Telugu film C/O Kancharapalem, backed by Praveena Paruchuri, is one of my all-time favourite films. Directed by Venkatesh Maha and presented by Rana Daggubati, the film was fresh, innovative, profound, and exhilarating. All at once. With ‘Kothapallilo Okapudu’, Praveena Paruchuri makes her debut as a filmmaker, with Rana backing her once again. The trailer hinted at a quirky satire and a social commentary wrapped in humour.

Ramakrishna (Manoj Chandra) works under loan shark Appanna (Ravindra Vijay), who sexualises women at the drop of a hat. Ramakrishna is smitten by his school love Savitri (Monika), who is the granddaughter of Reddy (Benerjee). Benerjee and Appanna are at odds with each other, driven by ego, caste, and privilege. Yet, both are vying to become the dominant force in the village.

To achieve his dreams, Ramakrishna seeks help from Adhi Lakshmi (Usha Bonela), Savitri’s househelp. But, when that plan fails, he cooks up a lie, which grows like a banyan tree, unshakable and impossible to uproot. His constant attempts end up in vain. Irked and consumed by anger, he makes a mistake that inadvertently impacts the entire village.

‘Kothapallilo Okapudu’ is set in a village full of zany characters. Directed by Praveena Paruchuri, the film brings to life the rural setting with these characters, who are perfect to the T. The film treads a rocky path and takes us on a bumpy ride. But, it truly works when it touches the emotional beats and makes you think.

After a shaky beginning, the film settles down and draws you into its story. You get a slice of Appanna and Reddy, both consumed by ego. If you think they are flawed, take Ramakrishna’s character – his remarks about Adhi Lakshmi’s appearance are horrific. While he represents a section of society, Adhi, despite setting the screens on fire with her performance, doesn’t get a single moment where she truly stands tall.

Praveena Paruchuri’s screenplay includes mutliple sub-plots. Though she ties up the loose ends, the film still leaves a bitter aftertaste, as many characters face an abrupt ending. For example, a Muslim shop owner visits a temple and spots one of the best dialogues about one’s belief in God. While this is an excellent set-up, his character vanishes right after this.

There’s also an underlying commentary on caste, colourism, politics, patriarchy and misogyny. ‘Kothapallilo Okappudu’ has scope to develop many complex ideas about life. But, too many sub-plots meant too much to consume without leaving any moment to breathe.

As a debutant, Manoj Chandra lived as Ramakrishnan, bringing his charm and vulnerability to life. Ravindra Vijay’s performance makes us hate Appanna, and that’s the mark of a job well done. While Monika as Savitri and Benerjee performed to the best of their abilities, it was Usha Bonela who stole the show with her performance. She played Adhi Lakshmi with nuance.

Petros Antoniadis’s cinematography transports us to the village, while Mani Sharma’s songs and background score by Varun Unni contribute to the film’s mood.

‘Kothapallilo Okappudu’ is a promising story that had ample scope to entertain. But, the messaging, here and there, makes you think about one of the most important topics – faith and belief in God.

– Ends

2.5 out of 5 stars for ‘Kothpallilo Okappudu’.