Pitta Kathalu (2021)

How do I even begin describing what an intellectually stimulating experience this was? Should I use my generation's preferred mode of communication, memes? Because I don't see how else I can fully convey how wild a movie this was. I mean it had to be, coming from 4 of TFI's most celebrated new-wave directors. Anyway, let us begin.

1. Ramula, directed by Tharun Bhascker (Trigger warning for s*icide)

Credits where they're due- the music SLAPS. Vivek Sagar did an excellent job, and my friend I were thoroughly engaged in what was happening all thanks to him. Also, this short was very promising... till it wasn't. I am not kidding, we were both anticipating it to turn out into something completely different, especially going by its first half which was funny, real, and thought-provoking, but suddenly it was just one huge WTF. I don't want to comment on how exactly the movie could have ended better, but I do have this to say- you are not sending the message you think you were sending!!!! And don't tell me he wasn't trying to send a message, the preachy tone was way too obvious to be ignored. But even if I give the benefit of doubt to Bhascker saar, I will still say- WTF was that??????? If this is how you're gonna waste your talent, might as well make it a full-length feature and add some proper songs by Vivek Sagar, so that we can at least have that as a redeeming factor. Look out for your audience saar, and we'll look out for you. JK, you need to introspect on why you felt that this movie ever had to be made (a sentiment that this short shares with the overall anthology).

2. Meera, directed by B.V. Nandini Reddy (Trigger warning for r*pe)

First of all, I saw that twist coming from miles away. Yes, I know I sound like a child when I say it, but COME ON. This would have worked so well as a r*pe revenge drama, and even prodded some much needed conversations about marital r*pe, but it ends up disintegrating into a cheap knock-off of its own vision. The dialogues were cringey, the entire storyline seemed shoddily written, and it somehow missed the point that it should have been making. Not to be all "everything women do should be perfect and if it's not, it must be cancelled" but it's sadder still when a woman makes a movie on marital r*pe and fails spectacularly in addressing it in a real way, not just as a plot device. Jagapathi Babu tries his hardest- he is easily the best actor here (and probably in the entire anthology) by a long shot, and he makes you feel all the rage that must be directed at a character like his. But one man and his performance simply aren't enough to redeem this, especially when his character has zero subtlety. Maybe it's a problem with the chosen medium, maybe this could have worked better as a full-length feature, but all I see are missed opportunities and wasted potential. Nandini garu, kindly do better next time.

PS- we got it when she said she was being r*ped. There was no need to SHOW it.

3. xLife, directed by Nag Ashwin 

This was probably the most disappointing thing I have ever seen in my life. Nag Ashwin has previously made Mahanati (2018), one of my favourite films ever, and I do not have the words to express how much it hurts to see him make something like this after that masterpiece. The story is predictable, clumsy, cringe, and a bad rip-off of every "tEcHnOLoGy iS bAd" narrative ever. To put it simply, what we have here is a Telugu Mark Zuckerberg with an Oedipus Complex, played by a guy who can't act to save his life. Anish Kuruvilla was somehow the best actor in this short, and that should tell you everything there is to know. I am just stunned by how bad it was, that I really have nothing more to say, except that "Homophobia, that's his data point" is something I hope to make a catchphrase one day. #SilverLinings

PS- no one says "fuck" and "bro" so much, PLEASE.

4. Pinky, directed by Sankalp Reddy

This was the most boring out of the four, which is again, a shame, because it wasn't half as cringe as the others. The last few minutes were good, things were finally getting spicy and interesting, but then we got the ending, and it was back to "why was this anthology ever made?" hours. Satyadev deserved a better movie, to be honest, and this is another concept that might have worked really well as a full-length feature, but as a short, it seemed half-baked and insincere. None of the characters were fleshed out enough for us to be invested, and the story was pretty much unclear for most of the run-time, and not unclear in a way that makes you want to know, but in a way that puts you right off. However, I can't talk complain too much- after all, it did remind us that love is eternal, and so is desire. I am not even paraphrasing or whatever, this is a direct quote from the end of the movie. And of the anthology, so let's come to that.

Pitta Kathalu has A1 production values, which leads us to an important question- "So much effort, and for what?? THIS???" It was a good movie to roast-watch, I am not going to lie, but at the end, we both felt sad because this is not the representation that Telugu cinema needs or deserves on an internationally popular platform like Netflix. Especially when "acclaimed" directors are involved. AND especially when other languages seem to be prospering in the anthology sub-genre. That's another problem I had- the film tried too hard to be like other industries, but TFI sweetie, you don't even have to try?? You are amazing as you are baby, now just give us some of that good content we are craving. Also, what was up with the over-emphasis on sex, r*pe, writers, and sOciAL iSsUeS that went nowhere? This made the anthology as a whole seem super incoherent- there were enough common threads, but nothing over-arching to explain why these 4 shorts had to be compiled in the same anthology. And the animations between each shot, oh my god. Pack it up, Paava Kadhaigal lite. And since we're on that topic, the movie tries too hard to recreate the "impact" of Paava Kadhaigal and all it ends up creating is lots and lots of second-hand embarrassment. TFI, I'm begging you, STOP TRYING TO BE OTHER INDUSTRIES. You're you, and that's your superpower.

In conclusion, I just want to say that I never thought toxic marriages could be ruined even more for me. And of course, let me quote myself, because nothing else describes my feelings for this movie as accurately- "Pack it up, P*rnhub lite".