Horror comedy continues to be a genre that’s used and abused. Television actor/producer Prabhakar, who debuts as a director with Next Nuvve tries to prove there’s still more gas left in the tank. As a welcome change, he ropes in a cast that doesn’t come with baggage, which helps infuse some freshness in a familiar setting.
Next Nuvve ’s first sequence sees Prabhkar paytribute to his television roots with a parody on the slow-motion and close-up shots pertaining to a soap. Replete with cheeky-one liners, Prudhvi Raj with his sarcastic demeanour arrives with his third wife, who is cheerfully welcomed by his mom. The exaggerated sequence reflects the plot turns adopted in regional soaps. But what Prabhakar does with his story later isn’t far from a cliché either.
The story revolves around four protagonists who own a renovated resort in a hill station with a shady past. There are frequent deaths, souls lurking around, but the deja vu doesn’t hurt, thanks to its impressive dialogues. Brahmaji’s camaraderie with an understated Aadi brings the roof down in the first hour, where a zippy screenplay makes up for the lack of a plot. There’s an attempt to toy with the thin line between humour and double entendre with the role of Rashmi Gautham.
The flashback surrounding the palace featuring Srinivas Avasarala in an impressive cameo comes a tad too late into the narrative. The film gradually begins to feel redundant despite laugh-aloud sequences. Sample the thread where Raghu Babu plays a sorcerer named RGV, where the ghosts from Chandramukhi , Arundhati and Jaganmohini work as maids in his house. The film is tireless in producing one gag after another, though they hardly contribute to the plot. Brahmaji is in rip-roaring form here, using the scope to unleash his comic potential. He calls himself a celebrity after acting in an adult film titled ‘Intlo Tingari, Sandulo Sundari’ and shines in the portions where he talks of digging up pits to fit the numerous dead bodies.
The ending derails an otherwise impressive attempt. Prabhakar does a good job in infusing entertainment into the film, but he’s let down by a wayward story. The film keeps you guessing about the ‘why’ factor which, sadly is its weakest point. Aadi continues from where he left in Samanthakamani and proves adept at comedy. L B Sriram, Jayaprakash Reddy and Thagubothu Ramesh are wasted in brief parts. It’s an outing that proves impressive parts needn’t ensure a great sum.
Next Nuvve
Cast: Aadi, Rashmi Gautham, Vaibhavi Shandilya
Storyline: Four protagonists try to uncover the mystery behind a haunted resort
Director: Prabhakar
