‘KA’ movie review: Kiran Abbavaram’s ‘karmic’ action pack packs a few surprises

Kiran Abbavaram in ‘KA’ | Photo Credit: Special Editing

Comebacks are always interesting, especially if the character is willing to look back and understand what went wrong in the first place. After a series of missteps, a resurgent Kiran Abbavaram is back with a holiday release, with a mysterious title. KAcapitalizing on a strong story over the heroism of the male protagonist. The period thriller offers a rich blend of action and emotions with a karmic twist.

Set in Krishnagiri, a mythical hill town shrouded in darkness at 3 pm, the film unfolds in a series of flashbacks spanning many decades. Abhinaya Vasudev (Kiran Abbavaram) is an orphaned, happy-go-lucky postman who treats the villagers like his extended family. When several women in the village go missing and Vasu’s lover is almost kidnapped, he sets out to find answers.

Debut directors Sujith and Sandeep hide the basic premise with a new script. However, more than the screenplay, what impresses you is their keen eye for detail. Vasudev’s work comes with a strong background of a traumatic childhood. He grows up intellectually reading the books of others to overcome loneliness and gain a better understanding of family responsibilities.

Krishnagiri and its mysteries, subtle pleasures and rich tapestry of characters, are presented to the viewer with child-like enthusiasm through the eyes of Vasudev. Helping the villagers by reading and writing books, the main character has a good excuse to support his childhood habits, which soon land him in trouble. The romance with Belle Satyabhama is basic but works.

The storytelling is interesting, as the film is deceptively structured as a kidnapping drama, where the backstory of many of the main characters is explored. The first hour is a mishmash of every possible genre – crime, romance, comedy, suspense – used to establish many layers to the small town setting and the main character’s philosophy while teasing the audience with the idea of ​​the story.

Throughout the film, the device constantly transports the characters to a specific timeline, helping them examine their decisions and understand the consequences. Although the juicy revelation that leads to the break turns the film on its head, laying a solid foundation for an interesting contest, it loses its fizz later on. The drug overdose of ‘world building’ and detail affects the slow pace and saps the joy of the film.

Again and again, the directors try to emphasize that Vasudev is an orphan. It doesn’t help that he transitions so easily from postman to detective to jilted lover to rebellious hero. Thankfully, he is still working hard to solve the mystery of the missing women in the area, away from the world of CCTV footage, expert teams and mobile phones.

KA it relies heavily on production, technical finesse and music to transcend into cool territory. Just when you’re about to stop watching the movie, the great ending swings the momentum in its favor. A brilliant light action sequence, where the entire village is disturbed and Vasudev chases away the perpetrator in a bullock cart, provides the right combination of intensity, emotion and heroism.

However, the best part of the film is not the action but how it cleverly shifts gears with the talk about destiny and karma towards Shankaracharya’s. Bhaja Govindam. As an interlude, the directors create a tear-worthy cinematic with well-timed turns. Dialogues summarizing the cycle of life, birth and death complicate the film.

Like Vasudev, Kiran’s innocence is his undoing Raja Vaaru Rani Gaaru days, free from larger-than-life activities. Nayan Sarika’s role (as Satyabhama) deserved more prominence, but she proves talented in acting, as she proved her worth in No again Bench Life (web series) and.

Veteran Achyuth Kumar’s strength is not tested much in the part of common casteist Ranga Rao. It’s hard to understand what Redin Kingsley – whose timing depends heavily on his unintelligible Tamil accent – is doing in a rare Telugu film. Tanvi Ram plays a pivotal role and proves her finesse. Saranya Pradeep, Annapurna, Bindu Chandramouli and Ajay are in the lead in extended cameos.

The producer duo Sujith-Sandeep deserve a big chunk of credit for giving a new spin to a fun time and bringing out some excellent performances from the young cast and crew. Cinematographers Viswas Daniel and Sateesh Reddy Masam bring the rural scene to life with their imaginative lighting and camera angles in a retro setting. Sam CS’s aggressive musical score makes heavy use of the action-packed script.

KA it is not without its shortcomings, although it is light compared to the ambition in writing and technical finesse. It’s fun with a difference.

KA is currently running in theaters