In most films that deal with romance and have flawed protagonists, filmmakers find it convenient to antagonise a gender. Yakub Ali breaks that mould with Vellipomakey , makes the effort to empathise with its characters and doesn’t label them black or white. Vellipomakey is a simple yet a fresh story that’s told well. The film throws new light on social media relationships and says it’s important to respect one’s personal space. A confident storyteller here translates his script to celluloid with precision, the film is a calming experience and the impact is more than the sum of its elements- the stirring background score and slick cinematography lend depth to the frames.
Vellipomakey introduces us to a supposedly shallow world. Techie Chandrasekhar a.k.a Chandu hails from Warangal, is a boss’s favourite. His life beyond work only exists on social media and in weekend outings with friends. Most of his counterparts are in serious relationships, Chandu is desperate to drain his emptiness. He asks his roommates to introduce him to more people, to help him find a suitable match. His quest seems to end with a new recruit Shruti, but she backs off. A midnight friend request from a girl Swetha turns his world tipsy-topsy. Though the foundation to a new-found love interest seems fragile, he finds solace in Swetha’s presence. There are lot of things left unsaid and their relationship doesn’t seem to have a direction. Chandu deals with its repercussions in an open-ended narrative.
The non-chauvinistic treatment of a simple story helps Vellipomakey . Whenever Chandu complains about his girl, his roommate Kishore asks him to rethink the situation from a girl’s perspective. The boys suspect his friend to be cheating on his girlfriend, but when one of them goes too far, the other advises, “It’s his personal issue and is none of your business.” Chandu’s friend is no sidekick; he tells him what’s right and wrong. All three friends symbolise diverse shades of romance - some stable, some transient and those you can’t put a label to.
The Hyderabad setting is raw, the film breezes through the life in Ameerpet, Mehdipatnam, the canteens in the IT corridors, the routine life of the working sector with uncanny ease. Through the 111-minute film, the director uses smart visuals and music. Composer Prashanth Vihari’s classical undertones in the background score ring in a haunting quality to the frames. Cinematographers Vidyasagar and Akhilesh make the ordinary look beautiful.
Where the lack of a major conflict hampers the film’s flow, it’s the backdrop that you end up appreciating more. You end up wanting to know more about the rough edges of the well-etched characters. The director takes his own sweet time to tell the story and he does have a unique voice. Among all the new actors, Vishwak Sen and his friend (who plays Kishore) are the pick of the lot.
Vellipomakey
Cast: Vishwak Sen, Nithyasree Reddy
Director: Yakub Ali
Storyline: A techie deals with the repercussions of a fragile relationship with a social media acquaintance
