'Sundaram Master' has been produced by RT Team Works and Goal Den Media. The film hits the screens today (February 23). Its Trailer hinted at a coming-of-age comedy-drama with a social critique angle. Let's analyze the film in detail:
Story:
Sundaram Rao (Harsha Chemudu) is a government school teacher who aspires to be a DEO. His money-minded nature makes him hanker after the high-paying bride and shortcuts in his career. The local MLA (Harshavardhan) wants to lay his hands on a precious thing hidden in Miryalametta, a remote village with no means to modern means of communication and transport. Sundaram Rao is deputed to get the previous thing to the town by befriending the villagers on the pretext of teaching them English. What happens next is a coming-of-age tale.
Performances:
Harsha Chemudu has been a total revelation lately. His non-comical side has been explored by films like 'Colour Photo', 'Month Of Madhu' and 'Baby'. 'Sundaram Master' goes many steps further in terms of establishing him as an artist whose serious side must be taken seriously. He is lovable in the scenes where he shows feelings of guilt and remorse.
Divya Sripada, who plays the village's young beauty with strong instincts and sixth sense, is nice. Bala Krishna (who played Inayat Khaleel in 'KGF') is seen in the role of a village elder. Almost the entire bunch of villagers come across as seasoned theatre artists who know how not to overdo it.
Technical Departments:
Sri Charan Pakala's music is not so remarkable. The song that underlines Sundaram's redemption arc is good, though. Cinematographer Deepak Yaragera's work is average. Editor Karthik Vunnava shows his talent by adopting a non-linear approach in the initial portions. Art Director Chandra Mouli Eathalapaka ensures a degree of authenticity. The costume designers (Srihitha Kotagiri, Raja Sekhar) must be commended for keeping the tribal costumes real.
Merits:
1. Just because the story is set in a village, the 'unsophisticated' residents of Miryalametta haven't been reduced to a laughing stock. They are treated with respect.
2. The humour is not overdone or allowed to go out of bounds in the name of entertainment. As a result, after a point, the viewer sees the story from the perspective of the residents of the village.
3. The redemption arc of Sundaram Master is nourishing. The situations don't look forced. So much is conveyed in so little screen time.
4. A crucial scene that follows a 'tragedy' in the second half is one of the most soulful in recent times. It's a commentary on death and the meaning of life.
5. At one level, this film promotes the value of community bonds. Modern civilization divides men by pitting one against another.
6. There is a cricket match episode that would look out of place if you don't get the subtext.
Demerits:
1. The climax feels rushed. The range of the film remains stunted in the last 10-15 minutes.
2. The comedy spun around the villagers' quirky English is not integrated well with the overall story.
Vox Verdict:
Director Kalyan Santhosh envisions 'Sundaram Master' as a profound social commentary highlighting the shortcomings of contemporary society, where the pursuit of competition and greed has stripped individuals of their essence. A caveat: Don't expect the film to be constantly engaging and be prepared for a few dull stretches.
Rating: 2.75/5
