Godavari- A cool breeze
Uppongele Godavari oogindi le cheloo vari….
Godavari is like beautiful painting filled with all the bright and light colors of life. It’s as fresh and original as newly bloomed flower. It shows every aspect of a youth’s life so nicely. Be it the relationship between a grown-up daughter and her parents, her aspirations to do something in life, a youth who believes that he can change the country’s fate by joining politics. A girl who is confused about what she wants from a marriage, love or stability? A genuine guy rejected for being himself. Don’t we see these things happening to us? The characters were sketched so beautifully keeping the entertainment intact.
Sita (Kamalini Mukharjee) is a self made girl who believes in individuality, who stands up for herslef and fights for right things, but at the same time short tempered and stubborn. Ram (Sumanth) a soft spoken, simple, intelligent graduate from USA who returns to India to join politics. He is in love with his uncle’s daughter Raji (Neetu Chandra) who turns him down for not being able to settle in life. Destiny brings Sita and Ram in the same boat in their journey to Bhadrachalam, which turns into a journey of two opposite people falling in love.
The story is so simple and out of life. Nothing is out of place. The actors were at their best. Sumanth and Kamalini outdid there previous performances. For me the surprise element was Neetu Chandra. She suited the role so well. I could not believe that she is the same girl from Garam Masala. The credit goes to the director who brought the best out of them.
Some of the scenes were so into human psyche. I couldn’t stop chuckling to myself when Sita thinks about the guy her parents showed. “How does he look”? OK. “How is it to kiss him”? God! Shekar how did you get that scripted? The scene where Sita insists that Ram give her the same look as he gave to Raji. The scene when Sita cries in front of bamma. Scene where, Sita tells everything to her Mom. I can go on and on. I really enjoyed the relationship between Chinna and the dog. It was hilarious.
Taking was just awesome. Every scene is captured with at most beauty. I have never seen Godavari river till date and I don’t think I would have got a better view. Cinematography was so clear and crisp. The boat, gushing river, paapikondalu, greenery, beautiful Sita and Raji in amazing sarees; everything adds to the beauty of every single frame. Songs were so picturesque, especially the rain song where Shekar managed to capture the rainbow. Music by KM Radha Krishnan was very refreshing; my favorites are “Uppongele Godavari” “Andhamgaalena” “Manasa Gelupu”. While “Uppongele Godavari” and “Andhangaalena” has a beauty of its own “Mansa Gelupu” was very touchy with strong feel of confidence in it.
I have to see the movie once gain to find more amazing things. Eagerly waiting to own a DVD. Also, will make it to take that launch to Badhrachalam when I visit India next time. Thank you Shekar Kammula, for this cool breeze in hot summer. Godavaru is one more feather in his cap after Dollar Dreams and Anand. I hope he keeps this trend of movie making and won’t get carried away with so called mass-image, collections and formula based movie making.
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
Godavari is one piece of an art that you need to treasure. So simplistic, so true to the human nature, so true to the realities, so true to the struggles, so true to all the essence of life that you are taken in a hypnotic ride throughout the movie. You come out of the cinema hall refreshed with the journey that Sekhar had taken you through. The journey of Godavari.
@ Sudha.. One of the most amazing “new concept” was the dog track. There was no scene where i didnt laugh when the dog track was on.
The scene were Sita tries to seduce ram
The scene were Sita is rejected by the groom..and her parents reaction
The scene were Ram says he will comeback after two months at the exact time to meet the CM
The entire picturization of Manasa Vaacha song..
Truly amazing
Guys/Gals we have always wondered who would succeed Hrishida.. Sekhar is a strong contender for the post.. Watch out for this amazing craftsman
- is it on DVD with subtitles?
Sumeet – The name Sekhar reminds me about an unfinished article… where did I see it? :-?
@Sumeet, yes it indeed was one artistic piece according to me. What I like abot his characters is they are real, so they are not always right as our typical filmi heros and heroines.
@OZ, it is out on DVD with subtitles. Din’t you watch Dollar Dreams? it fetched Shekar National Award for best regional fim.
Yeah Oz it is on DVD with Subtitles.. how bout watching it together this weekend? Dude i have really been working on that article for quite sometime.. but now.. thanks to Sudha.. i will do it asap.
@ Sudha.. Speacial mention to Radhakrishna the music director.. No song felt unwanted in the movie..
Take anyone i mean ANYONE
tappalu tippalu
Oppenge godavari
Rama Chakanni
Mansa Gelupu
Andangalena
Manasa Vaccha
All these songs just moulded into the story. the dialogues.. just what you and me speak in real life. The Boat Captain was amazing. Alright.. i am outta it.. and gonna finish my article
@ Sudha correction.. Dollar Dreams fetched Sekhar a national Award for best Debutant director..
@ Sudha: Great post. And you beat me to it. I wanted to do a “SriGanesh” on PFC with a biiiiig post on Godavari – and it then got delayed for so many reasons. I better hurry up and finish the article soon.
