The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : As perfect as it can get

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Sunday, Jan 18, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

As perfect as it can get

Sterling: Anushka as ‘Arundati’

Film: Arundati

Cast: Anushka, Sonu Sood

Direction: Kodi Ramakrishna

Arundati from MS Reddy’s banner had everything going against it prior to its release: a time span of two years in making it, a huge budget of Rs. 16 crore and then just on scheduled release, gets delayed by two days! But then the producer, who put his heart and soul in the story, stands vindicated. He has given Mallemala Entertainments, a movie that moviegoers would remember for a long time and to heroine Anushka, her one big enviable role that would actually herald her beginning as an actor after six long years.

The cast is uniformly excellent but it is Anushka’s performance as Arundati that makes the film memorable. The drama holds you in rapt attention from start to finish. It is brilliant in photography with an excellent screenplay. Arundati, heiress to Gadwal royal family, arrives home to get married but is stumped when she is made to believe that she is a reincarnation of Jejamma or the senior Arundati (Anushka) who gives up her life to safeguard Gadwal from an evil spirit in the form of Pasupati (Sonu Sood) her brother-in-law. Generations later, Arundati (Anushka) junior refuses to believe that she is Jaijamma born again to destroy the evil spirit that had escaped from the tomb.

Anushka as an actor vascillating between the courageous Jaijemma and a helpless, naïve Arundati, gives a sterling performance with ease and elan. Amazing performances notwithstanding, the well-structured and gripping plot will surely do the Telugu film industry proud.

SUNITA CHOWDHARY

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