Movie Overview:
- Release Date: February 23, 2024 (Theatrical), now streaming on Aha (December 1, 2024)
- Cast: Priyadarshi, Gopal Shyam, Manikandan, Niranjana Anoop, Srindaa
- Director: Narayana Chenna
- Music: Vivek-Abhishek
- Production: BS Production House
Synopsis:
The story begins in Visakhapatnam, where a young man (Gopal Shyam) escapes with a huge sum of money stolen from a bank, despite being injured by a bullet. He coerces a cab driver (Manikandan) at gunpoint to help him flee. Initially tempted to steal the bag of money for himself, the cab driver ultimately abandons the idea.
The young man reveals that he stole the money to take care of his girlfriend, ensuring she lives without financial struggles. However, as they rest at a hotel, the money bag is stolen by a hotel receptionist, who later confesses that she needs the money to stand on her own feet after being abandoned by her lover.
Meanwhile, the cab driver confesses that he shot his own wife in the bank and that he needs the money for his ailing son. Parallelly, in a nearby village, a romantic subplot unfolds where a young man (Priyadarshi) discovers his lover’s family is financially struggling. To win her approval for marriage, he must gather ₹50 lakhs.
The plot intertwines the financial struggles of these four characters, culminating in the question of who ultimately claims the money.
Analysis:
The story revolves around the theme of money—how it dominates lives, aspirations, and struggles. While the premise of characters chasing money has been explored in numerous films before, this movie fails to offer a fresh perspective or gripping narrative.
The film employs a limited cast and restricted locations, which could have worked well with tighter storytelling. However, the screenplay lacks engaging twists, making the proceedings predictable and unremarkable.
Despite the emotional stakes of each character, their struggles fail to resonate with the audience. Additionally, key scenes involving the transfer of large sums of money come across as implausible and poorly executed.
The love, emotions, and suspense elements, which are crucial to such stories, fail to leave an impact.
Performances:
- Priyadarshi: Continues his trend of selecting unique roles but isn’t able to elevate the content.
- Manikandan & Others: Perform adequately but lack strong material to shine.
Technical Aspects:
- Cinematography (Jackson & Satheesh Kumar): Average, lacks visual depth.
- Music (Vivek-Abhishek): Unremarkable, doesn’t elevate the narrative.
- Editing (Anthony): Functional but doesn’t compensate for the screenplay’s weaknesses.
The film struggles to maintain consistent pacing or depth in its characters. The title, Thaappinchuku Thiruguvadu Dhanyudu Sumathi, remains puzzling and disconnected from the film’s actual narrative.
Verdict:
Despite an intriguing setup and talented cast, the film falls short in execution. Weak storytelling, lack of engaging moments, and shallow emotional connections make it a forgettable watch. The film had potential but needed stronger writing and direction to stand out.
Also Read: “Vikatakavi: A Thrilling Detective Story from the Past”