 |
|
"Paradha," starring Anupama Parameswaran and directed by Praveen Kandregula, explores the themes of tradition, societal restrictions on women, and the pursuit of freedom within a fictional village setting. The film, set in Padathi, revolves around Subba Lakshmi (Subbu), portrayed by Anupama, a young woman bound by the village's age-old custom requiring women to cover their faces and only be seen by family members. This tradition is deeply rooted in the belief that breaking it will invoke the wrath of Jwalamma, the village goddess, stemming from a past incident. The narrative follows Subbu as she faces a challenge that forces her to confront the goddess and the ingrained fears of the village. The review highlights Anupama's strong performance in portraying Subbu's internal conflict between adhering to tradition and seeking personal freedom. It also acknowledges Darshana Rajendran's impactful debut in Telugu cinema, praising her character's confident and energetic presence, providing comedic relief and adding an interesting dynamic to Subbu's journey. Sangitha Krish, though not a central character, is recognized for her believable performance and impactful presence in the narrative. The 'Plus Points' mentioned in the review include Dharmasthala visuals and Gopi Sundar's music, which complements the emotional depth of the film. However, the review also points out the film's weaknesses, primarily the slow and repetitive second half. Subbu's struggle against societal norms is not explored sufficiently, resulting in a somewhat flat and emotionally unfulfilling experience for the audience. The review also criticizes the underutilization of actors like Rajendra Prasad and Gautham Vasudev Menon, and lack of impact from the cameo role of Rag Mayur. From a technical perspective, Praveen Kandregula's direction is deemed honest but lacking in script and pacing. The cinematography and editing are described as neat and clear, but the editing could have been sharper, particularly in the second half, and production values were only deemed okay. The 123telugu.com review gives the movie 2.75/5 rating.
The strength of "Paradha" lies in its exploration of relevant social themes and the performances of its lead actresses. Anupama Parameswaran effectively portrays the internal conflict of Subbu, a woman grappling with the constraints of tradition and her yearning for personal freedom. Her portrayal is described as realistic and one of her best performances to date. Darshana Rajendran, in her Telugu debut, shines as a confident and direct character who injects energy and comic relief into the narrative. Her scenes with Anupama are considered a highlight of the film. Sangitha Krish, despite playing a smaller role, leaves a lasting impression with her natural and believable performance. The film's premise, set in a village governed by strict customs and the fear of a vengeful goddess, initially piques the viewer's interest. The Dharmasthala visuals and Gopi Sundar's music contribute positively to the film's atmosphere and emotional impact. The reviewer notes that Anupama handles it really well and makes the character feel real showing a woman torn between old customs and her own freedom. It is one of her better performances. The first half sets up the film's central conflict effectively, drawing the audience into Subbu's world and the challenges she faces. The introduction of Darshana Rajendran's character adds another layer of complexity to the narrative, creating an interesting dynamic between the two women. Sangita Krish is not a main character, but she stands out. Her reactions and natural performance make her role believable and impactful, demonstrating that even smaller roles can leave an impression on the audience. The reviewer notes that the trio together create fun and chaotic moments at times. The Dharmasthala visuals are praised for their aesthetic appeal, and Ghibran’s music is recognized for fitting the mood and supporting the emotional moments.
However, "Paradha" is ultimately hindered by its weak execution and underdeveloped characters. The second half of the film suffers from a slow pace and repetitive storytelling, causing the narrative to lose momentum. The film's exploration of Subbu's struggle to break free from village traditions is deemed insufficient, resulting in a lack of emotional depth and impact. The underutilization of supporting characters, such as Rajendra Prasad and Gautham Vasudev Menon, further detracts from the film's overall quality. The climax fails to deliver a satisfying resolution, leaving the audience with a sense of unfulfilled potential. The storyline, while promising in its initial setup, gradually loses steam as it progresses. The reviewer notes that the story starts well and sets up the conflict clearly, but it loses energy as it goes on. Subbu’s struggle to break free from village traditions is not explored enough, which makes some parts feel flat. The emotional scenes lack the necessary depth to resonate with the audience, leaving viewers feeling disconnected from Subbu's journey. The review suggests that with better focus, the audience could have felt Subbu’s journey more deeply. Darshana Rajendran’s character could have been given more screen time to further develop her role in the story. The underutilization of Rajendra Prasad and Gautam Vasudev Menon suggests missed opportunities to enrich the narrative with their talents. The review emphasizes that the second half does not keep the momentum, and by the climax, the audience may have lost interest. From a technical perspective, the review suggests that more attention to the script and pacing would have significantly improved the film's quality. While some songs are considered good, others do not add much to the overall viewing experience. Gopi Sundar’s music is praised for helping many scenes, while Mridul Sujit Sen’s cinematography is described as clear and neat. However, the editing could have been sharper, particularly in the second half, and the production values are deemed only okay. Overall, the reviewer states that Praveen Kandregula is honest in suggesting viewers read reviews first.
In conclusion, "Paradha" presents a relevant social commentary on the restrictions placed on women and the fight for freedom, but falls short of its potential due to its weak execution, slow pacing, and underdeveloped characters. Anupama Parameswaran and Darshana Rajendran deliver commendable performances, but their efforts are not enough to overcome the film's shortcomings. The film may appeal to viewers interested in women-focused stories, but expectations should be kept modest. While it touches on important social issues, its failure to fully develop its characters and narrative leaves a lingering sense of missed opportunity. The film struggles to maintain a consistent pace, with the second half feeling particularly sluggish and repetitive. The underdeveloped characters and weak execution prevent the film from achieving its full potential. Ultimately, "Paradha" is a film with good intentions and decent performances, but its shortcomings prevent it from being a truly impactful and memorable cinematic experience. The review concludes that Paradha is a social drama about taboos, restrictions on women, and the fight for freedom that is okay in parts. The first half is promising and Anupama Parameswaran and Darshana Rajendran give decent performances. However, the review stresses that weak execution, a slow second half, underdeveloped characters, and lack of emotional impact hold the film back. It may appeal to viewers interested in women-focused stories, but expectations should be modest. The review concludes with 123telugu.com giving a rating of 2.75/5 to the movie Paradha, and the review being done by 123telugu Team.
Source: Anupama’s Paradha Telugu Movie Review, Paradha Movie Ratings