Arundathi Review

Cast: Anushka, Deepak. Sonu Sood, Shiyaji Shinde, Satyanarayana, Annapurna, Manorama, Vadivukkarasi and Others.
Cinematography: Senthil Kumar.
Dialogues: Chintapally Ramana.
Editing: Marthand K. Venkatesh.
Music: Koti.
Story & Screenplay: Mallemala Unit.
Producer: M. Shyam Prasad Reddy.
Visual Effects & Creative Director: Rahul Nambiar.
Director: Kodi Rama Krishna.
Banner: Mallemala Entertainments.
Release Date: 16th January, 2009.

Pasupati (Sonu Sood) is a tormented soul, stabbed, locked up in a room built over him with absolutely no space for air to move in. He is the nephew to the King of Gadwal and is married to the king's eldest daughter. A man of vices he indulges in a gruesome rape and murder of a blind dancer who comes to teach his young sister-in-law Anushka. Anushka watches the crime and orders his killing when her sister commits suicide unable to live with him. Pasupati is buried alive in the palace and his soul craves for freedom.

Years later Arundati (Anushka) arrives in Gadwal for her wedding and an old lady in the house narrates the entire story of Jaijamma (Anushka) whose portrait now is hung on the wall. Arundati is the only female born after many generations and it is now believed that she is born to kill the soul which has escaped from the grave.

Pasupati's soul now fully armed with magical powers makes a re-entry strangely again at the time of her wedding and it's Arundati's turn to seek help from a Fakir played Sayaji Shinde. The director makes the film memorable by interplaying elements back and forth and Anushka is stunning, does justice to both roles as the courageous Jejamma and as the helpless Arundati.

The drama is etched perfectly, building the suspense, underlying the tension and grabs you right from the start. The intensity is such that you'd feel suffocated like the soul in captivity and even feel connected to a character as gullible as Arundati who arrives for her wedding, only to know that the onus is on her to kill Pasupati's atma. Her helplessness, her denial and all other expressions are a delight to watch.

Sayaji Shinde is spell binding, he is spectacular and for once you don't seem, it is the character that involves you. Sonu Sood shows his prowess as an actor. A credible piece of work from everyone. The script is so well written, so ingeniously handled and the costumes are in tune. The background score, the drum dance, the photography, the graphics or the dialogues …all are taut and gripping. It doesn't drag, and by the time the end credits roll…you leave the theatre gratified having read and seen a contemporary socio-fantasy. Thumbs up for MS Reddy.

Rating: **** (***** Very Good, **** Good, *** Fair, ** Average, * Bad)