Gundello Godari Review

Behind the Movie Gundello Godari: Versatile Manchu Lakshmi is on the way to prove as an actress after a sensational debut. Being the producer and lead actor for this project, Lakshmi has pinned lot of hopes. Debutant director Kumar Nagendra has set the backdrop of 1986 Godavari floods with Aadi, Tapsee, Sandeep Kishan in lead characters. Let us see, what happened during these floods?

In the Movie Gundello Godari: Story begins with a Flood Warning announcement for Godavari region by Meteorological agencies. Into the village of Bangarappapeta, it's the marriage of Chitra (Manchu Lakshmi) and Malli (Aadi) with a small gathering. Soon after the nupital knot, the village gets flooded while Chitra and Malli try to save their lives thus narrating the flashback of each of them.

Firstly, Malli is a fisherman whose aim is to buy an own boat. His employer Sambasiva Rao's daughter Sarala (Tapsee) is a sex maniac whose eyes fall on Malli. Finally, Sarala wins to pull Malli on to her bed to enjoy the pleasure. However, Malli pleads for his innocence. 

Story of Chitra has three men in her life viz. Bava Suri Babu (Sandeep Kishan), her employer Dora Babu (Ravi Babu) and local doctor (30 years industry...Prithvi). While Dora Babu and Doctor wanted to engage in sex with Chitra, her Bava Suri Babu is dead in an unfortunate accident. 

Malli and Chitra get close during these narrations thus developing a strong desire to live together. What happened later on...is this newly married couple inundated or not? This is climax.

Values of the Movie Gundello Godari: Basic concept revolves around the strong nativity of Godavari delta region and the real essence of low class lives. Story of Kumar Nagendra is so simple dealing in detail with lives of two people and characters surrounding them. Screenplay is definitely appreciable for a novel attempt. As a director Kumar concentrated more on realisitc approach to bring out the emotions in his characters. However, he neither maintained the pace nor added entertaining elements. Palani Kumar's cinematography is top notch with lighting schema offering a fresh feel.  Editing could have been still more better. Dialogues are completely of Godavari slang. Music by Ilayaraja is awesome for couple of songs which are ofcourse well picturized while background score generated more interest. CG works created for Flood Waters are neither so good nor so bad. Production values of Manchu Lakshmi are decent.

Performance wise, Manchu Lakshmi is the winner who acted with utmost authenticity. Costume selection, dialogue delivery and purity of expression seen in her face...she was just awesome. Aadi too had a soft characterization with rough look. He is the show stealer for first half. For the first time, Tapsee is into the role of grey shades showing wild lust for Aadi. Then Sandeep Kishan is also into the very skin of Suri Babu. Among others...Ravi Babu, Prithvi, Jeeva, Annapurna, Shyamala, Ramesh did their portions well. Mumaith Khan's item song and Suja Varunee's spicy character as Bangari were entertaining.      

Out of the Movie Gundello Godari: First fifteen minutes into the film, we can sense that Manchu Lakshmi attempted a new concept and treatment away from our regular commercial zone. Technically, GG is well visualized and well picturized film with strong reality based treatment. Kumar Nagendra never entertained any of the unnecessary deviating elements from smooth flow of his story. Of course, this is too classy for ordinary viewer to connect with. 

The major pluses for GG are performances of Manchu Lakshmi, Aadi; background of Ilayaraja; cinematography of Palani Kumar and the research cum hardwork of Kumar Nagendra seen on screen to live a long-lasting impression. Big minuses are the breathing in of too much originality with slow, unexciting story execution filled with lots of sentiment and melodrama. We very well know about the limited or no commercial scope for this kind of concept based movies in Tollywood yet Lakshmi and Kumar Nagendra will enjoy the professional satisfaction which are much above success or failure. 

Projects like GG are made once in a while in Tollywood. Those artistic audience who enjoy watching Award winning films will definitely enjoy this. For other commercial potboiler lovers, you will be drowned in the flood of boredom. Confidently, GG is going to win at least a few awards for Lakshmi and her team. Well done Lakshmi...you need courage to experiment on this genre. 

Cinejosh Verdict of the Movie Gundello Godari: A Commendable Show by Manchu Lakshmi.

                                                        Cinejosh Rating: 2.25

                                                                         Reviewed by Srivaas