'Om Bheem Bush' is directed by Sree Harsha Konuganti. Produced by V Celluloid and Sunil Balusu, the film is currently playing in theatres. Let's find out its hits and misses.
Plot:
Dr Krish (Sree Vishnu), Vinay Gummadi (Priyadarshi), and Madhav (Rahul Ramakrishna) accidentally step into Bhairavakona, a village where a centuries-old ghost named Sampangi has been on an occasional rampage. The villagers believe that the ghost is seething with rage because of its unfulfilled desire. The trio consisting of Krish, Vinay, and Madhav, gains the goodwill of the villagers by effectively resolving their issues. This success irks a group of Bhairagi Tantriks who resent losing influence in the village. They challenge the trio to enter the feared Sampangi Mahal and unearth a hidden treasure dating back to medieval times.
Performances & Technical Departments:
Sree Vishnu enjoys doing comedies the most. He brings to the table the style of the 'Thammudu'-era Pawan Kalyan while positioning himself as the 2020s Victory Venkatesh. In fact, in a scene in 'Om Bheem Bush', he is referred to as Venky Mama probably consciously, in an attempt to allude to his Mr. Dependable credentials.
Priyadarshi's portrayal initially depicts him as equally unintelligent as his companions, but later shifts to show his exasperation with their foolish antics, somewhat impacting his characterization. However, his performance compensates for these inconsistencies. Rahul Ramakrishna delivers a good performance.
Preity Mukundhan is overshadowed by her father's aggressive character. In the one long scene of consequence she gets to be seen, the dim light obscures her presence. Ayesha Khan looks like the queen of oomph in her intro scene. Later on in the film, she gets to mouth a couple of lines. Priya Vadlamani (as a dancer in a song) and Kamakshi Bhaskarla (as a professor's daughter) play cameos.
Cinematographer Raj Thota and music director Sunny MR show sparks of talent. Thanks to the production values being worthy, their talent gets justice.
Analysis:
Three lead men are depicted with distinct abilities and personalities. One possesses an unusual talent for communicating with spirits or ghosts. Another has a knack for charming the most attractive women while providing solutions to various issues, ranging from erectile dysfunction to uncovering mysterious treasures. The third character views the other two as his biggest sources of frustration. The characterizations could have been so 'Jathi Ratnalu', but director Sree Harsha doesn't veer into that zone.
From slapstick comedy to buddy comedy, from horror-comedy to social comedy, the film tries its hand at everything. Horror-comedy is its most pronounced genre, though.
At times, the film expects the audience to convulse with laughter and yet, some jokes don't land because of their derivative nature. The first half could have been far more entertaining and consistent had the characterizations been clear-cut. The three lead men are scientists because they have some modern tools. And these functional and useful tools make them look wise in the eyes of the gullible villagers. Just as you think you got the point, it is made to seem as if the three men are inefficient conmen masquerading as specialists. Also, the three men seem to talk amongst themselves all the time. This makes it hard for the audience to understand how they manage to be seen as go-to guys in a village otherwise inhabited by accomplished Tantriks.
And then comes the second half, making all complaints melt away. The template of the horror-comedies here is wedded to a message that is both sensitive and progressive.
Vox Verdict:
The film's premise advises against seeking logic and consistency, encouraging viewers to enjoy the comedy scenes independently. The second half, particularly, is immensely entertaining, especially for those who have a fondness for the horror-comedy genre.
Rating: 3/5
