Oka Chinna Maata (1997)

Once again, I marvel at how good 90s Telugu cinema was at remaking movies. I really liked how they adapted Tagore's story to local and contemporary settings, making it seem as believable as a native story. 

The plot was honestly quite messy- but entertaining anyway. And I did cry a lot during the climax and after the movie ended, so nothing to complain about. Both Jagapathi Babu and Indraja played their roles well, with the supporting cast also doing a good job. The real hero of the movie for me though, the reason why I will think of it with fondness, is the song "O Manasa Thondara". It is such a delightful tune, and the music video filled my heart with warmth and all kinds of lovely feelings. I watched it multiple times after finishing the movie, and it is probably going to end up on my Spotify 'On Repeat' playlist very soon. Nothing beats the K.S. Chithra-S.P. Balasubrahmanyam combination in making gloomy days better, for sure.

In conclusion, the way Jagapathi Babu has successfully transitioned from playing a romantic lead to a villain has a few lessons on men hidden somewhere. In this essay I will.

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