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Home > Telugu Movie Reviews > Navavasantham


Old School Friendship Story

APK | November 11, 2007

Rating: **.5 (***** Very Good, **** Good, *** Fair, ** Average, * Bad)

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Cast: Tarun, Akash, Rohit, Suneel, Priyamani, Ankita, Suneel, Ahuti Prasad, Brahmanandam, Kota Srinivasa Rao and Others.
Art: Kumar.
Cinematography: Sarvesh Murari.
Dialogues: Rajendra Kumar.
Editing: Nandamuri Hari.
Music: SA Rajkumar.
Story, Screenplay & Direction: Shahjahan.
Producer(s): NV Prasad & Paras Jain.
Presenter: RB Choudary.
Banner: Megaa Supergood Films Pvt. Ltd.
Release Date: 9th November, 2007.

Navavasantham is the remake of the Tamil movie Punnagai Desam, also starring Tarun. It's a simple story, an old story and even the treatment is old. That being said, it is still watchable. Four friends from a village, struggling to make a mark in the city away from their parents. Sounds familiar? Of course, there have been so many movies with such a theme. Navavasantham has a straightforward narrative, and moves quickly.

Suneel, Akash, Tarun and RohitPlot Vijay (Suneel) wants to be a mimicry artiste, Prasad (Akash) is studying for IAS and Rohit wants to make it as a singer. All of them are living together in a room when Ganesh (Tarun) joins them. Ganesh comes to the city from the same village looking for his uncle and her daughter 'Ammu' whom he was to marry. His uncle's rejection disheartens him and he leaves without looking at his now grown-up Ammu. Meanwhile, he works hard to make money to fulfill his friends' dreams. He also makes other friends-Anjali (Priyamani) and Ankita. Anjali is in fact his very own Ammu but he doesn't know it. He and his friends work hard to reach their goals, and Ganesh selflessly helps them. How they become successful and whether or not he gets his love is the rest of the plot.

Story, Screenplay and Direction So the plot is old as time. As for the treatment, it is full of sad old humor courtesy Suneel, one selfless friend and the realization of dreams. The music is easy on the ears, nothing exceptional. You know one of those old B&W movies that are telecast during the weekdays in the afternoons (non-prime time)? But simple, uncomplicated plots that people doing all their chores can follow throughout-that's Navavasantham.

A story that's been done before, but with a new cast. Suneel and Tarun hold the show, in that order. It's a comeback vehicle for three of the main cast, i.e. all except Suneel. One thing that could have been avoided, or at least toned down, is the speeches. One long righteous speech after another gets a little too tedious. The two female leads are not given much screen time, but Priyamani still manages to hold her own in her brief role. Navavasantham is one more movie about friendship that has released this year, and has an old-school treatment. It has its touching moments, and although clichéd, still moves you.

Priyamani and AnkitaPerformances Suneel's 'mimicry' is not convincing, because it has been obviously dubbed and not his own. But he still manages to hold the plot along with Tarun. Tarun arrived with a bang, like a rocket-but fizzled out exactly the same way. In no way is he any less talented than any of the other 'younger lot' but he needs good roles and characters. Akash remains stiff after his hiatus and Rohit suits his role and justifies his character. Priyamani stands out among the two female leads, stealing the show under Ankita's nose. Kota Srinivasa Rao does a good job portraying a cynic.

Music and Dance SA Rajkumar's music is just okay, with one melodious song. But it's quite forgettable.

Last Word Old school friendship story that has some touching moments. It's a decent and clean friendship flick, but drags during the climax. Watchable but not memorable. Like all other 'Supergood' movies, this movie is also technically mediocre including editing, photography and background score.