Emi Sethura Linga review: A gentle, simplistic tale of self-discovery and ambition

3/5

Story:

Bhanu Prakash is a frustrated, demotivated youngster stuck in the corporate rut who’s desperate for love. While multiple attempts to woo women don’t work in his favour, he accidentally bumps into Swecha, a free-spirited accountant. They find solace in each other’s company. Swecha helps Bhanu rediscover his long-lost passions. However, is he ready to pay the price for his choices?

Review:

It takes some effort to be drawn into the world of Emi Sethura Linga, especially for a writer fed with outings featuring hyper-masculine, insanely perfect men week after week. Bhanu Prakash, played by Vinod Varma, isn’t your mainstream male with machismo, good looks and is barely flamboyant. He’s strictly average; he’s awkward, disoriented and is demotivated towards his job. To begin with, you don’t root for him, but you gradually find answers beneath his frustration.

Emi Sethura Linga is a simplistic tale about a 20s something man coming to terms with himself, his ambitions and what he seeks from his life. There are many bumps in his path and the narrative is all about how he deals with his internal/external demons. Though it has ample scope to be a full-blown drama, first-time director Sandeep opts for a measured, subdued tone. The film is poignant, light and imperfect at once and yet you can’t deny its earnestness.

The film struggles to get going in its first stretch. Bhanu’s confusions, his equation with his casteist boss and a Malayali colleague don’t quite strike a chord. The storytelling appears sketchy and you aren’t convinced why this protagonist’s story deserves to be told. Only with the arrival of Swecha, the film find its feet.You not only get to explore Bhanu’s undiscovered passions but also understand Swecha’s reason behind leading an unapologetic life.

There aren’t many cinematic highs or lows in Emi Sethura Linga - Sandeep wants to dig deep into a man's psyche as he breaks free of his shackles and owns up to his decisions. The choice to play out the friendship between theatre actors in two different phases of their life is intriguing. The filmmaker, however, could’ve done a better job at drawing a parallel between their on-stage and personal conflicts. The visual and the dramatic impact aren’t as strong as you expect them to be.

Beyond Bhanu’s story, there are a few other silver linings in the film - especially with its understanding of inter-generational clashes. Be it Bhanu’s father or Swecha’s mother, there’s a genuine effort to understand their side of the story and the older generation isn’t stereotyped. The portrayal of a modern-day, independent woman is progressive too. It’s a relief to hear an urban woman in a Telugu film describe sex as a mere physical need like eating and drinking and it doesn’t slut-shame her for the same.

Vinod Varma fits the bill as the confused corporate employee who comes of age but the tone of his performance could’ve been livelier. Gnaneswari Kandregula does a fine job as an independent woman with an uncanny sense of humour and has an endearing screen presence. Pawon Ramesh is impressive in a crucial role and Ananda Chakrapani comes up with a winning performance as a stubborn father who takes time to respect his son’s choices. Meka Ramakrishna and Keshav Deepak, as dependable as ever, make a mark in brief roles.

There are a handful of instances where the budgetary limitations come in the way of director Sandeep’s vision (cinematography, production design in particular) though he doesn’t let it tinker with the soul of the story. The hand-drawn sketches and the animation segments are reasonably innovative. Jen Martin’s music is certainly is one of its major highlights, you sense the effort of the composer to understand the ambience. For its simple, sensitive story, this film deserved a better title than Emi Sethura Linga.

Verdict:

Emi Sethura Linga is a feel-good, coming-of-age tale about a 20s something man told with earnestness. While the film is far from perfect and lacks finesse at places, it’s straight from the heart sans any pretension. Watch it and it’ll definitely make you think of the gaps between your reality and your dreams.