Sidhu from Seekakulam

Cast: Naresh, Manjari, Shraddha Das, Dharmavarapu, Chandra Mohan, Kondavalasa, Venu Madhav and Others.
Cinematography: Dasaradhi Shivendra.
Editing: Kotagiri Venkateswararao.
Music: KM Radha Krishnann.
Story, Screenplay & Direction : Eswar
Producer: Malla Vijay Prasad.
Banner: Wellfare Creations.

Sidhu from Srikakulam has to be one of the Silliest Flicks of the season. It stars Allari Naresh and others, and is produced by Welfare Group of companies. This is what happens when you produce movies without any idea about filmmaking or was it that they wanted to shell out a sure-flop for “tax reasons”? Whatever the reasons, lot of people escaped during the break. Probably in therapy now.

Manjari and NareshPlot Sidhu woes Shailu with his ‘reverse' techniques. Then he finds out she is the daughter of a Rayalaseema factionist. The local SI gets her father and his rival together and somehow convinces them to get their children married to end the rivalry. Sidhu's friends are ready to help them elope, but Sidhu has other plans. He wants to break up because it's all too dangerous, and Shailu tries to woo him for a good part of the movie. Whether he changes his mind about her and how they finally get together is the rest of the plot.

Story, Screenplay and Direction The screenplay has a non-linear narrative, and some of the ideas incorporated in the screenplay could have actually made it tolerable. But with childish dialogue, shoddy direction and hamming all the way, that doesn't seem like an option. We might agree or disagree with the story as such, or conclude that the girl is a bimbette for falling for him and then trying to win him later; but that's not the point. The point of view of perspective of the director counts for less than the vision of the direction. Here, the vision is obviously rusted.

The comedy is forced and has absolutely no spontainity. The lone star of the show is Ahuthi Prasad, who after a really good character in Chandamama, has come back with another character that suits him and he performs with élan. He plays the role of Shailu's unbelievably lazy uncle, and his character, in any other movie, would have made a difference. In this, it is the thin silver lining of a very dark cloud.

Naresh and Shraddha DasPerformances Shailu's sister has a svelte figure, and sizzles in an unnecessary number. Some of those scenes with her and Sidhu border on vulgarity, more so because of the silliness rather than the sexuality in it. The content of her exposing is not new today and doesn't shock, but the context-an NRI who has come for her cousin's wedding in good ol' AP-is totally out of place.

Last WordThe pace is really slow, the movie has little to offer and music or performances are nothing to write home about. A waste of time, Sidhu from Srikakulam has none of the comedy or vigor expected out of the catchy title and the presence of Naresh. The real damper? It has a 5 minute introduction to the makers, the producers, the company profile, patting of backs and anticipation of success before even the titles begin. Yawn!