Phalana Abbayi Phalana Ammayi: A Disappointing Rom-Com Despite Promising Leads
Starring: Naga Shaurya, Malavika Nair, Srinivas Avasarala
Director: Srinivas Avasarala
What’s it about: Sanjay (Naga Shaurya) and Anupama (Malavika Nair) are engineering college classmates who develop a close bond. Their friendship blossoms into love in the UK, but a sudden revelation throws their relationship into disarray. Will they be able to overcome this obstacle and reunite?
The Good:
- Lead Performances: Naga Shaurya and Malavika Nair share decent on-screen chemistry, particularly in the film’s lighter moments. Shaurya delivers a capable performance, while Nair shines in emotional scenes.
- Music: The background score by Kalyani Malik complements the film’s emotional core effectively.
The Bad:
- Flawed Storytelling: Director Srinivas Avasarala, known for his witty rom-coms, disappoints with a convoluted narrative. The simple plot is stretched thin by a confusing structure and multiple timelines presented in seven chapters.
- Dry & Laggy: The majority of conversations lack spark and drag the film down, especially in the second half.
- Emotional Disconnect: The emotional scenes feel forced, and the central conflict between the leads comes across as silly. The climax is rushed and unsatisfying.
- Technical Shortcomings: The film’s experimentation with sync sound backfires, resulting in poor audio quality and inaudible dialogues. Visual elements like cinematography and color grading appear average, while editing feels sluggish.
The Verdict:
Phalana Abbayi Phalana Ammayi fails to live up to the expectations set by director Srinivas Avasarala’s previous works. Despite the lead actors’ efforts and a few enjoyable moments, the film suffers from a weak script, poor pacing, and underwhelming technical aspects. Only those who enjoy slow-paced love stories might find something to connect with. Otherwise, this is a forgettable experience.