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Friday, April 26, 2024
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TELUGU OKA LAILA KOSAM
EDITOR'S PICK
'Oka
Laila Kosam', a messy romance (IANS Movie Review)
Rating:
**1/2
In the opening scene, we're introduced to Karthik (Naga Chaitanya), who, minutes
before his MBA graduation ceremony, tears all the offer letters he has received
from the best multinational companies. He goes on to deliver a speech about
finding the true meaning of freedom, which according to him doesn't lie in fat
paychecks and behind the desks of a large company.
He asks his father for a year-long break to travel the world to discover
himself. Six months later, Karthik's father asks him if he has attained any
clarity about his career. Karthik says he wants to write a book. A surprised
father, not knowing how to react, says he has another six months to get things
straight.
The initial few minutes of 'Oka Laila Kosam' are like a whiff of fresh air. You
feel it right from the first scene where the hero is introduced as an MBA
graduate contrary to Telugu cinema's obsession with engineering. As a young
viewer, you immediately connect with Karthik when he convinces his father to
give him time to figure out what he wants to do with his career, because most of
us would be cursing ourselves for ending up in jobs we hate to the core.
But all that changes when the heroine is introduced and Karthik falls for her
instantly. The film pretty much follows the routine love template from then on,
failing to deliver an enriching experience it had initially promised. There's
constant stalking, making her uncomfortable.
Too much is messed up in the film and never do you feel efforts were taken to
make it right. For instance, in the beginning, Karthik starts writing a book and
it's fittingly titled 'Oka Laila Kosam', but this episode is completely ignored
by Vijay Kumar for most part of the film. Out of the blue, we see Karthik
discussing about his book with a publisher. Never do we understand if Karthik
really wants to be a writer or not, till the end.
There's another scene where Karthik's father decides to get him married because
he feels it will make him responsible. We are forced to believe that a girl is
willing to marry someone who has no clue about his own future, because she
trusts in her father's decision, and thinks that he will choose the best for
her. If getting married was so simple, most of us wouldn't have to slog so much
to build a career.
The entertainment in 'Oka Laila Kosam' comes in installments. While scenes
featuring Ali evoke laughter, that can't be considered entertainment because
most of it is force-fit for commercial reasons. Just like how Vijay influenced
us to cheer with a series of comedy of errors for his first film 'Gunde Jaari
Gallanthayyindea; he plays the same card, expecting a similar response in 'Oka
Laila Kosam'. But it backfires and proves why the need of the hour is
innovation.
At a running time of 150 minutes, you really wish you had the power to stop the
film whenever you want. Alas, that option is out of the question. Naga Chaitanya
sparkles as a romantic hero, but he struggles in the emotional scenes. Pooja
Hegde is talented and plays her part well but like many young heroines, she too
faces the consequences of a poorly etched character.
'Oka Laila Kosam', which is partly refreshing, is messed up mostly as it suffers
from cliched storytelling.
Actress Pooja Hegde, who is making her debut in Telugu filmdom with upcoming romantic-comedy "Oka Laila Kosam", says she finds her co-star Akkineni Naga Chaitanya most suitable for romantic films.Read More
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