KCR, a political drama set against a Telangana backdrop, features comedian-turned-actor Rakesh in the lead role. Known for his appearances in the popular TV show Jabardasth, Rakesh not only stars as the protagonist but also produces the film under his home banner. Directed by Garudavega Anji, the movie released in theaters on November 22 and is now streaming on Aha. Despite its ambitious concept, KCR struggles to deliver a gripping experience.

Plot
The story begins in Rangabai Tanda, a village in Kesavaravupally, Warangal district. The protagonist, Keshavachandra Ramavath (Rakesh), is a middle-class youth who idolizes Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR). His unwavering admiration earns him the nickname “Chota KCR.” Keshava is romantically pursued by Manju (Ananya Krishnan), a girl from the same village, who dreams of marrying him.

However, Keshava’s joy over his village’s agricultural prosperity is short-lived when he learns that their land is marked for acquisition to construct a ring road. Shocked and determined to protect his community, Keshava refuses his arranged marriage with Manju and instead declares that he will marry a city girl. During a heated family discussion, he challenges his elders, vowing to bring KCR himself to his wedding or cancel it altogether.

The second half chronicles Keshava’s journey to Hyderabad to fulfill this promise. What happens next? Does Keshava succeed in inviting KCR to his wedding? The answers form the crux of the narrative.

Analysis
The story unfolds during two key periods: the time leading up to the formation of Telangana and its aftermath. It highlights the struggles of K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) in achieving statehood and his subsequent governance. The first half focuses on the protagonist’s deep admiration for KCR, while the second half revolves around his determination to invite the leader to his wedding, setting the stage for his journey to the city.

The director ensures that equal importance is given to the roles of both the hero and heroine, as well as their families. The integration of the village as a significant element in the story is commendable. However, the characterization falters as the hero, initially portrayed as a proud and content village youth, suddenly declares his preference for a city girl and urban life, creating inconsistencies in his arc.

The comedy scenes involving the hero and his friends fail to land effectively, feeling forced and uninspired. While the film attempts to convey emotional depth, many sequences come across as overacted, especially those featuring Rakesh. Furthermore, the minor characters, portraying villagers, lack impactful performances, leaving the narrative underwhelming.

Although Rakesh’s intent in crafting the content is evident, the lack of thorough preparation and rushed execution diminishes the film’s overall potential.

Performances
Rakesh: As both actor and producer, Rakesh demonstrates sincerity, but his comedic strengths don’t translate well into this film. Emotional scenes feel overacted, detracting from the film’s impact.
Ananya Krishnan: Delivers a decent performance as Manju but is limited by her character’s development.
Supporting Cast: Notable names like Thanikella Bharani and Thagubothu Ramesh make brief appearances but fail to elevate the narrative.

Technical Aspects
Direction: Garudavega Anji captures the rural essence of Telangana through impressive visuals but struggles to weave a compelling story.
Music: Charan Arjun’s compositions and background score are average, lacking memorable tunes.
Cinematography: Rural settings are beautifully depicted, thanks to Anji’s expertise behind the camera.
Editing: Madhu ensures a decent pace, but the screenplay limits the overall experience.

Verdict
KCR aims to tell a heartfelt story about a village youth’s passion for his community and hero-worship for KCR. While the intent is commendable, the execution falls short in connecting with audiences. The narrative lacks the emotional depth and comedic charm necessary to make it engaging. With better writing and stronger characterization, this film could have been more impactful.

“The Crossroads” is the sort of movie you get when you park two attractive but bland young actors on a modestly scenic piece of real estate and take romance pretty much off the table.

A stunningly dull chat-a-thon of silences, evasive question-and-answer conversations, abrupt, contrived arguments, literary name dropping and cliched third act “diagnoses” explaining much of what’s come before, it’s as good an argument as any against “keeping things simple,” tuning out the outside world and such.

You’d die of boredom.

Emily Coupe arrives at the titular filling station/convenience store/diner on the border between Arizona and New Mexico, jumps out of a car with her backpack, guitar, torn tight jeans and pink hair extensions, only to be “rescued” by “a cowboy” played by Nick Ballard.

