Debutant director Shanmukha Prasanth’s film Writer Padmabhushan has more than one story to tell. On the surface it seems like the coming-of-age tale of a young man who struggles to find faith in himself, but as the film progresses, the layers are peeled back and important social commentary is made. Writer: Padmabhushan (Suhas) from Vijayawada already has a title to his name. He dreams of someday being as great as Sri Sri or Gurujada Apparao. The only hitch? No one really seems interesting in reading his book. He doesn’t even want money for it, he just wants someone to read it at his best friend’s saloon or pick up the free sample he left on their bike in the parking lot. One fine day, he’s brought out of obscurity. Sarika (Tina Shilparaj) and her father (Goparaju Ramana) claim to be big fans of his work. She’s so besotted, she even wants to marry him. But, there’s a twist in the tale. To reveal anything more would be an injustice because it needs to be watched on-screen. While you might predict some of the twists coming as the film progresses, you really don’t know what craziness Prasanth is going to unleash next onto Padmabhushan and you. There are some hilarious moments that follow, especially in the second half and the film ends on a familiar, predictable (if you’ve been paying attention) but heart-warming note, leaving you with a smile on your face. Writer Padmabhushan spends most of the time on its titular character. The more you find out about his quirks, especially when it comes to dating, the more you warm up to the character. While you might not understand his struggle to find the drive to write again, you’ll definitely relate to his tics when it comes to romance. The sweet relationship he shares with his parents, Madhusudhan Rao (Ashish Vidyarthi) and Saraswati (Rohini) is one of the film’s highlights. And while scenes involving Kanna (Gowri Priya) add to some delightful comedy, they’re just not as effective as Padmabhushan’s rapport with the rest of the cast. Venkat R Shakamuri’s cinematography is intimate but the songs by Sekhar Chandra don’t always work, adding to the runtime. Suhas is a complete delight and does well what’s expected of him. While he also gets a chance to show off his moves, it’s the laidback way with which he rattles off his dialogues that remains with you. Ashish and Rohini’s performances also elevate the film, with the film also examining their characters’ relationship well. Tina is adorable and Goparaju is dependable as ever. The rest of the cast also play their parts well. Writer Padmabhushan is the kind of film that’s perfect to watch with your family. It might not always be logical, but it has its heart in the right place.Read more