The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Maisamma is for the masses

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Saturday, Nov 24, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Maisamma is for the masses

Film: Maisamma IPS

Cast: Mumait Khan, Sayaji Shinde

Direction: Bharat Parepally

Maisamma IPS is not the first ever movie that casts a woman in the role of an avenger. It is surprising that Dasari had chosen a clichéd subject to woo the masses. Though this film attempts to offer a positive response to a bad situation, it also glorifies revenge and manipulation. Mumait is seen rejoicing in victory as she stumps Sayaji Shinde with her mind games, violence and makes an effort to cleanse the society in general. She even endorses bribery to divert the money to a good cause.

Mumait’s character is strong, sympathetic, sexy, fast, crafty and lives upto the luridly entertaining title. The profanity in her dialogues, the way she chews gutkha, whistles and slaps thighs seemed to be lapped up by the masses. Although director Bharat Parepally manages to show the pain, humiliation, and terror of a rape victim, one should question, “Is this really (showing rape in graphic detail) such an estimable achievement?"

Mumait loses her sister to lusty politicians and stray dogs, so she pursues her vendetta by playing out a false courtship with Shinde, and by turning his enemies against each other. This could be a film of phenomenal all-round accomplishment for the heroine but storywise it is simply preposterous. Shinde never breaks from or lessens the scheming buffoonery, and his facial expressions are stellar. Ramyasri is very convincing in a sister act and Prabhakar is reduced to a puppet giving shocked expressions or slipping into a dream duet. M.S. Narayana’s comedy is unfathomable and Harsh Vardhan (crime reporter) is given a boring, confusing premise, the way he pronounces ‘honourable’ is funny.

The prolonged separation scene between L.B. Sriram and his daughter at the railway station is a perfect example of the director’s hold on the suspense. The sub-plot during the climax is tedious. One song stands out ‘Bajjo ante bajjuntaanu’. The film is visually appealing, editing could have been crisp. The director strove for something majestic, and produced mediocrity instead. At the box-office, the theme would appeal to the front benchers.

Y. Sunita Chowdhary

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