Allari Naresh has called it quits for comical roles and he is mostly focused on doing content-driven films now. After Naandi, he has come up with another genuine and honest social drama, Itlu Maredumilli Prajaneekam. Here's our review of the film.
Story: Naresh, a school teacher is appointed on election duty. He is assigned with the responsibility of handling the electoral procedure in Maredumilli. But little does he know about the politically strained situations there. Can he take all the pressure and hold the election without any mishaps?
How did the actors perform?
This film almost entirely revolves around Allari Naresh. He delivers an earnest performance in a seemingly challenging role. He acts with conviction and there's evident sincerity in his effort. He has rediscovered himself as an actor.
The supporting cast who are seen as the native tribals have done a fairly decent job to sync into the theme. Their appearances are authentic and so is their portrayal. Aanandhi as the female lead has limited presence but she does impress in the limited screen time she has.
What about Technical finesse?
The film is directed by AR Mohan. He sticks solely to the core plot of the electoral irregularities in the tribal and agency regions of Andhra Pradesh. The atmospherics are used well to convey the core element of the film all thanks to brilliant production designing. The film progresses on a serious note without any deviations or commercial additions.
For social dramas with such super serious narratives, the screenplay should be packed tightly. But in this case, the narrative goes wayward on a fair few occasions. There's this unnecessary hero-heroine love track that could've been avoided. Instead, the director could've emphasized on establishing the main conflict.
The screenplay is uneven in terms of pace. The serious narrative and sticking to the troubles faced by the tribal due to oppressive political individuals is presented in an honest manner.
What's Good?
- Honesty presentation of the story
- Allari Naresh's performance
What's Bad?
- Unevenly paced screenplay
- Lack of emotional drive
Verdict: Itlu Maredumilli Prajaneekam is an honest attempt at showcasing the troubles faced by tribals due to the oppression of the political powers. The lack of emotional drive is a downer though. It needed a more tightly packed narrative to make for a compelling watch.
Rating: 2.5/5
