We really wish directors don’t get carried away and give 38-year-old heroes intro-dance songs with bikini-clad girls on the beaches, especially when they look so uncomfortable doing it. Five minutes into the film one realises the story would have suited someone a little younger and a little later you know it is stuck in a time warp. Gopichand plays a double role, one as a rich Gautam Ghattamaneni, whose identity is nothing more than a son of a rich father. The other is Nanda Kishore who is unemployed and lives with his family leading a hand-to-mouth existence. Both want to kill themselves — the rich one, humiliated for being a nobody and the poor guy for not being able to do anything for the family. Both bump into each other and exchange places. Well, it isn’t funny any more.
In how many films didn’t we see a ‘Slum Dog’ eating with his fingers and licking them while the waiters stand shell shocked? There is more to this than the double role story. The poor Nanda Kishore gets greedy and connives with Gautam’s father Vishnu Prasad’s (Sachin Khedkar) enemy to take his place in the palace forever. The second half goes on and on taking the tussle between the two further. There is lot of sentimental stuff involving Nanda Kishore’s parents Chandra Mohan and Sita, the days they go without food, their struggle to get the girl in the house married, the debts etc..all meant to target the B and C audiences. The tear-jerkers drive you impatient and angry as the story becomes predictable.
It is shocking to see the auteur pick a plot that has been oft repeated. The girls have nothing much to do. The only bright spot in the film is television anchor Bitthiri Satti who charms his way into your heart. It is amusing to see Gautam’s dog running on the treadmill, squatting along with its master at the table and finally becoming a deciding factor to distinguish as to who is the right person, the real son of Vishnu Prasad. Bole Ram Bole Ram is pleasing to the ears.
Looks like the director’s next agenda is to narrate a story to Mahesh Babu. Gautam Ghattamaneni, the name has been repeated well enough to register in one’s mind. As the film progresses, towards the second half, there is a huge cut out of Chiranjeevi too; Gautam as Nanda Kishore takes his family to a film…so we assume both the star hero’s fans are happy.
Cinematography is good, but Gautam Nanda ends as a pointless, sentimental and a predictable drama with nothing fresh to offer. It is pathetic to see Gopichand trying hard to look young and be funny. Style and substance does help but only when the content is not stale and casting is perfect. This one is meant for the galleries.
Gautam Nanda
Direction: Sampat Nandi
Cast: Gopichand, Hansika, Catherine Tresa
Music: Thaman