Before we even break down Varudu Kaavalenu, we must applaud Lakshmi Sowjanya for attempting to make a simple and elegant flick in a sea of mass masala. The film might have its lows but it’s refreshing to see a (mostly) woman-centric film in Tollywood. Lakshmi does a good job of fleshing out Bhoomi (Ritu Varma). Be it the way she talks to her mom Prabha (Nadiya), men and even employees at the office, she’s the boss lady who has less tolerance for nonsense. Akash (Naga Shaurya) returns back to India and takes up a project with her. He is impressed with how empowered she is and falls for her. While they fall for each other, they also share a past and complications arise. As the film progresses, the director almost seems too obsessed with Bhoomi, exploring her various facets. The first half ends on a decent note but the ride to there is too slow to handle. It’s only in the second half that things pick up pace. We’re taken back to their college days peppered with action sequences. The dialogues feel artificial in a few scenes when they could’ve been more realistic. You can see the influence of numerous Tollywood and Bollywood blockbusters in the second half but we’re glad the scenes aren’t recreated as they are. Bhoomi’s father (Murli Sharma) addresses some hard-hitting facts about parenting and it’s here the writing shines. Saptagiri’s comedy track spills some laughs and Ritu’s handloom outfits are a delight. Naga Shaurya seems to have developed a maturity when it comes to picking unique scripts. Not to mention the fact that he groomed himself to look the part. He looks like the perfect Varudu in the film. Ritu grabs more screen-time than Shaurya and is graceful as ever. The fact that she performs well is not a surprise. Nadiya, Murli Sharma, Vennela Kishore and others too perform well. Sure, Varudu Kaavalenu, is by no means a perfect film but its drawbacks are negligible. It’s a film that’s meant to be enjoyed with family. But if you’re looking for some masala, this is not it.Read more