PremiumPottel Review: A rustic drama with Ajay's stellar performance
Pottel movie review: Ajay's deadly performance, realistic narration, and intense drama are major assets of this slow but rustic village drama.
Last Updated: 01.52 PM, Oct 25, 2024
Pottel Story
Pottel is set in the early ’90s in Telangana, where the Patels used to dominate. Balamma is a religious deity of the village, and every 12 years, a Pottel (Goat) is given as a sacrifice for the well-being of the village. Gangadhar (Yuva Chandra) is a shepherd, responsible for taking care of the Balamma Pottel. He is strictly against these activities and wants his daughter to receive a proper education. One day, the Pottel goes missing, and Patel (Ajay) becomes furious and warns Ganga that he will sacrifice Ganga's daughter if he does not find the goat. Did Ganga find Balamma Pottel and save his village? To know the answer, watch the film on the big screen.
Pottel Review
Sahith Mothkuri has directed Pottel, which is about a village under caste suppression. A man from a lower caste goes against the Patels, facing troubles related to his religion, all of this is showcased in Pottel. Films about caste suppression are nothing new in Telugu cinema, and a host of projects have been made on this subject. But what makes Pottel different is how it is narrated in a very realistic manner
The drama is intense, and the performances speak for themselves. Also, the look and feel of the film, the production design, and the earthy visuals make this film stand out from others. Sahith has cast Ajay as the Patel, who wants everyone to be under him. The casting is top-notch, and the way Ajay dominates the show is handled very well by the director.
Pottel has great moments of father-daughter relationships, village romance, caste suppression, and blind myths that are broken badly in the film. However, the pace of the film is quite slow and unsettles the audience most of the time. Pottel starts on a very good note, but the introduction of the hero, his romance, and how he manages to fight his issues are quite routine. There are so many scenes related to suppression that were not needed at all.
The runtime is one of the biggest issues of Pottel. At over 155 minutes, Pottel is dragged out for no reason. The first half takes forever to get to the main issue. There was no need for director Sahith to narrate the film in such a detailed manner. This bores the audience, and one gets restless waiting to see when the actual point will be showcased.
But the film has traces of brilliance, as the social issues are neatly drafted. The father's urge to get his daughter educated and how he goes about things are showcased well in the film. The climax is also handled properly, and the way Ajay performs in all his scenes during these tense parts is the best part of the film.
Coming to performances, Yuva Chandra is okay but is the weakest link of the film. He is the mainstay of Pottel and needed to showcase many emotions until the end, but the young actor only does what he can give best. A more accomplished actor would have made a significant difference and would have been a proper opponent to the likes of Ajay. But sadly, that does not happen, as Ajay dominates the show until the end.
Ajay is a star performer and proves what he can bring to the table if given a proper role. Be it his body language or the anti-emotions he brings, Ajay is at his best. His performance when he gets possessed is superb. Ananya Nagalla, the Telugu girl gets the best role of her career and does so well in her character. She gets a lot of scenes to perform and one particular scene where she gets hit in the stomach by the villain is heartbreaking.
Srikantanth Iyengar is okay as the school teacher. The rest of the cast is also okay. Pottel is high on technical aspects and has been showcased in solid light. The production design depicting the ’80s is superb. A lot of natural light is used, and this gives the film a unique look.
The dialogues are solid and those written for Ajay are amazing. The editing could have been a lot better as so many scenes which are routine and disturb the flow of the film should have been edited out. The reference to the time zone through various announcements in the film has been showcased in a superb manner.
Finally, Pottel is a social drama that sends a strong message. Stories like these have been narrated in the past but the presence of Ajay, the rustic visuals, and the intense drama make this film stand out.
Pottel Verdict
On the whole, Pottel is a film based on caste suppression. Though the pace is slow and the story is a bit routine, the strong performances, drama, and a gripping ending make this film a decent watch this weekend.