@ Sumeet: Yes! Radhakrishna the MD. Not just the songs – even the BGMs are awesome and sooo sensible. What a great idea to use “thyagaraja, ramadasu kritulu” to evoke the right emotions. And the use of yaari hain iiman mera (snehamera jeevitham) tune during the one of dog scenes.
BTW, did you notice the similarities between Bapu-Ramana’s Andala Ramudu and Godavari? Starting with the launchee and pullattu lady – to that old lady (baamma) who does Rama pooja most of the time – cheeky heroine, sober hero – et al. Also noticeable are striking similarities between Anand and Godavari.
@ WB we can do a post on the striking similarities between Anand and Godavari.. Just like how we can do for maqbool and Omkara( Thanks Kartik for that).
I havent seen Andala ramudu.. but i do remember Sekhar saying that he was inspired by Andala Ramudu, and he wanted to pay a tribute to the Godavari river and Papi Kondalu, as papi Kondalu will be brought down.
yeah WB go ahead yaar i want to see your post on Godavari. hey how about one on Sye?
@Sumeet- Thanks for the correction
Also I like your idea comparing Anand and Godavari. Some where at the back of my mind I wanted to compare the characterisations, especially his heroines( Rupa(Anand), Sita(Godavari) )
@wb- Thanks. Ya, Godavari is my Sriganesh. Sorry I beat you, but still you should comeup wih your version.
About the Andala Ramudu, Shekar clearly mentioned that he was majorly inspired by Bapu’s movie. May be one of us can come up with comparision.
- Sudha, this is an insider info. You actually beat 3 people who were planning to do their Sri Ganesh on PFC by writing on Godavari. :d
Teesra kaun!?
- Bhootnath
That was Oz playing peek-a-buddha!
- WB, YOU ARE ON F-ING FIRE!!!!!!!!!! GLAD TO SEE YOU BACK HALE AND HEARTY AND GET GOING, GET YOUR BLOOD CHECK AND OFF YOU GO WITH PATNI, BACHCHE AND “WOH” TO THE DEPARTED!!!!!!!!!! (eeks… the caps represent my excitement to see you back!!!!!!!!) :d
@Oz.. That is excalty what i was thinking.. WB is on Fire baby… Good to see you back with the same zest, energy.. ohhh and what was that term we use here all the time..ahem.. Passion.. haan.. PASSION.. OZ, get him on tonite’s radio show..We Want WB…We Want WB…We Want WB….
Oz – Donno about Fire or Water (Deepa Ben ko gussa kyon aata hain?) but it really feels good to be back. And hell yeah, nothing (I hope
) is gonna stop me from watching Departed tonight…
Sumeet – Thanks for your kindness, mate – you’re the nipple of my eye – and you are making me blush (which is quite a feat actually – making a dark – and thick – skinned married geek blush) ! Re radio show, I am quite eager to stop by as well, but definitely not this weekend. I have a few necessary evils to take care of. But first, Departed it is! And hey, thanks for the Sye idea – great stuff can be written about Rajamouli – how about collaborating on that?
Hai sudha,
Your description of the movie is really excellent. I really appreciate it. I think you have good taste in movies. I really appreciate it
the end credits just finished rolling, and i had my laptop ready to belt out my views because i remembered someone had done a post on godavari.. and sudha, your really nailed it with your review, i must say. this is one of those movies that makes you experience each character’s plight with such simple innocence. i felt for ramu, i felt for sita, i felt for chinna and the dog.. hell, i even felt rajeshwari’s confusion in her alliance with ravindra.. the girl just couldn’t make up her mind! which btw was so hilariously portrayed by sita in her “talking to herself” modes.. (”she can’t even make up her mind about what sweet she likes” referring to the laddu or jhangiri or bhadushah)
each actor was simply a delight. i need to rent me some more of sumanth and kamalini’s movies. and NEETU CHANDRA??? :o FROM GARAM MASALA TO THIS?!?? hoooly…
and the cinematography.. i just can’t say enough about it. i just wish i’d gotten to see this one on the big screen.. but even on the small screen, it made me want to book my ticket back home and go aboard one of these boats! this was akin to p.c.sreeram or santosh sivan’s work.. definitely a strong contender.. mr. vijaya kumar, who are you?
and as for sekhar kammula, i think i’ll just say that i’m putting anand and dollar dreams on my queue right away.
my first telugu movie-watching experience. if i was hrithik, i’d give it three thumbs up, but i’ll suffice for two.
good review.. !:d/
Yes. You very aptly described the movie. I agree that Sekhar Kammula has given us two most beautiful movies…Anand & Godavari
I really love this article so much
I dont have any website :(. do we need to have one.I’m ardent admirer of Godavari movie and liked Anand too.
wow man just brilliant movie makin….. hats off to shekhar kammula…. i jus want to make movies like him…. continue d good work…
hi Godavari and Shekhar Kammula sir fans. really enjoyed the movie a lot, but can someone post the movie with english subtitles either on youtube 123onlinemovies.com or somewhere where everyone can watch the movie for free. advance thanks to the person who does do that. thanks. please post the website that u have posted the subtitle version in. really appreciate it. :d