Paarijatha Parvam, a lightweight crime comedy with modest ambitions, is a timepass fare at best, writes Srivathsan Nadadhur
After KVR Mahendra’s Bharatanatyam, Paarijatha Parvam is the second crime comedy this month that is also about the movies, turning the spotlight on desperate film aspirants, creepy producers and how a crooked plot to get filthy rich overnight goes horribly wrong. This time, the film is in safer hands with a better cast, consistent writing and an assured filmmaker.
Paarijatha Parvam, helmed by Santosh Kambhampati, is more in the zone of Brochevarevarura-meets-Money. The director opts for a slapstick treatment and keeps the plot intentionally basic. Two gangs hatch a plan to kidnap a film producer’s wife on her birthday. The intent of both parties is the same – to get enough money to make their passion project on their terms.
If the first hour is all about establishing the motives of its pivotal characters leading to the crime, the later part of the film is confusion comedy, where everyone tries to outsmart the other. Chaitanya is an aspirant director who falls in love with the house owner’s daughter while Sreenu is a goon on the rise. The former’s dream script is based on Sreenu’s rags-to-riches story.
The quirks in their lives are undoubtedly the asset of the film and the director keeps finding ways to make the proceedings more colourful. Chaitanya is adamant that he makes his first film only with his actor-friend Harsha while the former’s girlfriend dreams of a career as a costume designer (referencing Rama Rajamouli and SS Rajamouli’s equation).
Before he turns a goon, Sreenu, a Chiranjeevi fan, works at a bar amidst his small-time acting assignments and stands up for the dignity of a cabaret dancer. Even if the film pokes fun at their lives, it acknowledges that they too have dreams. The humour isn’t golden standard but is meaty enough to surprise you when you watch it without expectations.
Like most crime comedies, Paarijatha Parvam too has a second-half syndrome, where the gags turn repetitive, the comedy veers towards silliness and the storytelling isn’t all that fluid. As you find ways to tolerate this dull stretch, the film gradually gains momentum again with a few timely twists.
The actors generally hold the fort, even as the script loses its sheen now and then. Just when you expect the finale to be explosively funny, the suddenness of the ending is slightly disappointing. But for the film industry backdrop, not much about Parijatha Parvam is strikingly original. It isn’t wild/witty enough to be consistently entertaining.
Chaitanya Rao is proving to be a natural with comedies and his timing keeps getting better after Keeda Cola and Annapurna Photo Studio. Viva Harsha, as a wannabe actor, is very much at home being a funny sidekick. Just a week after Geethanjali Malli Vachindi, it’s such a joy to witness Sunil on song again in a lighter vein after a spate of serious, intense roles.
Shraddha Das is a pleasant surprise and smartly cast as Sunil’s romantic interest, her strong screen presence just shows that there’s a lot of fuel left in her tank. Malvika Satheesan, playing the quintessentially dumb Telugu heroine, is good while she lasts. Srikanth Iyengar, Surekha Vani, and Sameer reinstate their worth as dependable performers yet again.
The film makes a strong impression with its cinematography and production design – it’s not merely aesthetic or colourful alone but also comes with good attention to detail, staying true to the mood of the ambience. Paarijatha Parvam is a timepass fare that has its moments – it neither disappoints nor overwhelms you.
Rating: 2.5/5
