a couple of songs that are both audibly and visually enjoyable. The score also adds to the film’s appeal.
Pankaj Thottada cinematography is praiseworthy. He showcases the beauty of the village in vibrant colour tones, leaving a remarkable impact. The editor, Venkat Prabhu, could have trimmed some scenes to avoid lag, especially in the second half. The production values are commendable, with the art and makeup departments delivering their best for the movie.
Verdict :
Annapurna Photo Studio is a romantic comedy drama that works in parts. The performances of the lead actors and Viva Raghava’s comedy are the movie’s strengths. However, unnecessary scenes and a lacklustre narration in the second half serve as its weaknesses. If you’re looking for some laughs, you can watch this film this weekend.
Rating : 3.5/5
