‘Ambajipeta Marriage Band’ movie review: Dushyanth Katikaneni makes an assured directorial debut with an absorbing drama, anchored by Suhas and Sharanya Pradeep’s terrific performances

First-time director Dushyanth Katikaneni’s Telugu movie Ambajipeta Marriage Band isn’t a simple watch. The emotional rollercoaster drama can go away its viewers with a lingering sense of dread, in a state of turmoil, fascinated about the characters and their plight nicely after the movie is over. Suhas and Sharanya Pradeep put in terrific performances as twin siblings within the story of the battle for dignity in Andhra Pradesh’s Ambajipeta.

The setting is a village wherein caste discrimination runs deep. ‘Based mostly on true occasions’, declares the title card and although we will guess the broad strokes of the storyline, the characterisations and the questions the narrative brings up make an impression.

The 132-minute movie is tautly written and narrated and wastes no time drawing consideration to the undercurrents of caste oppression. In the middle of the story we be taught that a number of elders within the village have taken loans from Venkat Babu (Nithin Prasanna) who, not surprisingly, has usurped lands when they’re unable to pay up.

The generations of exploitation is the backdrop wherein the present-day children have to seek out their voices. A younger girl within the village may need earned her publish as a authorities college trainer on advantage, however the oppressor will make it sound like she acquired the job due to him. Padma (Sharanya Pradeep) is one such girl who works as a trainer and doesn’t hesitate to deal with Venkat by his identify somewhat than connect a ‘sir’ or ‘babu’. As anticipated, this doesn’t augur nicely with Venkat and his coterie. Her character is the movie’s spine.

Padma’s twin brother, Malli or Mallikarjun (Suhas), is a part of the titular marriage band and the twins’ father runs a salon. The setting is 2007, when the film songbooks had been nonetheless being outdated. Setting the story within the years simply earlier than the smartphone growth offers the makers scope to have a look at what may have occurred within the village earlier than social media and YouTube movies had been attainable. In an interview with The Hindu, Suhas said that the movie is partly impressed by actual occasions that Dushyanth had noticed in his village.

A love story unfolds on anticipated strains between Malli and Lakshmi (Shivani Nagaram is spectacular), Venkat’s sister. Even earlier than Venkat learns of this and issues blow up, Dushyanth builds the stress by displaying how rumours are sometimes focused at ladies who hail from humble households and Padma is on the receiving finish.

Whereas Malli is characterised as a contented go fortunate one who charms his technique to Lakshmi’s coronary heart, Padma is relatively restrained and is the extra accountable sibling. She doesn’t consider in a watch for a watch whereas he can get right into a scuffle. In an early scene, he admits to being frightened of nocturnal animals when the household sleeps outside. She doesn’t cower in concern. As this scene performed out, I puzzled if Padma would give in to concern afterward? Dushyanth springs a shock in how he exhibits the siblings battle again to have their dignity after being pushed to the brink, significantly Padma.

Suhas is the face of Ambajipeta Marriage Band and will get ample scope to show his performing prowess. He portrays the native swagger with ease and is on level in showcasing the vulnerability and rage required for the later parts. He doesn’t miss a beat and turns in a stable efficiency. What’s heartening is the equal scope that Sharanya will get in a well-written character. She even will get a mass second and the viewers befittingly clap and cheer for her. Within the a number of movies the place she has been forged in supporting roles, Sharanya has usually come throughout as a reliable actor. Ambajipeta… faucets additional into her potential and she or he is nothing in need of unbelievable.

Dushyanth additionally makes the supporting characters rely, particularly Jagadeesh Pratap Bandari as Sanjeevi. It is a character that we root for because the movie progresses. The identical goes for Goparaju Ramana because the bandmaster and the actors who play the twins’ dad and mom. At one level, an aged character is requested if being indebted to a mortgage shark means shedding all self respect, and the query hits onerous and adjustments the plan of action. Ambajipeta… raises many such questions, together with that of dignity of labour for these within the music band and the salon, when it stays within the sensible zone of portraying relationships within the backdrop of social discrimination. It takes large cinematic liberties, particularly in the direction of the top, and never all of this hits the bull’s eye. Nevertheless, the narrative is usually impactful.

The movie additionally exhibits how violence towards ladies is used as a instrument of oppression and a few parts are disturbing. Dushyanth contrasts the dignity with which Malli treats Lakshmi versus how his sister is handled by the oppressors.

Had the characterisations of Venkat Babu and his brother been extra multidimensional, the drama would have been higher. Nonetheless, there may be loads going for Ambajipeta… Shekar Chandra’s music works its magic by way of the background rating that matches into the zone of band music and goes from enjoying in style movie numbers to some hummable unique numbers. The band music additionally turns into a instrument for insurrection.

Ambajipeta Marriage Band is an absorbing drama anchored by winsome performances, and Dushyanth Katikaneni makes an assured debut.