Prabhuthva Junior Kalashala Review: Emotionally Engaging Tale of Youth
Movie Title: Prabhuthva Junior Kalashala
Release Date: August 26, 2024
Cast: Pranav Singampali, Shagna, Ram Patas, Teja Goud, Mallika
Director: Srinath Pulakuram
Producer: Bhuvan Reddy
Music: Karthik-Kamran
Banner: Black Ant Pictures
The movie Prabhuthva Junior Kalashala hit theaters on June 21, 2024.
Directed by Srinath Pulakuram and featuring a mostly new cast, this film didn’t garner much publicity, so its theatrical release went largely unnoticed. However, the movie is now available on the streaming platform ‘Aha.’ Let’s see how the film fares.
Plot Overview:
The story is set in a village near Punganur in the Rayalaseema region. Vasu (played by Pranav Singampalli) lives with his parents and two buffaloes in a simple household.
His father is an irresponsible alcoholic, while his mother, Shivamma (played by Mallika), supports the family by selling milk and ensures Vasu continues his studies.
Vasu attends the local government junior college in Punganur.
Vasu has two close friends, Lakshmi and Rakesh. The three are inseparable. At the same college, a girl named Kumari (played by Shagna) catches Vasu’s eye.
He is intelligent and a top student, but falls in love with Kumari at first sight. Their acquaintance soon blossoms into love, and they frequently meet and talk.
As Vasu becomes more engrossed in this relationship, he starts neglecting his family responsibilities.
Even when others warn Vasu about Kumari’s interactions with other boys, he dismisses their concerns. However, he eventually sees it for himself.
When Vasu confronts Kumari, she accuses him of mistrust, leading to arguments. Obsessed with making Kumari his own, Vasu focuses solely on her, neglecting his ailing mother, who keeps her health issues hidden to avoid worrying him.
Shivamma’s condition worsens, and doctors recommend surgery, which requires 25,000 rupees. She borrows the money and keeps it at home.
However, Vasu, determined to buy a second-hand bike to impress Kumari and travel to college with her, steals the money. What follows is a series of events that turn Vasu’s life upside down, ultimately questioning the fate of their love.
Review:
The film explores themes familiar to rural life: students from surrounding villages attending college in town, their friendships, budding romances, misunderstandings, reconciliations, and heartbreaks.
While such stories have been told many times before, only a few have managed to connect with audiences by staying close to reality. This movie is one of them.
The setting is a government junior college, with students from nearby villages. The film starts with the lively interactions and mischief typical of teenage students.
Director Srinath Pulakuram opted to cast mostly newcomers, bringing a natural authenticity to the story. Despite the familiar plot, the portrayal of characters makes it relatable. The new actors deliver commendable performances.
Watching the movie feels less like a traditional cinematic experience and more like looking through a window into someone’s life.
The director’s ability to achieve this with a modest budget is impressive.
The song sung by Vijay Yesudas in Karthik’s composition stands out, while Kamran’s background score complements the story well. Nikhil Surendran’s cinematography effectively captures the rural landscape, and Kodati Pawan Kalyan’s editing is competent.
In conclusion, Prabhuthva Junior Kalashala is a low-budget, rural love story that succeeds in staying true to its chosen theme.
It avoids cinematic clichés, instead offering a realistic portrayal that resonates emotionally with the youth. The movie also carries a subtle message against letting infatuation derail one’s future.
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