Pekamedalu Movie Review

Baahubali-fame actor Rakesh Varre made his debut as a producer with the romantic comedy Evvarikee Cheppoddu in 2019. He had also starred in that film, which went on to gain a niche following over the years. Four years later, the actor’s production banner Crazy Ants Productions is back with Pekamedalu. Starring Tamil actor Vinoth Kishan and Kannada actor Anoosha Krishna in lead roles, the intriguingly titled film promises to be a realistic psychological drama.

What is it about?

Laxman (Vinoth Kishan) is a lazy, no-good unemployed man who is addicted to alcohol and gambling. Despite having a good education as well as a family to support, he refuses to work in a job, thinking it is beneath him. He instead believes in becoming rich through quick-fixes and scams. He is also abusive towards his wife Varalakshmi (Anoosha) who is constantly trying to make a better life for herself and her son Rishikeshwar. Laxman’s scams go overboard when he plans to con Shweta (Rethika Srinivas), a rich divorcee, by pretending to love her, only to use her for money. But will Laxman be able to keep pace with his schemes to become rich? Or will life and reality ultimately catch up with his ruse?

Performances

Vinoth Kishan plays an unusual character. Laxman is deeply unlikeable from start to finish. You cannot root for him at all, nor does the film expect you to do so. However, most of the film hinges on his point of view. While Pekamedalu does not justify his actions, it often tries to give us a glimpse into the character’s mind when he thinks he is better than everybody else by scamming them. Vinoth plays this complicated role with ease.

Anoosha on the other hand gets a simpler role, but her Varalakshmi is often passive at the cost of highlighting Laxman’s character. The film’s few heroic moments emerge when Varalakshmi is giving it back to her husband.

Rethika Srinivas as Swetha and Anusha Nuthala as Varalakshmi’s neighbour and friend play their roles with the right amount of lived-in realism. The supporting actors who play the roles of Varalakshmi’s and Laxman’s family members, despite having brief roles, are also extremely believable and relatable in their performances.

Technicalities

Pekamedalu is shot mostly in real locations, in and around the Chaderghat bridge and other places in Hyderabad, which adds to the film’s gritty tone and texture impressively. The film’s cinematography also adapts itself suitably to the cramped locations it is set in. The movie’s dialogues also play a huge role in adding authenticity and curiosity to the world it is set in. Everything else about the film is strictly functional.

Thumbs up

Realistic storytelling

Thumbs down

Flat screenplay

Lack of strong conflict

Analysis

Pekamedalu is not a bad film, but it is not a great film either. Staying true to its title, the film seeks to display the futility of taking decisions that lack the foundation of empathy, common sense and basic ethics.

While Pekamedalu’s story held some potential, how the story actually unfolded over the course of two hours simply does not match up. For the first half of the film atleast, you are reminded a lot of Sree Vishnu’s Raja Raja Chora, as both these films have similar beats.

But Pekamedalu is not as funny or philosophical or entertaining as Raja Raja Chora. For most of the film, you are simply curious about how things end for Varalakshmi and Laxman, and whether things between Varalakshmi and Laxman will actually end someday or not.

Pekamedalu surprisingly does not take the path of optimism and happy endings. Much like life itself, things are both bitter and sweet out here.

Credit where it is due, Pekamedalu is consistently engaging. But the film takes its own sweet time to come to the point and overall, the audience never gets a feeling of understanding or positivity for the film’s characters and proceedings. Despite focusing a lot more on individual characters than the plot, Varalakshmi and Laxman are just the same people moving around in circles throughout the film. While that itself aims to communicate a larger point on their dysfunctional relationship, it creates a feeling of fatigue in the audience, who is naturally always expecting for more.

Bottomline – Middle Drop!