Starring: Swathi Reddy, Naveen Chandra, Shreya Navile, Gnaneswari Kandregula, Raja Chembolu, Manjula Ghattamaneni, Harsha Chemudu, and others
Director: Srikanth Nagothi
Producer: Yaswanth Mulukutla
Music Director: Achu Rajamani
Swathi Reddy and Naveen Chandra take the lead in the much-anticipated film, “Month of Madhu,” which finally made its way to theaters today. Here’s our review to uncover what this film has in store.
Story:
After two decades of marriage, Lekha (Swathi Reddy) makes the tough decision to separate from her husband, Madhusudhan Rao (Naveen Chandra). Simultaneously, an NRI teenager named Madhumitha (Shreya Navile) arrives in Vizag to attend her cousin’s wedding. She accidentally becomes entangled in Madhusudhan’s personal life, leading to a series of events. What unfolds next? Does she mend his relationship or exacerbate it? Why does Lekha want to separate from Madhu? What choice does Lekha ultimately make? The movie holds the answers to these questions.
Plus Points:
Swathi Reddy, renowned for her consistent performances, once again delivers an outstanding portrayal, seamlessly transitioning between two distinct phases of her life – a teenager and a mature woman. She effectively conveys the stark emotional differences between these two life stages.
Naveen Chandra shines in his role as a man grappling with anger issues and deep-seated gender beliefs. His portrayal of a troubled drinker resonates with real-life situations.
Shreya Navile, who plays Madhumitha, plays a pivotal role in the film, effortlessly fitting in as an NRI unburdened by societal norms and living life on her own terms. The rest of the cast delivers satisfactory performances in their respective roles.
Minus Points:
The film’s primary shortcoming lies in its thin storyline, stretched across an extensive 2-hour and 20-minute runtime. Weak writing and an uneven screenplay dilute the impact of the lead actors’ performances.
While a gradual build-up is acceptable in the initial stages, maintaining the same sluggish pace into the second half becomes a significant hindrance, as observed in “Month of Madhu.”
Writer-director Srikanth Nagothi’s presentation lacks depth, resulting in a story that struggles to effectively engage the audience.
Characters such as Manjula Ghattamaneni and Raja Chembolu have minimal impact on the film. The comedy scenes featuring Harsha Chemudu could have been better written. The film’s songs quickly fade from memory, and the score fails to leave a lasting impression.
Technical Aspects:
Srikanth Nagothi, taking on both the roles of writer and director, falls short in crafting a compelling narrative with engaging dialogues.
Achu Rajamani’s score, while serviceable, fails to make a lasting mark. Cinematography by Rajeev Dharavath offers sporadic moments of satisfaction, but a tighter edit by Ravikanth Perupu could have streamlined the runtime.
Verdict:
Overall, “Month of Madhu” provides a dull and uninspiring cinematic experience, despite commendable performances by Swathi and Naveen Chandra. The film’s lethargic screenplay, underdeveloped storytelling, and inclusion of unnecessary scenes in both halves weigh it down. Considering other movie options for your weekend entertainment might be a wise choice.