A slipshod entertainer with some bright spots
Films which are due for release in theatres are looking at OTT platforms to reach the audience due to shut down of theatres across the world. Orey Bujjiga is one such film that is on the verge of release on the auspicious day of Telugu New Year in March but got blocked and able to find its audience through the Aha video platform after a horrendous waiting period of more than six months.
Storyline
Srinivas alias Bujji (Raj Tarun) and Krishnaveni alias Swati (Malavika Nair) disappear from their homes in Nidadavole, on one fine day escaping from the proposed marriages. Rumor mills gave these disappearances a new color influencing both the families to believe that they both have eloped together creating more bitterness and hostility between two families.
Both Srinivas and Krishnaveni get settled in Hyderabad without knowing each other and carry on their fight with each other through social media (following the trend) due to animosity between two families.
Srinivas’s break up with Srujana (Hebah Patel) is a blessing in disguise for Swati who falls in love with him unaware of the fact that he is her main tormentor Bujji. After a series of hilarious encounters and some crunching moments, the truth gets unfolded bringing back the happiness in the end.
Performances
Undoubtedly Malavika Iyer is the trump card for Orey Bujjiga. Her magical screen presence certainly helped the film to garner some respect due to the courtesy of her impeccable performance.
Raj Tarun is another highly talented actor whose spontaneity is something that is always a delight to watch. He has delivered another brilliant performance and especially during comic sequences his timing remains perfect.
Hebah Patel shines despite lesser screen space. She gets noticed with her cute looks and has done complete justice to her character.
In other significant roles, Madhunandan as Sai scores full marks for giving out yet another noteworthy performance especially the scenes in the hospital are rib-tickling.
Vani Viswanath, the sizzling heroine of yesteryears made a comeback with a not so powerful character Chamundeswari which fizzles out due to poor characterization. She should have been utilized in a proper way keeping her image in mind which was not done due to reasons best known to the writer-director.
Moreover, absence of scenes between her and the versatile actor like Naresh (who happens to be her husband) is quite intriguing, and adding some interesting scenes between them could have made the narrative a little more exciting.
Posani Krishna Murali as Koteswara Rao once again displayed his stamp of authority with his hallmark dialogues and expressions.
Saptagiri, Satyam Rajesh, and Satya are successful in providing some comic relief to Orey Bujjiga and saved it from turning into a total debacle.
Direction and Technical Aspects
The spark of director Vijay Kumar Konda visible in Gunde Jaari Gallanthayyinde is missing in Orey Bujjiga. Vijay who started the film in a promising manner managed to sustain the interest with some interesting blocks till halfway but later he lost the track as a result, the film gets drifted into a predictable and dull mode.
The major drawback is the length of 149 minutes which is quite unbearable for this kind of film because of its content. Not less than 40 minutes should have been easily chopped off to give a more compact look to Orey Bujjiga.
The photography of Andrew is eye-pleasing while the music of Anup Rubens tries to breathe life into the film but fails to succeed due to insipid story and awful screenplay which made the songs look out of place. Sid Sriram’s Ee Maya Peremito with lyrics by Kittu Vissapragada and the other one, Kurisena by Armaan Malik and Meghana with lyrics by Krishna Kanth somehow managed to pull it off despite all the odds.
Some of the dialogues by Nandyala Ravi are at their cracking best and the impact of these would have been definitely on a higher side in a theatrical atmosphere.
Verdict & Rating
Some spoilers in the form of sloppy screenplay and unbearable length has made the film a slipshod entertainer.
The presence of Malavika Nair is the plus point and the chemistry between Raj Tarun and Malavika is a treat to watch which managed to give a fillip to the otherwise predictable film.
Overall it’s not an out and out bad experience which happened in the case of many earlier films released on OTT. Orey Bujjiga can be given a try till halfway to experience some hearty laughs and can be continued further if it’s possible to sit through the end.
