What’s about?
After his father establishes a relationship with another woman, abandoning him and his mother, Bachhala Malli (Allari Naresh) harbors animosity towards him. He develops such intense hatred toward his father that he embarks on a self-destructive path, characterized by abandoning his education, excessive drinking, and exhibiting aggression.
However, he becomes tender upon encountering the beautiful Kaveri (Amritha Aiyer) and promptly proposes to her. Kaveri initially fears his abrasive demeanor and refrains from conversing with him; yet, following a particular incident and after assessing his genuine affection, she begins to develop feelings for him. He sacrifices all his vices for her. He starts a business of his own by establishing a firm of gunny bags.
Kaveri’s father (Rao Ramesh), a police officer, agrees to their marriage only on one condition, which infuriates Malli, resulting in a chaotic situation in their lives. Will Malli ever marry Kaveri? Will their lives get a happy ending?
Analysis
“Bachhala Malli” is the name of the protagonist. The film, as indicated by the title, focuses on the protagonist and serves as a character study.
Malli is an unconventional hero. He is obstinate to the extent of foolishness, abrasive, and devoid of any desirable characteristics. What qualifies him as a hero of sorts? The protagonist in this film lacks heroic qualities, conveying the message that stubbornness is detrimental and that foolishness adversely affects others.
To illustrate how an individual’s obstinacy and folly result in catastrophic outcomes, filmmaker Subbu Mangadevvi, known for “Solo Brathuku So Better,” transformed this story into a singular character’s narrative. Although the character study is appreciable, the plot lacks a captivating quality.
The director mainly fails to conceive engaging scenarios. The film consists largely of consecutive, unvaried scenes, transitioning from one situation to another without a captivating narrative flow. The film is purportedly based on real-life incident. Although the film is grounded in actual events, the cinematic experience requires a degree of drama; without it, the result is a lackluster presentation.
Although the filmmaker has effectively illustrated how the protagonist’s thoughts and actions were influenced by his father’s abandonment of him and his mother, he has not applied the same rationale to the behavior of other characters. Many scenes show how amateurish writing is, especially in scene development.
The handling of the railway sequence in the first half and the final 20 minutes of the movie is where the director shows his grip. If not for the final message, this character study would have looked more like glorifying a fool. But the message makes a difference.
Allari Naresh’s convincing portrayal of Malli is among the film’s finest elements. He is highly credible in his part, and his efforts are apparent. His performance contributes to its functionality to a certain degree. Amrith Aiyer is well-suited for the role; however, there is little to commend regarding her acting. Rohini, in a minor role, and Rao Ramesh distinguish themselves with their authentic performances. Hari Teja is equally good. ‘Kantara’ Achyuth Kumar’s character lacks any value.
Vishal Chandrashekar’s music is okay. The cinematography of Richard M. Nathan is the standout feature. The production quality is good.
Bottom line: Allari Naresh’s earnest depiction of Malli and final message are the better part of “Bachhala Malli” in a film that lacks any engaging narration.
Rating: 2.5/5
Movie: Bachala Malli
Cast: Allari Naresh, Amritha Aiyer, Achyuth Kumar, Rao Ramesh, Rohini, Kota Jayaram, Ankith Koyya, and others
Music: Vishal Chandrashekar
DOP: Richard M Nathan
Editor: Chota K Prasad
Art Director: Brahma Kadali
Producers: Razesh Danda, Balaji Gutta
Written and Directed by: Subbu Mangadevvi
Release Date: December 20, 2024