“Star” is her name. She wants to be a singer-songwriter. But she’s fled LA, heading for “Dubuque.” Not that she gives this away any time soon.

Logan isn’t especially friendly, but he offers her a lift in his ancient Ford pickup, talks about “weather comin’” (We can see the skies. Nope.) and takes her to his remote farmhouse.

Don’t get your hopes up. This isn’t a horror movie.

Star is closed-off, working out some things. Logan is shut-down, dealing with his own issues. The script has them spend 95 minutes doling out even the tiniest hint of information about their names, their backgrounds, the time setting we’re dealing with and the problems they’re struggling to overcome.

Director Douglas A. Raine and screenwriter Ginia Desmond break that fundamental convenant they’re honor bound to take with the audience. Tell us what your movie is about, tell us who the characters are and don’t bore us to death waiting around for something — ANYthing — to happen.

Only somebody who thinks leaving LA for Dubuque is a fun idea could conjure up a leading lady dense enough to say “A clothesline? I’ve never used one.” Even if you haven’t, honey, there’s no danged sense admitting it.

Only a “cowboy” who hides his rodeo trophies in haystacks, who actually farms “hemp” now (not that we see “work” of any sort) when he isn’t reading “The Invisible Man” (H.G. Wells, 1897), with the Quran and select works of Carl Jung on his DIY bookshelves, could offer up this as a comeback.

“You’ll have to figure it out.”

Rating: profanity, adult subject matter

Cast: Nick Ballard, Emily Coupe

Credits: Directed by Douglas A. Raine, scripted by Ginia Desmond. A Desktop Entertainment release on FreeVee, Amazon Prime, etc.

Running time: 1:35

Mura is a Malayalam action thriller directed by Muhammad Musthafa and produced by Rhea Shibu under the HR Pictures banner. Featuring Hridu Haroon, Anujith, Yedu Krishna, and Jobin Das in lead roles, the film released in theaters on November 8, garnering a positive response. It became available for streaming on Amazon Prime from December 25, 2024. Let’s dive into the plot and analysis of this gripping thriller.

Plot Summary:
The story revolves around four close friends – Anand (Hridu Haroon), Shaji (Jobin Das), Manu (Yedu Krishna), and Manav (Anujith). Anand comes from a middle-class family, while the rest hail from lower-middle-class backgrounds. Struggling with studies and responsibilities, the group often resorts to reckless escapades. To meet their financial needs, they ally with local gangsters.

Their association leads them to Ane (Suraj Venjaramoodu), a trusted henchman of gangster Ramadevi (Mala Parvathi). Impressed by their fearlessness, Ane assigns them a high-stakes mission to retrieve hidden black money from Madurai. What happens during this mission and how it changes their lives forms the crux of the story.

Analysis:
Mura captures the essence of youthful recklessness and camaraderie. Suresh Babu’s story brings to life the struggles of four young men navigating life’s challenges with misplaced priorities. The screenplay keeps the narrative tight, seamlessly blending action and emotion without overdramatizing.

The first half establishes the boys’ bonding and their initial forays into the gangster world, while the second half delves into their confrontation with larger forces. The transitions feel organic, and the film maintains a naturalistic tone throughout, drawing audiences into the emotional journey of its protagonists.

Performances:
The four lead actors excel in portraying their characters, embodying the mannerisms and attitudes of rebellious youth with authenticity. Their performances feel spontaneous and genuine, enhancing the film’s realism.

Suraj Venjaramoodu and Mala Parvathi deliver solid performances, effortlessly adding gravitas to their roles as seasoned criminals.

Technical Aspects:
Cinematography: Fazil Nazar’s visuals stand out, particularly in action and chase sequences, elevating the overall tension.
Music and Background Score: Christy Joby’s background score is a significant strength, with the theme music being a notable highlight.
Editing: Chaman Chacko’s crisp editing ensures there’s no room for unnecessary scenes, maintaining a steady pace throughout.

Final Verdict:
Mura is an engaging action thriller that combines raw emotion with edge-of-the-seat moments. It successfully delivers a message about the importance of making the right choices in life and the consequences of veering off the moral path. Despite minor flaws, the film’s grounded approach and impactful storytelling make it a worthwhile watch.