Ala Ela: A question of answers

November 28, 2014 05:08 pm | Updated 05:08 pm IST

Rahul Ravindran and Khushi in the film

Rahul Ravindran and Khushi in the film

Genre : Romantic Comedy

Cast : Rahul Ravindran, Khushi, Heebah Patel and Vennela Kishore

Direction : Aneesh Krishna

Music : Bheems

Three good friends, and among them one is to get hitched soon. The groom plans a road trip. Rings a bell? Even before we can utter Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, the lead actor of Ala Ela, Rahul Ravindran, tells his buddies that he wants to do something magical like in ZNMD. The friends — Vennela Kishore who suffers his wife’s tyranny, and the other, a pony-tailed creative director of an ad agency, imagine trips to Europe and US in thought bubbles only to be busted by the hero’s chosen destination, East Godavari. The trip sets off in a custom-made curious vehicle that can also be called a car. Instead of challenges like sky diving or deep sea diving, this bunch climbs palm trees to drink toddy.

Ala Ela is one of those small films that arrive without much noise and turn out to be a surprise. Before breathing his last, Karthik (Rahul Ravindran)’s grandfather makes him promise that he’d marry the girl of his choice. A hyperventilating grandmother wants to ensure that her husband’s last wish is fulfilled. Karthik is smitten when he sees the photo of the chosen bride. At the same time, he doesn’t want to miss the fun of wooing his girl. He plans to befriend the girl without revealing his identity.

He sets off to a hamlet in East Godavari district with his friends in tow. The friends realise this isn’t a free meal and Karthik has plans for them. In the village, Karthik meets the prospective bride Divya (Khushi) and her friend Shruti (Heebah Patel) and the game of wooing throws up many twists and turns.

Director Aneesh Krishna, who has also written the film, displays a flair for humour. In the first few minutes where one would have expected tear-jerker moments in the hospital, he has the audience laughing with the idiosyncratic characters and dialogues. The director fleshes out some of the characters well. There’s a reason to Vennela Kishore’s predicament and Karthik and Shruti are given enough time to introspect and re-assess their priorities.

Rahul Ravindran comes up with an effortless, neat performance and the credit goes to the director for playing on his boy next door image and not making him a larger-than-life hero, at least not with this storyline. Khushi and Heebah Patel are passable in their roles but lack charm. Sai Sriram’s cinematography and Bheem’s music work to the film’s strengths.

On the flipside, one wonders where Karthik’s family vanishes after the opening moments. What this film lacks is pace and requires some patience.

Watch this film for some laugh aloud moments.

Bottomline : Offers some refreshing humour

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