Go back in time when the IT sector witnessed a boom. Stiff competition between corporates meant lucrative offers for software engineers and the effects of the hefty pay packets translated into easy loans, cars, homes and land.
The bubble had to burst and it did, with far reaching consequences. Faced with pink slips, some shifted industries while others soldiered on. A film that focuses on the ramifications of this boom and bust should, ideally, make for interesting viewing. But Mana Kurrale is poorly executed and turns out to be a tiresome watch.
The film focuses on a bunch of youngsters who’ve moved to Hyderabad from a village. Barring two, the others are caught in a vicious circle made possible with new money. There’s a chap who, despite his ordinary looks, dates women simply by showing them his multiple credit cards. There’s a real estate agent (Krishnudu) who hoodwinks small farmers into parting with their land for meagre sums. There’s another chap (Venkat) who benefits from stock investments, so much so that he throws a lavish birthday party in the village for his mother who sports sun glasses even inside the house. The glasses stay even when she cuts the birthday cake.
Amongst them are two sane voices. Suri (Kalyan) is a software engineer who has high regards for his elder brother, a sarpanch (Rao Ramesh), and his native agricultural land. Aravind Krishna is new to Hyderabad and finds a job as a security officer at a pub and observes the new-moneyed crowd party away the nights.
The film takes its own time to establish each of these threads with dramatic overtones. For instance, a young woman who at first hesitates to dance with Krishnudu at a pub agrees to do so when she’s gifted a diamond ring. The most cringe-worthy character is that of the heroine Rachana Malhotra. She is billed as a simple and innocent woman who accompanies her friend to a pub in a salwar kameez and quietly cheers on, because good girls don’t take to the dance floor. When she begins to date her boss, she sports an off shoulder dress and declares to the heart-broken hero that she wants a luxurious lifestyle. Soon, her company goes bust and she loses her job. Now, one would expect an educated woman to apply for other jobs. Instead, she goes with the suggestion of a friend and nearly ends up as an escort.
The downfall of the IT and real estate sector shows the youngsters that they can still rely on their agricultural land. Back in their hometown, things are far from smooth as their farm lands are in danger of being usurped by unwanted elements. At this point, the director emphasises on youth power to justify the title, only to forget it minutes later.
Mana Kurrale meanders on and on, without leaving an impression with the screenplay, acting, cinematography, music and editing. Why did Rao Ramesh (he is good as usual) choose such a film? He is the film’s lone, credible actor and looks out of place among amateurs.
Give this one a miss unless you want to begin 2015 on an annoying note.