Shyam Singha Roy – (Telugu Movie) – Comments
This is a fine film that starts with a love affair and ends up as a timeless love story. A good one on a hazy genre of ‘born again’ stuff like the ‘Reincarnation of Peter Proud (1975)’. This perhaps is a far better storyline and a well-shot picture in every way.
The art director blows life into the past and takes us on a long walk into the beautiful Calcutta of the ’50s, most part of which still looks like a dilapidated museum.
Nani brings out his best elements. Keerthi Shetty, Madonna Sebastian are two babes sidelined by the stalwart performer in Sai Pallavi.
Sai Pallavi is an unstoppable artist with no limits to rest. This outstanding artist is a gem that cuts itself to shine beyond the glare. Her old costume and make-up when she must be around 68 in the climax was a dangerous try that tickled the ribs parallel to the scene performance that pumped out tears in the audience.
Murali Sharma as an advocate only grows by competing with himself. A perfect fit.
Music in every language can be as good as a Bengal sweet. When it is in Telugu it simply becomes the Laddu of Thirumala and commands the reverence it deserves. Great compositions, lyrics, and deliveries.
The most brutal oxymoron is the phrase ‘Honor Killing’ and it is brought up again. In my understanding, the Devadasi clan is not a community in the order of the Varnas but a personal choice made by the young widows in those days from all the Varnas, just as how the ‘surname’ such as ‘Roy’ could have people across the society. Such reminders are deterrents to the social development, of the nation at large, and question the fictional cynicism in the ancient wisdom of a great nation. A brahmin is shown up as a cruel villain and it is vindictively funny. I can reject this idea of opportunism as an easy way of choiceless misrepresentation. Branding ‘Dasikarma’ as prostitution and institutionalizing it as a commercial venture by a group was an identity defined by the British and then the high virtue they held turned turtle in the 18th and 19th centuries. The least said about the atrocities is better for fks sake. The names of M.S.Subbalakshmi and Balasaraswathi could have been avoided and sounds no less than the controversial comment upon ‘Andal’ made recently in TN. When lotus blooms in a pond it is unfair to talk about the slur beneath. Fact or a confabulation,.. it weakens the pride of morale we culturally proclaim and potentially could make people move away from the religion itself.
Long by about an extra 15 minutes, but never mind. However, this film is a classic and should be much appreciated for its finest presentation.
-Srirangam Ramesh