Director: Vinod Anantoju
Cast: Anand Deverakonda, Varsha Bolamma, Chaitanya
Language: Telugu
In his directorial debut, Vinod Anantoju is clear about what he wants to show in Middle Class Melodies. He wants to show on the big screen the daily lives of middle-class people in a village near Guntur. And he does so in spades. Even as the title credits roll, we come across relatable conversations and relatable problems – an aspect that makes this film a winner from the get-go.
Raghava (Anand Deverakonda) is a young man with big dreams. He dreams of opening his own hotel in a city like Guntur and make his ‘famous’ Bombay chutney even more famous. His parents have their suspicions about his lofty dreams but support him either way. There is even a charming love track between Raghava and his childhood sweetheart Sandhya (Varsha Bolamma) which witnesses a sudden pause. Amid Raghava trying to figure out how to make his business boom and his relationship woes, there are tales of money lost, an aspiring politician, a young man who believes in horoscopes and more.
Middle Class Melodies captures the heart of the titular community and makes sure it gets all the details straight. In one of the fun scenes written in the film, Raghava is on the lookout for a place for his hotel when he comes across an exorbitant rental option. This scene is followed by a conversation on changing capitals of Andhra Pradesh and rising real estate prices. Another moment where Raghava adds his own twist to his mom’s Bombay chutney recipe is inspired. Even as he serves his parents, he moves away to watch their reactions and cherishes it. It is not just the emotion and the drama; Middle Class Melodies has touches of comedy… something that again feels extremely relatable. Take the scene where Sandhya has a conversation with a local grocer about recharging her phone number. The extremely slow-paced grocer takes his time even as Sandhya is in tears. Middle Class Melodies is sprinkled with such heart-warming moments that never fail to leave you with a smile.
Anand Deverakonda shines as an angry young man with big dreams. He is effortlessly charming and can carry the role with ease. Varsha Bolamma is no exception. Some of her lines are best written in the film even as she shows grit and clarity in all conversations. A special mention to Chaitanya as Gopal, Raghava’s friend. Gopal’s superstitious beliefs come to a standstill as life teaches him harsh lessons.
A hat tip to Vinod Anantoju for the amazing cast who fit the script in every song and sequence. Be it the struggling milkman who is yearning for money, the middle-aged uncle who never stops reading the newspaper, the brash auto driver, and even Tharun Bhascker (director of Pelli Choopulu), the casting is done with a lot of thought and precision.
Taking a leaf out of Malayalam cinema, Middle Class Melodies concentrates a lot on the location that the film is based out of. As a result, Guntur and Kolakalaru occupy centre stage. But it is Guntur and the dreams of succeeding in a big city that finally make this film relatable. The micro aspects of the city, like its foodscape, are covered beautifully and give their own tribute to middle class dreams. Middle Class Melodies is all about love, hope and success. The film wins with its charming tales and characters and makes us fall in love with the world all over again.
Rating: 3/5
