Journeys are oft used cinematic devices for a story to progress, backdrops such as trains, flights and buses have proven to be handy inanimate characters in the narrative. Right Right , (a remake of the Malayalam film Ordinary ), a tale of bonhomie between a fresh recruit bus conductor Ravi (Suman Ashwin) and Seshu (Prabhakar), a driver as they travel from S.Kota to Gaviti each day, starts off on a promising note. You get a reasonable hang of their lifestyle, travails and the memories they make as they travel.
The maker Manu Prasad shows a lot of keenness in setting up the rural mood here, which he’s reasonably successful at. The picturesque backdrop does half the job, while an impressive bunch of experienced actors and newcomers hold fort with honest performances. The film’s strength is never the screenplay, but the atmosphere, thanks also to the composer J.B’s tunes that strike a chord. Over time though, the saccharine nature of the treatment plays spoilsport. The director outstretches his creative liberties to arrive at the central conflict. The conflict too isn’t quite a strong one, but we get a sense of direction in the film only in its second hour.
A mysterious death and a crisp backstory liven up the proceedings for a good 20-mintue stretch. Surprisingly, there’s no bus journey you take note of, in this phase. It’s a mix of drama and suspense that leads to a painfully melodramatic climax. The impact of the core is by then, lost. What could have been a wonderful opportunity to construct a whodunit thriller is turned cinematic beyond necessity. The two-hour plus length is its curse. What the Malayalam film achieved with a certain sense of rawness in its cinematography and the true-to-life characters, is substituted by humour that comes in the form of forced sub-plots. Too many characters, say the likes of Drama Rao (played by Shakalaka Shankar), Thagubothu Ramesh, Jeeva and Dhanraj are introduced to make its atmosphere lively. Barring one or two roles, the pronunciation of most of the actors is out of sync with what is expected of the characters.
The one man who successfully makes this film a showcase of his talent is Prabhakar. It’s a character that requires him to be simple and not overdo things and he sticks to his job. Sumanth Ashwin is honest enough, even if his limitations as an actor in intense situations make you feel otherwise. Their male bonding is a high point of Right Right . In comparison, the shaky romantic track between Sumanth Ashwin and Pooja Jhaveri is bereft of charm. The love interest just turns out to be a tool to unravel the film’s core point. Pavani Gangireddy, the supporting actress who made a mark in Malli Malli Idi Rani Roju, has a meatier part, pushing up her case for better roles in the future. Right Right has its heart at the right place but is too wayward to be impactful.
Right Right
Cast: Sumanth Ashwin, Prabhakar, Pooja Jhaveri, Nasser
Director: Manu
Music : J.B
Rating: 2 stars
