Monday Jul 14 2008, Hyderabad

'Sangamam' is a meaningful film

Directed by - Rasool Ellore

Produced by - Ramana Pemmaraju, Kripakar Tadikonda

Music by - M M Keeravani

Casts - Gadde Sindhura, Rohit Khurana, Murali Mohan, Suhasini, Brahmanandam, Sarah, Raghuram Reddy and others

Banner - Manoranjan Entertainments

Story: A well knit tale, the film begins in a village  which has Raghava Rao, a man of ethics and principles and who is the ‘be-all, do-all’ for the villagers.He has a beautiful and talented daughter Samskruthi (Sindhura) who is a dancer and singer.Both father and daughter share a very bonding relationship since Raghava Rao’s brother Jagadish (Murali Mohan) goes against his word and moves to America taking along his mother.This causes a kind of irrational hatred in Raghava Rao against anything linked to America or its people.However, as ill-fate would have it, Samskruthi meets with an accident and a surgery in the US becomes urgent and unavoidable.

Concerned about his daugther’s life, Raghava Rao reluctantly sends Samsrkuthi to Washington DC in US.Meanwhile, his close friend Venkateswar Rao, who is keen on getting the family together informs Jagadish who is also in the same place about Samskruthi’s arrival.She stays at the residence of Dr Geetha (Suhasini) who lives in the same community of Jagadish and his daughter Sneha (Sarah) befriends Samskruthi without revealing her true identity.Things get more interesting when Samskruthi meets Abhiram (Rohit), a scientist who is a good friend of Sneha and he falls in love with Samskruthi at the first sight.Samskruthi who grows under the shadow of Raghava Rao has her own share of prejudices against the US.

Slowly, some incidents there change her mind and Abhi plays a key role in bringing about this change.One day, he proposes to her but Samskruthi turns him down, because she does not belong there and knows her father’s allergy towards US.Meanwhile, the date is set for her surgery.What happens from this point form the rest of the story.Does the ‘Sangamam’ of Abhi and Samskruthi, Jagadish and Raghava Rao take place? Watch the movie to find out.

Performance: Sindhura has come up with a neat performance and it is without doubt that the industry has got another actress and that too a Telugu girl.She may not be the mass type but she is a sure fit for glamorous and class roles.Her expressions during the emotional scenes demonstrated her abilities.Rohit was good in his role and was enthusiastic and energetic on the screen but then his physique and face look very drained out.While lean and mean is the in thing, the face must look healthy enough which was missing on him.

Brahmanandam did his role professionally and gave his quota of comedy very well, Murali Mohan and Suhasini were the right choices for the NRI roles and though Suhasini’s role was brief, Murali Mohan sure came up with intensity during emotional scenes.Sarah is smoking hot and if she is looking at acting, then a bit of dance training plus expressions and she will rule the roost.After a long time, Anita is seen on screen.The others were good at their respective roles so nothing to comment on them.The director has come out with a simple yet sensible message to the audience and he has deftly handled the entire subject without any loose ends.

The life of the movie is some masterly camerawork, some amazing songs along with background score, crisp editing, picturesque locales and pleasant screenplay.The costume department also did a nice job and Sindhura looks fabulous in the Indian garments.  Music is also good for ears.Keeravani did a melodious signature on ears.Analysis: The movie has come across as a very relaxed venture and it is loosely on the lines of films like ‘Vennela’ ‘Dollar Dreams’ ‘Hyderabad Blues’ which have their own natural look.

Thanks to the presence of Murali Mohan, Suhasini and Brahmanandam, else one would not get a feeling that it was a movie as it looks like a real life incident happening.The essence of bringing about two cultures, an attempt to show the importance of agriculture, the vitality of elder’s thoughts and our cultured upbringing are also shown in a simple and convincing manner.The film may not come across as a major hit but then it sure will find its appeal among the class audience and those who look for some pleasant two hours plus treat.The good thing about the film it has no mindless violence, underrated comedy or extreme overreactions with sentimental overdose which has become a common feature in Telugu films these days.It may lack the commercial values which the mass audience relishes but it is a pure, heart rendering film and one must appreciate the debut attempt of the lead cast which has come out with some real good marks.