Balagam Review: “Balagam” is a Telugu-language drama film directed by Venu Yeldandi, which tells the story of Sailu (Priyadarshi), a meek and sensitive man who grows up in an extremely patriarchal family. The film takes place in a village, allowing the debutant director Venu to beautifully capture the rituals and traditions of Telangana.
The premise of the unpredictable nature of death allows Venu to build a poignant commentary on our existence, our silly conflicts, and the purpose of life. Beyond that, he also touches upon patriarchy and how women end up being collateral damage because of men’s egos.
The film’s plot revolves around a single event and the incidents surrounding it. While there is a dearth of content, Venu manages to pull off a film that is not yawn-inducing. However, it is disappointing that the importance given to Sailu’s character is not given to Sandhya, the female lead played by Kavya Kalyanram. She enters the story randomly and there is no closure for her character. For a film that is a supposed commentary on patriarchy, ideally, the director should have introspected on this characterisation. In the limited role given to Kavya, it is hard to judge her performance, but she proves herself adequate for the role.
The film begins with Sailu’s father not contacting his sister and brother-in-law for several decades over a minor feud. The brother-in-law too is not willing to give up. Contrary to these foolish men, Sailu shines as a meek and sensitive man. However, he is not without flaws – he is selfish and opportunistic. As Sailu, Priyadarshi gives his most brilliant performance yet. It is a given that he can liven up the mood in any situation with his cheeky one-liners and expressions, but in this film he proves himself capable of going beyond.
Balagam Review: Good Performance elevate the film viewing experience
The supporting actors who play Sailu’s parents and relatives deliver a strong performance. Particularly the actor who plays Sailu’s father almost overshadows everyone. The earnestness in everyone’s performance reflects onscreen and moves you. The wafer-thin plot may be based on a single event, but the film is carried by the actors’ performances, Bheems Ceciroleo’s impressive music, and Cinematographer Acharya Venu’s ability to exploit the rural setting and translocate us to the village.
Balagam ends up romanticising the simple life in a village, inadvertently revealing its cruel nature where a bunch of people decide who needs to be ostracised. The film’s commentary on patriarchy is a bit muddled, with the importance given to Sailu’s character not transferred to Sandhya’s. For a film that had the potential to deliver a strong message about patriarchy, the lack of development for Sandhya’s character is disappointing.
Despite the film’s flaws, “Balagam” manages to capture the essence of rural Telangana and provide a poignant commentary on life, death, and the importance of family. The film is carried by Priyadarshi’s excellent performance, and the supporting cast’s strong performance. The music and cinematography work together to transport the audience to the village and immerse them in the story. However, the film’s plot may be a bit overstretched and the lack of development for Sandhya’s character is a missed opportunity.
In conclusion, “Balagam” is a film worth watching for its performances, music, and cinematography. While it may not be perfect, it still manages to provide a poignant commentary on life, death, and the importance of family.