Just Yellow's movies are eagerly awaited by buffs of
intelligent cinema. Though their films in the recent years, Aithe and
Anukokunda Oka Roju, did not rake in moolah despite being very good,
its producer Gunnam Gangaraju has been undeterred. This time, after a
super flop Amma Cheppindi (which, nevertheless, was a bad one), he has
come up with a good thriller film, where you have a murder mystery
superimposing heroine's unhealthy mental status.
Starring Genelia in the role of a single girl, whose
recent past was full of tragedy and phobia, the aftermaths of which
still haunt her, Katha is a film to watch out for. Debutante director
Srinivasa Ranga hones an interesting story around Chitra, whose twin
fears - Autophobia and Hemophobia, do not allow her to lead a normal
life. Her bloody past evokes sympathy amongst the audience. Added to
it, her troubles begin to become worse when she comes to Araku to work
as a school teacher.
Chitra joins a convent school as a teacher and is
soon befriended by her headmistress' daughter-in-law who accommodates
her in a palatial house (one wonders how all leading ladies, who are
single, manage to get costly residences in our films, every time!). A
lonely girl, the character is a mystery to the audience from the very
beginning. Even in her second scene, we see her taking out a bunch of
tablets and a knife from her luggage. For those who know the kind of
psychological disorders characters in Gangaraju's films suffer from
(Charmme in Anukokunda.. and Sarwanand, who is mentally retarded in
Amma.. ), they can quickly analyse the reason.
In
the same scenic town is Arun (Arun Adit), a budding director suffering
from director's block. For him, it is 'direct or die.' Splashed on
his gypsy are a couple of interesting lines (story, screenplay,
direction, driving and 'The End' at the back), which show off his flair
for being fresh. He is currently making a murder film with five
killers in the lead. Though he has scripted major portions of the
thriller, he is yet to pen the romantic part of it. That is when the
school teacher enters his life.
On a walk down the lane, the director happens to
narrate the storyline of his film Hathya, in which a beautiful girl
gets maimed. Chitra rues that her sensitivities cannot bear listening
to such stories. Few days later, she happens to witness a girl being
murdered in the valley. After Chitra and Arun bring it to the notice
of the cops (Prakash Raj in the role of a Circle Inspector and Shafi as
his assistant), the CI meticulously investigates into the curious case
of Chitra.
The CI tells Arun that Chitra suffers from a
psychotic disorder and that she was treated in a 'mental' asylum for
one year. Soon, everyone around Chitra start believing that she
undergoes hallucinations and that her nocturnal traumas are anything
but true.
Is there any thing wrong with Chitra? Does she
share a pathetic story? Will she ever be able to live a normal life
with the muse of her life Arun? These questions are answered in the
second half of the movie.
Katha
is a simple film made on a shoestring budget. The screenplay is good
and all actors, including the newcomer act well. Genelia carries the
show on her shoulders and she delivers an efficient performance.
Prakash Raj's role is interesting. Giri Babu as Co-producer Koko tries
to tickle the funny bone.
Though everything seems well because of the suspense
factor that is revealed with dexterity, there are some loopholes in the
script. Katha sounds understated and at a time when technical finesse
is not a value-add but a prerequisite, the film lacks the technical
oomph. (It is not to suggest that every thriller has to be made on a
budget an RGV or Ravi Babu support, but gone are the days when the
audience can be mesmerised with sadha-seedha production values). This
is a kind of story the repeat audience is not very much excited about.
You are eager while it is unfolding before your eyes, but are not
bamboozled by it later. After all, the film is about a mind game.
Even the dialogue sounds too urbane. Placing unique
characters requires a distinct directorial touch, but there is nothing
of that sort in the film. Scenes involving the boy and the girl in the
first half fall flat. Nocturnal scenes in the second half sound
repetitious.
Yet the film is watchable for its sheer simplicity
and the suspense factor. Along with the character of Chitra, you are
manipulated too. Despite its shortcomings, Katha is definitely more
watchable than any other December release.
Released on: 12th Dec, 2009