Entertainment: Geetha Govindam Review

Geetha Govindam Review
Cast: Vijay Deverakonda, Rashmika Mandanna, Naga Babu, Subbaraju, Rahul Ramakrishna, Vennela Kishore and others
Music: Gopi Sundar
DOP: Manikandan
Editor: Marthand K Venkatesh
Produced by: Bunny Vaas
Written and directed by: Parasuram
Release date: August 15, 2018

At present, youth are identifying with only one star in Telugu. He is none other than 'Arjun Reddy' aka Vijay Deverakonda. His on-screen and off-screen personality has made him a heartthrob.

Ever since the teaser of “Geetha Govindam” released, the film has been creating buzz and the excellent songs have hyped the movie further. Amidst lot of pre-release buzz, it has hit the screens.

Let’s see whether Vijay Deverakonda has pulled it off this time too or not?

Story:
Govind (Vijay Deverakonda) who works as a lecturer falls for a beauty Geetha (Rashmika). During their journey to their hometown in a bus, he accidentally plants a kiss on the lips of Geetha that creates rift between them.

As fate would have it, a marriage alliance is fixed between Geetha’s brother and Govind’s sister. Their parents ask Geetha and Govind to do shopping together for the wedding for their respective siblings, what happens next between them is anyone’s guess.

Artistes’ Performances:
In “Arjun Reddy”, we have seen the intense and angry young man shade of Vijay Deverakonda. Here he has shown another shade of his acting capabilities. He has pulled off even this simple guy act so well. He is so handsome and has arresting screen presence that holds some dull moments too.

Rashmika has got a role with more substance and she has pulled it off. In fact, she got the better role and her performance in the final sequences gives the movie an edge. In other important role, Subbaraju is good.

Vennela Kishore as bridegroom in the second half and Rahul Ramakrishna as Vijay’s friend have provided great laughs.

Nithya Menen and Anu Emmanuel have put in decent cameo appearances.

Technical Excellence:
The biggest strength of the film is killer soundtrack. Gopi Sunder has given three super hit songs. “Inkem Inkem Inkem Kaavale” is haunting melody and the other two songs “Yenti Yenti” and “Vachindamma” are equally melodious and peppy.

Cinematography by Manikandan is neat. Editing is okay. Dialogues are adequate enough. The film has decent production values

Highlights:
Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika
Entertainment
Teasing romantic scenes
Super hit songs

Drawback:
Regular storyline
Some portions in second half

Analysis:
The storyline of “Geetha Govindam” is quite old, oft-seen. When the plot is not new, screenplay and actors should do the magic. That is what director Parasuram does with his “Geetha Govindam”.

The single line of the movie is: a boy and girl marrying overcoming all the misunderstandings. But Parasuram begins the story in most-entertaining way.

The story begins at Annavaram temple with Vijay Deverakonda narrating his love story to a girl (Nithya Menen) whose car’s tyres are flat. Then he narrates how Geetha came into his life, how his romance goes through many ups and downs and why she is now marrying another person.

He presents Vijay as a lecturer (the student of Arjun Reddy graduates to lecturer) and he wants a wife who should replace his mother’s role (his mother passed away in his childhood). To him, Geetha is not a choice but only one option. But Geetha misunderstands him at the very beginning of their acquaintance as he plants kiss on her accidentally.

From there, Vijay follows her calling her ‘madam madam’ and she taunts him. He fears that if she tells that it is he who kissed her on bus to her brother, his life would become miserable. The director has played well with this thread through the movie.

This simple plotline is filled with many entertaining sequences and interesting characters. Both the characterizations of Geetha and Govind are well-written and very interesting. Luckily, director Parasuram has got two talented stars to play them.

Vijay Deverakonda completely holds the movie with his charismatic and versatile acting. He shows gentlemanly behavior, frustration and also emotion of a caring brother so well in this movie. He also has terrific chemistry.

Basically, the film seems to be written for heroine’s character Geetha. She has solid characterization and Rashmika has not many dialogues to speak, she performs with her facial expressions. Both Vijay and Rashmika rise above the plot.

Whenever the film goes down, the director has infused comedy scenes or dialogues. Rahul Ramakrishna as Vijay’s friend in the first half, Vennela Kishore as an NRI bakra groom in the second half bring smiles on lips.

The film’s final emotional scene involving Vijay Deverakonda, Subbaraju and Rashmika is also handled well.

These kind of romantic dramas work only when the comedy, chemistry between the lead pair and music are in sync. “Geetha Govindam” has all of them in right proportion. Gopi Sunder has given killer soundtrack.

On the downside, Parasuram slackens the pace of the movie post-interval and there are many scenes that are dragged on.

On the whole, “Geetha Govindam” is fun romantic drama that offers time-pass moments and makes a good watch.