Like all most all the newcomers the sickening aspect of this director is protracted length and narration, where even a little issue takes too much of the time to be told to the audience. Kiran Govi has not left any spark to shine in his debut venture. He has made a straight narration and nothing is absorbing except the songs and a travelogue experience for the audience. The regular pattern of cinema is not the call of the day is what Kiran Govi and his age group colleagues should know first.
It is a journey (Payana) wasted. The bumper in this film is the inclusion of so many inconsequential scenes. Producers are paying the penalty ultimately believing the director who does not know the grammar of cinema making to the present day context. It is high time the directors are screened. For all the three releases of this week, strong scrutiny of director ability was essential.
Coming to 'Payana' a journey without purpose and journey without much solid novelty is the love affair of cab driver Ravi (Ravishanker) and foreign returned charming Kaveri (Ramanithu Chaudhary). In the process of travel to exotic tourists and historical important places in Karnataka the ordinary driver saves the modesty of an affluent girl and he falls in love with her. Expressing it is the problem for him like in innumerable films. Kaveri gets a surprise from her father, the posh bungalow to live and she is not willing to go against the wishes of her father. When Ravi returns Kaveri's laptop, the cab driver impresses Kaveri's father and he is given the post of a driver to drive their Mercedes Benz that is gifted to Kaveri. On an important ritual day Ravi is missing from the scene because of his mother's ailment and that in fact changes the whole atmosphere. Ravi is pooh-poohed for his absence and he is leveled the charges for running away with a precious jewel box. On his return the high class family knows that it is not his mistake. Kaveri is hurt deeply for meting such insult on Ravi. She decides to go back to America. Is it going to happen? If you have time you can watch it.
The soft and tender look from Ravishanker is missing. His age is not matching the age of his character. He looks rugged and not fit for the role. All cab drivers are some what rough in looks which is a bad misconception of the director that cannot be helped anyway. The dialogue delivery made by Ravishanker is good and he has taken a major turn from his comedy image from small screen to the movie. The beauty to watch is Ramanitho Chaudhary. The element that is best forgotten is the combination of Mandya Ramesh, Bullet Prakash and Rangayana Raghu. Sharat Babu has that agile look required for his role. Chitra Shenoy is wasted to the core.
Modadha Olage...Hanigala Balaga, Manasa Gange...Gupchup Gupchup and a sorrow song of SPB are worth hearing again. V.Harikrishna is not in a hurry to score music. He gives cool melody songs. Gnanamurthy has worked neatly in the camera department.
Slash 40 minutes of the film and you could watch this one.
Scoring 5/10
