The Malayalam film Pani was released in Telugu as a dubbed version with the same name. The film received a positive response not only in Malayalam but also in Tamil Nadu. With that confidence, it was released in Telugu. Let’s see how the film, directed by Joju George, fares.
Story: Don Sebastian (Sagar Surya) and Siju (Junaiz) start committing murders for money. On the road, Gauri (Abhinaya) catches their attention, and they behave indecently with her, while her husband, Giri (Joju George), confronts them. What did Don and Siju do in their anger? How did Giri handle them? What did he lose because of that? Did their spree of murders come to an end? This forms the plot of the film.
Performances: Everyone has performed well in their respective roles, but Abhinaya has put in the most effort. It takes immense courage to perform in the intense scenes featuring her. While it’s uncertain how this film will impact her career as an actress, it is undeniable that she took significant risks with her role. Sagar Surya and Junaiz delivered convincing performances as psychotic characters. Their lack of fear in any scene and the detailing of their criminal mindset are commendable. Joju George, despite having limited screen time, made a strong impression. Similarly, Kasini, who appeared in a few scenes, conveyed emotions effectively through her eyes.
Technical Aspects: It is noteworthy that director and actor Joju George chose a very simple story for his directorial debut. However, on the technical front, there were no compromises. Every scene appears visually stylish, and the composition of the chase scene, in particular, provides a good thrill. The pace is a bit slow and there is a lot of dullness in the film. The production values are good but the screenplay could have been a lot better. The production design is amazing and so was the camerawork. The BGM was also neat.
Analysis: Joju George has turned writer and director with this film and his work is not that great. As he has played several villain roles in his films, the negative touch aspect in this film is a bit weird. The rape scene involving Abhinaya was depicted has drawn significant criticism from Malayalam and Tamil analysts, highlighting the director’s questionable choice in presenting such content.
Even in 2024, there is no need to depict rape in such a raw and unsettling manner. Using such scenes to elevate villainy is neither advisable nor necessary, especially when there are ways to reduce the intensity. For some reason, Joju chose to portray the scene in an unsettling and explicit way, which detracts from his directorial skill. If he had approached the scene more sensitively and sensibly, his talent as a director could have been better highlighted.
Similarly, his handling of two other romantic scenes also bordered on being excessive. This approach impacted not just the commercial success of the film but also the respect he could have garnered as a filmmaker. Nevertheless, the film excels in areas like cinematography, music, stunts, production design, and casting.
Verdict: Overall, Pani is a film that has content that strikes a point. But the needed emotion to showcase that was not executed properly in the film. Jogu George shines with technical aspects in his debut film as a director but the rest of the film is boring.
Bottom Line: Nothing new
Rating: 1.5/5
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