Color Photo (2020)
The more and more you try to watch Tollywood movies with some categorization on the basis of the Director/Writer and attempt to differentiate it from the traditional purely commercial action movies you surely be able to pick some, which steer you into a completely path breaking journey. One of such has been the Color Photo for me.
A debut film for most of the artists in many ways including the director Sandeep Raj, the film is produced by Amrutha Productions and Loukya Entertainment. The film's spirit lays in three main aspects, it being -The writing/story by Sri Rajesh, the fabulous acting by the actors and timely music composition by Kaala Bhairava and in that array. It being a true story adds a whole another perspective to it.
The film begins with emotionally null Deepthi (Chandini Chowdary) learning about her father's death and returns to India with her sensitive and open-minded husband Chandu (Aadarsh Balakrishna) for her father's last rites. On returning, along with her friend Padma(Divya Sripada) she sets off to visit her lover's, Jaya's (Suhas) place, hours before her father's cremation. On the way she finds a couple having exactly same background as hers and unravels their story.
A financially stretched, 'black', aspirational, college going smoker Jaya/Kittu happens to somehow taking a glance at the dance rehearsal lead by college topper, audaciously beautiful Deepthi and falls for her, fully aware about the circumstances. The film thereon takes dark twists as it tries to be real. After one such event frustrated Deepthi finally confronts Jaya and spells it out to him that she's trying to talk to him out of love and not sympathy which he initially deluded. All along the film the relationship between Balu (Chemudu Harsha) and Jaya is a very empowering and innocent experience. Balu, at times restricting and at other times fully bolstering Jaya plays a very mighty role even it being primarily an appalling love story. The apt antagonist inspector Rama Raju (Sunil) in every way justifies the role as Deepthi's traditionally blindfolded brother wishing to marrying her off to an America settled, as stated- "six figure salary" fair guy. Though the film embodies racial discrimination at heart, it does inflict humor through the innocence of the characters. At the very end we see two versions of the climax, one which is anticipated and the brutal poignant one. The difference bolding out is, the role of the society. In the actual version of the film, society plays a major role by being a typical society and doing nothing. The climax of the film is hidden with too many moving scenes along with heartfelt dialogues which are extremely painstaking to experience.
The well-timed and vivid background score by Kaala, glides into the film and reverberates the emotions effortlessly. The in and out of the story between the songs happens quite at random subtly positioning the characters aptly. Apart from this film the common thread binding most of the cast and crew is them being an Youtuber and featuring in short films. Some of the critics did compliant that the film is slow paced in the first half but I think it is the songs which are somewhat concentrated in the beginning which may be perceived that the story is been dragged.
All in all, the movie is a 'must watch' and I highly recommend to you to dedicate a peaceful evening, to immerse into this enriching piece of art.
To watch the teaser- Click here
The film is currently available on OTT platform 'aha'
To watch the movie now-Click here