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A small-budget film, Matti Katha, directed by Pavan Kadiyala, is now out in theatres. The movie features newcomers in the lead roles. Let’s see how the film is.

 

Story:

Set in a village near Hyderabad, the film is about four college buddies, Bhoomayya (Ajay Ved), Srinu (Akshay Sai), Yadhagiri (Raju Aluri), and Raju (Bathula Teja). Except for Yadhagiri, the other three enjoy their lives to the fullest extent without worrying about the future. Bhoomayya loves Raji (Maya) and doesn’t like living in the village. On the other hand, we are shown about the land encroachments in the village. One incident changes the life of Bhoomayya upside down. What is it? What did Bhoomayya do next? This is what the film is about.

 

Plus Points:

Matti Katha benefits majorly from organic humor and soothing music. The rural atmosphere is nicely depicted, and especially the folk songs add weight to the proceedings. The fun moments involving the lead actors came out quite well, bringing pleasant smiles to faces. Students might relate to a few scenes.

Though this is his first film, Ajay Ved displayed immense maturity in his performance. He is adorable as Bhoomayya and portrayed the emotions brilliantly. Akshay Sai, Raju Aluri, Bathula Teja, Ruchita, Balveer Singh, and Maya performed well in their given roles.

The protagonist’s grandmother, played by Kanakavva, explains the system of Razakars in a scene, and it is well-executed. One of the friends drops out of college due to monetary issues at home, and this entire portion makes one teary-eyed.

 

Minus Points:

An incident completely changes the protagonist’s life, and the film turns highly serious in the final act. While one expects a good finish, the film ends abruptly with a social message. This brings down the impact considerably as the story seems incomplete.

Most of the recent films are criticized for lengthy runtimes, but here, the situation is quite contrasting. It seemed that the makers wanted to keep things simple, and this might draw mixed reactions.

The first half of Matti Katha has pacing issues, and it takes time to get connected to the characters. The proceedings gather momentum from the mid-portions. The film might not go well with the masses as it doesn’t have elements that attract them.

 

Technical Aspects:

Music composer Smaran Sai did a great job with the songs. Particularly, the one sung by Kanakavva’s character is superb. The background score is also impressive. Sainath showcased the beautiful countryside through his lens. The editing could have been better.

Despite budget limitations, there is honesty in the storytelling. Director Pavan Kadiyala extracted solid performances from newcomers, and if he can take care of a few aspects, he will have a bright future.

 

Verdict:

On the whole, Matti Katha is a rural drama that has good performances from the lead cast. After a slow start, the film gets on track with a few comedy and emotional scenes, but the abrupt ending brings down the impact. The movie may not appeal to all as it doesn’t have the typical commercial elements. If you love watching rural dramas, Matti Katha ends up being a passable watch.

123telugu.com Rating: 2.75/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team

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