An Exuberant Satire That Explores Bold Ideas

Despite its tonal struggles, there is so much to savour in Praveena Paruchuri's directorial debut, where the pleasures far outweigh the pebbles

- BH HARSH

The world of Kothapallilo Okappudu is filled with many colorful characters, but leading the pack is Ramakrishna, the lovable underdog protagonist whose quest to find a recording dance performer is both amusing and endearing. However, something happens around the interval mark that turns the tables on our sympathies for this underdog. At a moment of crisis when evil has struck again, and you can see fright on everyone's faces, Ramakrishna (Manoj Chandra in an impressive debut) can be seen smiling, for, at that point, nothing else matters to him except for fulfillment of his own motives. And you realize Ramakrishna, our hero, is not so heroic after all. We are still on this journey, but now more curious than sympathetic, more intrigued than emotionally tied.