Suhas (centre) in Dushyanth Katikaneni’s Telugu movie ‘Ambajipeta Marriage Band’
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
First-time director Dushyanth Katikaneni’s Telugu movie Ambajipeta Marriage Band just isn’t an simple watch. The emotional rollercoaster drama can go away its viewers with a lingering sense of dread, in a state of turmoil, fascinated by the characters and their plight effectively after the movie is over. Suhas and Sharanya Pradeep put in terrific performances as twin siblings within the story of the combat for dignity in Andhra Pradesh’s Ambajipeta.
The setting is a village by which caste discrimination runs deep. ‘Based on true events’, declares the title card and although we are able to guess the broad strokes of the storyline, the characterisations and the questions the narrative brings up make an affect.
The 132-minute movie is tautly written and narrated and wastes no time drawing consideration to the undercurrents of caste oppression. In the course of the story we study that a number of elders within the village have taken loans from Venkat Babu (Nithin Prasanna) who, not surprisingly, has usurped lands when they’re unable to pay up.
The generations of exploitation is the backdrop by which the present-day kids have to seek out their voices. A younger girl within the village might need earned her submit as a authorities college trainer on benefit, however the oppressor will make it sound like she obtained the job due to him. Padma (Sharanya Pradeep) is one such girl who works as a trainer and doesn’t hesitate to handle Venkat by his identify reasonably than connect a ‘sir’ or ‘babu’. As anticipated, this doesn’t augur effectively with Venkat and his coterie. Her character is the movie’s spine.
Ambajipeta Marriage Band (Telugu)
Director: Dushyanth Katikaneni
Cast: Suhas, Shivani Nagaram, Sharanya Pradeep
Storyline: In a village the place caste discrimination runs deep, twin siblings should combat for dignity.
The titular music band can also be intrinsic to the narrative. Padma’s twin brother, Malli or Mallikarjun (Suhas), is a part of the titular marriage band and the twins’ father runs a salon. The setting is 2007, when the movie songbooks have been nonetheless being outdated. Setting the story within the years simply earlier than the smartphone increase provides the makers scope to take a look at what may have occurred within the village earlier than social media and YouTube movies have been doable. In an interview with The Hindu, Suhas said that the movie is partly impressed by actual occasions that Dushyanth had noticed in his village.
A love story unfolds on anticipated strains between Malli and Lakshmi (Shivani Nagaram is spectacular), Venkat’s sister. Even earlier than Venkat learns of this and issues blow up, Dushyanth builds the strain by displaying how rumours are sometimes focused at girls who hail from humble households and Padma is on the receiving finish.
While Malli is characterised as a contented go fortunate one that charms his option to Lakshmi’s coronary heart, Padma is relatively restrained and is the extra accountable sibling. She doesn’t imagine in an eye for an eye whereas he can get right into a scuffle. In an early scene, he admits to being frightened of nocturnal animals when the household sleeps outdoor. She doesn’t cower in concern. As this scene performed out, I puzzled if Padma would give in to concern afterward? Dushyanth springs a shock in how he reveals the siblings combat again to have their dignity after being pushed to the brink, significantly Padma.
Suhas is the face of Ambajipeta Marriage Band and will get ample scope to show his appearing prowess. He portrays the native swagger with ease and is on level in showcasing the vulnerability and rage required for the later parts. He doesn’t miss a beat and turns in a strong efficiency. What is heartening is the equal scope that Sharanya will get in a well-written character. She even will get a mass second and the viewers befittingly clap and cheer for her. In the a number of movies the place she has been forged in supporting roles, Sharanya has usually come throughout as a reliable actor. Ambajipeta… faucets additional into her potential and she is nothing in need of unbelievable.
Dushyanth additionally makes the supporting characters rely, particularly Jagadeesh Pratap Bandari as Sanjeevi. This is a personality that we root for because the movie progresses. The identical goes for Goparaju Ramana because the bandmaster and the actors who play the twins’ mother and father. At one level, an aged character is requested if being indebted to a mortgage shark means dropping all self respect, and the query hits exhausting and adjustments the plan of action. Ambajipeta… raises many such questions, together with that of dignity of labour for these within the music band and the salon, when it stays within the practical zone of portraying relationships within the backdrop of social discrimination. It takes big cinematic liberties, particularly in the direction of the top, and not all of this hits the bull’s eye. However, the narrative is usually impactful.
The movie additionally reveals how violence towards girls is used as a device of oppression and some parts are disturbing. Dushyanth contrasts the dignity with which Malli treats Lakshmi versus how his sister is handled by the oppressors.
Had the characterisations of Venkat Babu and his brother been extra multidimensional, the drama would have been higher. Nevertheless, there may be a lot going for Ambajipeta… Shekar Chandra’s music works its magic by means of the background rating that matches into the zone of band music and goes from enjoying well-liked movie numbers to some hummable authentic numbers. The band music additionally turns into a device for rise up.
Ambajipeta Marriage Band is an absorbing drama anchored by winsome performances, and Dushyanth Katikaneni makes an assured debut.