Athadu Aame Priyudu review: Yandamoori's directorial is a never-ending rant on modern-day relationships

Story:

Bheemaraju leads a happy life until the death of his sister transforms into a cold-blooded murderer. A middle-aged Ravi is stuck in a loveless marriage with his wife showing little interest in him. Pravara is a playboy with no real interest in love or relationships and changes his girlfriends at the drop of a hat. On a night where it's raining cats and dogs, Bheemaraju and Pravara seek refuge in Ravi's household. A startling revelation by Ravi turns their worlds topsy turvy.

Review:

When someone had asked noted Telugu writer, producer Aluri Chakrapani about the message he intends to convey through his films, this is what he had to say - 'If anybody wants to give social messages, let them send telegrams to viewers instead of making films.' These are the words that Yandamoori Veerendranath ought to have heard before he set out to make Athadu Aame Priyudu. The film is a relentless attack on youngsters and their indifference towards meaningful relationships.

Athadu Aame Priyudu is two hours of non-stop moral lecturing, about how the youth today doesn't understand the true meaning of love, commitment and relationships and changes their hues conveniently. The film takes a dig at live-in relationships, divorces, flings and how the younger lot is responsible for the degradation of society and its moral values. It passes judgements way too easily without making any effort to comprehend the times we live in and feels like a never-ending rant of a disgruntled elder.

A story about three men with contrasting approaches to relationships, stuck at a house on a rainy night, may have made for a good opportunity to generate drama, pave way for a few interesting conversations. This effort doesn't pass muster at all, either with filmmaking or writing. The treatment of the premise is too old-school and has the vibe of a dull DD serial made in the 90s. There's an attempt to bring in tension through the apocalyptic angle but not for once does this film feel believable or honest in its storytelling.

But for Sunil, the actors in the film have a screen presence akin to a piece of wood. Sunil is the only one in the cast making some effort to inject vigour into the proceedings despite his unfunny lines. The others appear like they've gone bankrupt and someone has stolen all their money. Kaushal may have played a murderer in the film but behaves more like a saint who has come to the world to offer enlightenment. Benarjee isn't a bad performer though he clearly looks disinterested in a lifeless portrayal of a middle-aged man.

Nagaraju Talluri's music is as old-fashioned as the film and doesn't offer much respite. If Yandamoori's attempt was only to deliver a sermon, he'd have rather done it through his YouTube channel than make a film about it. His stature in vernacular literature remains unmatched even today, but it's high time for the veteran to make an honest introspection about his strengths as a filmmaker. It's never too late. 

Verdict:

Athadu Aame Priyudu is another disastrous attempt by Yandamoori, the director. The film is nearly unwatchable for the most part, has a pathetic plot, terrible performances and is let down by its old-school, amateurish treatment. It is less a film and more a moral science lecture. Why Yandamoori? Why?