'35 Chinna Katha Kaadu', brought out by Suresh Productions, S Originals, and Waltair Productions, hit the screens today (September 6).
Story:
Saraswati (Nivetha Thomas) and Prasad (Vishwa Dev) are a married couple in Tirupati. Their two sons, Arun and Varun, attend primary school. Arun, the elder one, is a dimwit when it comes to Maths. He doesn't blindly follow the crowd, questioning the fundamentals of Maths. His unorthodox doubts perplex his teachers. His mother, Saraswati, too, doubts his intelligence.
Chanakya (Priyadarshi), the new Maths teacher, teases Arun by calling him 'zero', named after his Maths score. How does Chanakya's arrival impact Arun's life? What challenges does Arun face? Why is he suspended from school? How does his mother prepare him to achieve the minimum passing score of 35 in the dreaded subject? And what does Arun ultimately do?
Performances:
This is as much a family film as it is a Nivetha Thomas-centric one in the second half. The actress, frankly, was overrated in 'Ninnu Kori' and a few other films that she did. But '35' has her deliver a fabulous performance. Priyadarshi Pulikonda, as a mean-spirited teacher, is good. The child artist, Arun Dev, is apt.
Vishwadev Rachakonda, as the child's father, is adequate. Gautami Tadimella (she comes with an angel-like intervention), Bhagyaraj (as the school principal), Krishna Teja (as Saraswati's brother), and others are all good.
Technical Departments:
'Chinna Idi Vintha Lokam', written by Bharadwaj Gali and sung by Vijay Prakash, mirrors the thinking of the child at the centre of the story. 'Neeli Meghamula Lo', rendered by Prithvi Harish, is a fine melody. Vivek Sagar's background music comes with a classical touch.
Cinematographer Niketh Bommi of 'Ante Sundaraniki' fame is impeccable. The staging is Bollywoodian; the kind of visuals you see in the new-wave Hindi cinema. TC Prasanna's editing is straightforward. Latha Naidu's production design is flawless; the locations look lived-in.
Analysis:
Writer-director Nanda Kishore Emani makes a film loosely inspired by the emotional intelligence of 'Taare Zameen Par' and the spirit of '3 Idiots' (mild influence). As far as the aesthetics are concerned, the film under review is totally rooted in its social, economic and geographical station.
Somewhere, the film questions the system of grading. Priyadarshi views Mathematics as a mechanism to separate the wheat from the chaff. He literally segregates Arun, the child around whose lack of faculties the story revolves. The teacher turns out to be the quintessential villain of the piece, although the story's beats are not regular.
Nivetha Thomas's Saraswati comes into its own in the second half. Her tryst with Gautami's character is a bit convenient. If you overlook the mild convenience, you will end up appreciating how the final thirty minutes play out. The way the film fleshes out the mother's character, it is as if '35' is an ode to the unconditional love of the mother.
The actors speak in the Tirupathi dialect. Their orthodox background informs their language. It is refreshing to see a film that has no cuss words or routine comedy.
Vox Verdict:
'35-Chinna Katha Kaadu' is a well-made family drama that effectively explores the themes of education, family, and self-discovery. Nivetha Thomas delivers a standout performance, and the film's technical aspects are commendable. While the plot may feel somewhat predictable at times, it's ultimately an uplifting tale that will resonate with audiences of all ages.
Rating: 3
