Namo Venkatesa (2010)

This could probably have gone down as one of the greatest comedies in TFI history, had they not bothered too much with the romantic plot in the second half. I'm not exaggerating- some of the comedy sequences were so hilarious that I didn't even mind the absence of a coherent plot line keeping it all together. But the romance angle between Venky and Trisha was so insipid, boring and unrealistic that it eventually started getting in the way of me enjoying this thoroughly. It was clearly just there to tick off a box and really didn't add anything at all to the overall effect of the movie; rather, it took away lots from it.

Venkatesh, as always, does not disappoint. He keeps you glued to the screen in a way only he can, and it's because of this that I survived without subtitles for about 21 minutes in the beginning. And also because my Telugu is improving (at least, I like to think so). I can never get enough of his loser roles, and this one is as chaotic and memorable as his others that I've seen. Trisha was okay- I mean, her role was pretty shoddily written but she did the best she could. The absolute star of the show, though, was Brahmanandam. I don't even have the words to describe the laughter his antics evoked in me, and how effortlessly he waltzed through the film. Honestly, him and Venky are the two biggest reasons I'd cite for watching this movie. 

Spoiler ahead:

The biggest let-down has to be the ending. It seemed so forced and so unnatural, and you just know it was there because of "how can the hero not get the girl??" mentality. FFS, please start normalising your crush not liking you back. It would have sent such a good message to boys to leave uninterested girls alone and MOVE ON. Also, why exactly would Trisha's character leave her lover at the very last moment, after months of struggling? She clearly did love him, and it's so stupid to see her ending up with Venky in the end. I am angry all over again now, damnit.

Spoiler over.

In conclusion, filmmakers need to grow the fuck up. 

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