'Vivaha Bhojanambu' is currently streaming on SonyLiv. Here is our review of the latest OTT release.
Story:
The story is set in Hyderabad and it is the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. Mahesh (Satya), the ultimate miser, marries Anitha (Aarjavee), who is the daughter of a rich man (Srikanth Iyengar). The father-in-law is mighty conscious about his class status. Mahesh, who sobs at the prospect of having to spend money on anything, is forced to feed the in-laws and their many family members when a sudden lockdown is announced by the government. The rest of the story is about how Mahesh manages to win over his irritated father-in-law by the time they leave his place.
Analysis:
When the lockdown was announced in March 2020, it triggered a wide variety of memes and WhatsApp jokes. 'Vivaha Bhojanambu' feels like a visual representation of those enjoyable jokes. The situations in the film, which is headlined by a formidable Satya, are quirky and sometimes even relatable. The jokes land, especially in the first half.
Writer-director Ram Abbaraju doesn't take his material too seriously, which is what the blockbuster 'Jathi Ratnalu' did earlier this year and came out with flying colours. The film enters the story without wasting much screen time. By the time the first scene is unfolding, Anitha has already delivered the bombshell of her love affair to her father. Srikanth Iyengar's hilarious ordeal is introduced before Satya's Mahesh starts tickling the funny bone. As his mathematically challenged brother, late TNR is fun to watch.
Sudarshan doubles up as Satya's sidekick as well as the emotional anchor in the male protagonist's life. The chemistry the duo strikes is worthy. Comedian Viva Harsha as an always-bragging government employee named 'Influence' Raju is another plus. It would have been good had he had a couple of more scenes. Shivannarayana, as the hero's father, brings to the table his innocuous expressions that elicit the required laughs.
The first half is thoroughly watchable, while the second half is comical in a halting way. The track involving Sundeep Kishan, Satya and others could have been less stretched-out. Even here, the eccentricity of Kishan's Nellore Prabha sits pretty with the overall madcap feel of the movie. Dayanand plays a cop, while 'Fun Bucket' Nithya is seen as the heroine's 'bava'-hating sister.
The climax comes with an emotional touch; it's here that Satya's character gets a well-rounded finish. The serious scenes that unfold between the key characters could have been more touching, though.
At 2 hours, 'Vivaha Bhojanambu' knows how not to overcook its broth. The customer is served what is right, what is nutritious, with some minor quibbles about a few side items.
The performances are uniformly good in general. Satya, on the other hand, is a cut above the rest. He carries whole scenes on his shoulders and delivers a dekko. After 'Mathu Vadalara', he proves his mettle once again. Srikanth Iyengar gets more space than even the female protagonist; he could have been more comical, given his character. AniVee's background music is a plus, while the cinematography is adequate.
Verdict:
'Vivaha Bhojanambu' is a meal served right. It's not heavy, it doesn't take itself too seriously, it has a funny first half.
