‘Bachchaala Malli’ movie review: Allari Naresh is this boring movie’s saving grace

Allari Naresh in ‘Bachchala Malli’ Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In a time of chest-thumping bravado when films are constantly filled with lofty highs, it’s heartening that filmmaker Subbu Mangadevi has chosen to tell the story of a loser without any regrets. His Bachala Malli It is about a dysfunctional young man Malli (Allari Naresh) who despite overcoming his failures, follows a self-destructive path.

Malli is, by no means, your average male hero. He barely acknowledges his mother’s presence in the house, sewing sacks for a living, stealing donation boxes from children to drink at a local bar, engaging in petty fights with fellow customers. You are slowly introduced to his not-so-rosy past as he falls off his bike, lying unconscious on the road, with no one caring about him.

The film crosses multiple timelines – from 1985 to 2005 – focusing on key events that change the course of Malli’s life. Every setback inevitably leads back to his ‘daddy’ issues. Malli cannot agree with his father’s decision to leave his mother for another woman; He almost deliberately destroys himself. He sinks lower and lower, leaving little room to sympathize with him.

issue with Bachala Malli It’s not the titular character or his problems, it’s the directionless story. A film doesn’t necessarily have to come to a conclusion, but it can at least make us feel for its characters. Its problems are compounded by tired, over-the-top storytelling.

Amrita Iyer and Allari Naresh in the film. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The film moves from one tragic incident to the next – the number of victims of Malli’s actions keeps increasing. While dealing with the love track with Kaveri (Amrita Iyer), it is based on the age-old trend of Telugu directors – taking a shy, well-educated girl attracted to a notorious guy (read stalker) and turning it into a romance. To present as. The girl even slaps him, but he remains adamant and does what he wants.

The irony is that the women in the story are the silent victims. The mother (Rohini), who has been abandoned by her husband (Kota Jayaram) and son Malli, does not have the ability to challenge their authority and put them in their place. Malli’s stepmother is portrayed as a victim of circumstances. The clash of egos between men – the father (Rao Ramesh) and the lover – does not allow Kaveri to follow her path. Malli’s niece Rajyam (Hari Teja) is an eternal giver and never loses hope despite her mistakes.

Except for a powerful climax where Malli repents, his character arc remains largely constant. Veteran actors Rao Ramesh and Rohini prove their range as actors, especially towards the end. Bachala Malli It had plenty of scope to be an emotionally rich story but it neither had the masala charm nor the roots of a realistic film.

While the entire film is about Malli, the brief subplot surrounding a saree shop owned by her niece Rajyam and her husband (Praveen) has more substance. The section about Malli’s stepbrother and her mother had possibilities – consider how Pushpa It was born out of such a struggle. Achyuth Kumar is wasted in the typical role of a snobbish businessman.

Allari Naresh’s hunger to re-establish himself as an actor-Nandi is quite clear in their roles in Ugaram, Maredumili Prajanikam, Na Sami Ranga, aa okkati adakku and now Bachala MalliHowever, now is the time to err on the side of caution and choose stories that work as a whole rather than for the characters or the background. Here too he gives a strong performance, but sadly the film gives him very little in return.

Apart from Naresh, the film has a good mix of talent – ​​Harsh Roshan, Ankit Koya, Praveen, Hari Teja, Rohini and Rao Ramesh – who shine in the scope of their roles. Amrita Iyer gets a raw deal in a lively role without any substance.

On the technical front, the staging is dull, like a loud dramatic play, while the cinematography and editing do little to save the film. Vishal Chandrashekhar’s shoddy music disappoints, though to be fair the situations in the song are hardly compelling.

Bachala Malli This makes for a tiresome watch, not even providing the comfort of a satisfactory resolution. Like Malli, you feel tired and frustrated.

(Bachchaala Malli is running in theatres)