Aditya Devulapally

in Cinema Express

14 Days Girlfriend Intlo remains content with being a breezy, light-on-its-feet entertainer. It doesn’t offer deep insights or a particularly strong resolution but compensates with its buoyant energy and a lead performance that suggests Ankith Koyya is a talented actor. Given Telugu cinema’s scarcity of actors in their early 20s who can carry a film with such effortless charm, he’s a welcome presence here. Shriya Kontham, too, plays her part well, balancing the tension of keeping her secret guest hidden while ensuring her parents don’t suspect a thing. At the end of the day, 14 Days Girlfriend Intlo is like a weekend binge-watch, fun while it lasts but unlikely to linger in your memory.

in Cinema Express

The film's biggest letdown, though, is its presentation. The visuals are aggressively uninspired. The typical warm Telugu commercial colour grading that makes everything look turmeric, flat camerawork that doesn’t dare to try anything remotely new, and action sequences that seem more rehearsed than executed. Kalyan Ram, to his credit, deserves appreciation for that bold climax. He doesn’t exactly reinvent the archetype, but he clearly knew what would work for this film. Unfortunately, his character isn’t written as a person but as a function, a son who is devoted. There’s no inner world to him, no crack in the facade. Vijayashanthi still performs her stunts with a flair. It’s so commendable for a film like this to feature an action-heavy female character. But her character is equally one-note.

in Cinema Express

What Ghatikachalam really needed was a sharper pair of editorial scissors and a bolder sense of narrative rhythm. It is too enamoured with its premise to realise when it stopped surprising us. That said, there is enough in here, thematically and emotionally, to suggest that Kamepalli has a voice worth lookin at. And Nikhil Devadula is a talent to watch out for. In the end, Ghatikachalam is like an ambitious thesis trapped inside an average student’s assignment. The facts are there. The intent is clear. But the articulation is muddled. Still, it’s a film that deserves discussion, if only because it cares to look inside the head of a boy society would rather ignore.

in Cinema Express

Aditya Devulapally of Cinema Express wrote, "Overall, LYF – Love Your Father is a well-intentioned film that doesn’t fully deliver on its promise.

in The New Indian Express

Aditya Devulapally of New Indian Express praised the film saying, "This beautiful rural drama explores the weight of ambitions with grace, restraint and unforgettable realism."

in Cinema Express

In the end, Solo Boy is a film that almost works. It has its heart in the right place and some truly honest passages, but its ambitions get the better of its craft. The journey feels personal and authentic until it suddenly doesn’t. What begins as a raw middle-class drama ends like a half-baked TED Talk. A film that reaches, but doesn’t always arrive.

in Cinema Express

What definitely works in the film is the mindful manner in which the director drives the narrative without any hurry to reach somewhere. And what’s more admirable is that the film also takes its time in setting up the law enforcement angle and the somewhat believable group of cops. As the film reaches midpoint in the second half, they start revealing the mystery, and you can appreciate the patience and thought put into the film. The screenplay is gripping enough until you piece together the puzzle. And in today's age of hyperawareness, it’s a difficult task to achieve this engagement in a serial killer film. However, the film remains tepid and uninteresting for the most part because of its lousy dialogues and weak performances.

in Cinema Express

Aditya Devulapally of the Cinema Express gave a rating of 1 out of 5 and criticised the screenplay.

in Cinema Express

Aditya Devulapally of Cinema Express wrote that "The murder mystery is the weakest aspect of the film.

in The New Indian Express

Aditya Devulapally of The New Indian Express wrote, "The film sets your expectations so low with its initial silliness that when the twist lands, it feels like a masterstroke.

in Cinema Express

But what film are you showing? Is it a pure Bachchan show where the hero can do anything? Yes, go for it. Or is it a tight thriller showcasing the integrity of an officer against a corrupt system? Again yes, go for it. But mix both ingredients in one recipe, it’s an unmitigated disaster. It’s like watching two polar opposite films clubbed in one video. Logics aside, you don’t have a double-masala biryani with sambar-idly; it's not recommended to test your intestine beyond a point. Sure, even a remake can be a great idea given the director’s previous adaptations but the choice of this remake is baffling. It’s like the raid happens on the audience for the sin of expecting a simple, entertaining film.

in Cinema Express

Aditya Devulapally of Cinema Express gave a rating of 2.5 out of 5 and statedBandi Saroj Kumar impresses as Charlie Chaplin and brings the vulnerability necessary to draw the viewer in with the story".

in The New Indian Express

However, the film remains tepid and uninteresting for the most part because of its lousy dialogues and weak performances. No single performance in the film looks natural or convincing enough. Some actors overplay their respective parts, while others sleepwalk through the film. A criminal thriller like this needs more slick camerawork and crisp performances, but the team of technicians and actors fails to create the necessary intensity. You end up wishing the director, who has such a novel concept, had a great team of technicians who could execute a slick thriller. The most distracting aspect of the film is the shoddy lighting and cinematography.