Oosaravelli

Sometimes, it is not the presence, but the absence of some elements, that can make or break a movie. Oosaravelli is conspicuously absent of NTR’s usual high-strung, high falutin dialogues. It has no ‘Maa Vamsam or Maa Tatayaa’ – an allusion to his Nandamuri clan and grandfather late actor, NT Rama Rao; Next, he gracefully sidesteps to let the heroine take the centre stage. That is precisely what makes Oosaravelli actually watchable.

Tony (NTR), a ‘settlement dhanda’ guy, is as unpredictable as the sensex. No one can put a handle on this smart anleck’s next move. One fine day, he lands in Kashmir and finds that damsel-in-distress Niharika (Tamannaah) needs to be saved from terrorists. He saves her and also gets curious enough to follow her back to Hyderabad. However, he realises that she is about to get married. That doesn’t stop him from wooing her. Soon enough, he has a face-off with her fiance and all hell breaks loose. Now, his life’s mission is made and he has one more task besides getting Niharika to say yes too him. He has to seek vengeance. The rest of the story is about Tony pursuing his love and vendetta simultaneously…

Director Surender Reddy carefully guards his real story until the interval and then thrusts it in one go. It is almost like a lot of loose ends suddenly coming together – Does Niharika really want to marry the guy she is engaged to? Why does she not relent to Tony’s overtures? Tony ko inta gussa kyon aata hai?

If you’ve liked Kick (starring Ravi Teja), you will like Oosaravelli as it also takes NTR on the comic route. Incidentally, NTR cracks jokes with a straight face (a la Mahesh Babu in Pokiri a few years ago). His comic timing really works. However, in the second half, when Tony’s real mission is revealed it is almost like ketchup bottles are flying all around. Blood flows like nobody’s business and violence reaches a crescendo. It is almost like an attempt to make up for the first half. While we all love dishum-dishum, this kind of gullet-showing violence is despicable. Ooasaravelli means chameleon and in this case, he changes lives, not colours. Perhaps that is the justification for the title.

This is Tamannaah’s arguably best performance till date. She gets to emote, smile, pout, shake a leg, shed a tear and does it efficiently. While 100% Love showed her as the lover girl, Oosaravelli, for once, brings out the actress in her. Payal Ghosh (who debuted with Prayanamthree years ago) adds some spice to the happenings. Prakash Raj has been there and done that a zillion times.

Devi Sri Prasad’s music seems to have a lot of techno beats drowning the lyric at times. In fact, I would not say it is DSP’s best. His usual signature tune (like Ringa Ringa which is Dhinka Chikain Hindi or the Diyallo beat in 100% Love are missing). Rasool Ellore’s camera work shows the superlative sides of all colours – greens, blues and yellows light up the screen. The flashback with Prakash Raj as the core is also slickly shot.

If you can pardon the violence and won’t mind watching NTR minus the chip on his shoulder, Oosaravelli is a decent enough watch.

Telugu, Action, Drama, Color