If the best scene in this film is to be described in a click-bait format, we could highlight a line by Bhramaramba (Rakul Preet) that goes ‘ Bhramaramba ki kopam osthundi ’ and add ‘you wouldn’t believe what happened next’. What follows as a response from Shiva (Naga Chaitanya) is a heartfelt outburst that gives vent to all his pent-up rage. The rage is spot on.
Bhramaramba is not an entirely endearing character. She’s staunchly devoted to her dad (Sampath Raj) and he, in turn, makes her the centre of his universe. No, scratch that. Bhramaramba is the centre of the universe for the entire family. The only one who tries to make Bhramaramba see some reality is the mother (Kausalya). Director Kalyan Krishna pits this self-centred girl from a village against a charming city-bred guy. It isn’t the clash of rural and urban sensibilities that come in their way. It’s got to do with Bhramaramba’s own misgivings. Shiva is at her beck and call even when she’s inconsiderate. The girl also makes it clear she isn’t keen on romance.
An hour of watching this, we wonder, on a tangent, why Naga Chaitanya has to deal with stubborn and at times insensitive on-screen women, from Jessie ( Ye Maya Chesave ) to Bhramaramba. But that story of blow-hot blow-cold Jessie and Karthik was charmingly told; here the journey is painstaking.
Rarandoi Veduka Chuddam seemed like an enticing proposition — two well known actors who have the potential to soar highand a film that aims to be a bitter-sweet family entertainer. It begins on a familiar note of friends — played by Sampath Raj and Jagapathi Babu — drifting apart. No prizes for guessing their children will invariably fall in love. Yet, the film could have made for an endearing drama had it been told well. Rarandoi… drifts along aimlessly for a long time. For instance, there’s a long-drawn wedding sequence featuring a bunch of comic actors. Not only are they irrelevant to the plot, the comedy is also banal.
It gets its act together towards the later half. A few moments stand out, like the conversation between Jagapathi Babu and Naga Chaitanya after an accident and Rakul’s tearful confrontation with her grandmother. But for the most part, the narration can leave you disinterested and exasperated. Picture this. The hero is fighting off goons who pass lewd remarks at the heroine. She arrives late into the scene and walks off in a huff stating she doesn’t like fights and calls him ‘low class’.
Rakul Preet gives her all to play the complex Bhramaramba in her best performance till date. Naga Chaitanya shines in that break-up scene and looks at ease as the story progresses. But, in some portions, he seems uncomfortable as though thrown into an unfamiliar setting. We’ve seen more convincing performances from him. Vennela Kishore is hilarious as the husband trying to make peace with a dominating wife.
Rarandoi Veduka Chuddam
Cast : Naga Chaitanya, Rakul Preet Singh, Sampath Raj and Jagapathi Babu
Direction : Kalyan Krishna
Music : Devi Sri Prasad
