Basthi Review

A few moments ago, his father-like non-brotherly 'brother' (Mukesh Rishi) was shot dead by a cold-blooded rival.  On the run along with his girl friend, the male lead while travelling in train says, "Station vachinattu undhi..", hinting to a lieutenant of his now-dead family member to get something to eat.  That is 'Basti' for you, where the persons feeling least sad over the death of Kota Srinivas Rao and Mukesh Rishi are their daughter and brother, respectively!

Going by the title you expect an action entertainer, but what you get is a male lead who is always running away from the danger zone along with his new-found love interest.  Ironically, he gushes with difficulty in the climax, moments after smashing an already self-bruised villain (Abhimanyu Singh), that lovers should never be tinkered with!  Please go on a killing spree, kill everyone related to them while they have a romantic honeymoon!

The film begins with Sai Kumar narrating the bloodied history of Bikshapathi (Kota Srinivas Rao) and the now-dead Sri Hari.  Ammi Reddy (Mukesh Rishi) is Sri Hari's Man Friday and who has always tried to bury the hatchet with a reluctant Bikshapathi.  Bhavani (Abhimanyu) is the bad-tempered son of Bikshapathi and who wants to perpetuate the rivalry with Ammi Reddy.  Ammi Reddy gets Bikshapath's daughter, Sravanthi (Pragathi), kidnapped without evil intentions just to teach Bhavani a lesson.  During her captivity, Sravanthi falls in love with Ammi Reddy's soft-spoken brother.  This is when Bhavani's impulsive behaviour changes the game.

Writing wise, the film smacks of some jaded ideas.  Even if the male lead was as masculine as a Puri Jagannadh hero, the result wouldn't have been worthy of notice.

If Shreyan looks too suave and sophisticated to be cast in a role like this, Pragathi is like a heroine's sister rather than a heroine.  There is nothing emotional between them once she realizes that she has met her liberator (but befoer that, some conversation about how they lost their childhoods).  An agony-filled childhood, two or three significant murders and all they can think of is have fun with Sathya (the comedian), Snigdha (the comedienne permanently mistaken as a comedian), and get married as soon as possible!

Snigdha's (as Pinky) alleged masculinity is overdone.  Snigdha gets prhibitively large space, her craze for booze makes for an over-the-top scene.  Saptagiri (as a sexually frustrated bachelor-marriage registrar) and Ali (as confused Creator-God) get to indulge in some double entendre.

A folkish song and a Qawwali-type number with Hindi lyrics are good.

Shreyan, actress Jayasudha's younger son, makes a fairly decent debut.  He looks good, acting-wise, he is as unconvicing as Arvind Krishna seemed in his debut film.  Pragathi looks too tender.

Gautham Raju's editing and Gunashekhar's cinematography are sub par.

Verdict: Archaic story-line and difficult-to-fathom non-emotions, 'Basti' has it all.

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