Cheluvina Chilipili is enjoyable

Cheluvina Chilipili is a neatly presented Kannada film that deals with teenage lovers and their confused outlook towards education and love. It is also a message oriented film for both parents and youngsters. The film is a remake of Varun Sandesh-Swetha Basu Telugu starrer Koththa Bangaru Lokam.

Director S Narayan who has directed this film for his son Pankaaj and newcomer Roopika has changed the climax portions to make it much more interesting. He has been able to get rock solid performances from Veterans as well as the newcomers. The performances of experienced theatre artists like Sundar and Rajendra Karanth as well as veterans Anant Nag and Sumalatha is laudable.

Another plus point is the picturisation of the songs which have been remade from the original. The picturisation of Enadho Enadho, Nijaanaa Naanenaa and Chakora songs deserves a mention.

At times, the film also reminds you of Kamal Haasan's [ Images ] classic Maro Charithra.

The first half of the film is a real treat, but the second half is a bit slow in the narration. The film comes to life after the death of the hero's father. Some of the comedy sequences of the film could have been chopped off to make the film more interesting.

The story is about Balu who has just joined an engineering college along with Swapna, the daughter of a rich and strict father. Both are living in hostel (we're yet to see a co-ed hostel) and start loving each other. They are unable to understand whether the attaction between them is just infatuation or love. Very soon the lovers land in hot water when their photographs appear in a local newspaper on Valentine's Day. Swapna is taken to her village by her father while Balu returns to his house. Afftected by the separation, Balu goes to Swapna's house and promises her father that he will marry her only after completion of his studies. Whether he makes good on his promise forms the rest of the movie.

Pankaaj is a releavation in the film. He is much better than his first film although he needs to improve his dialogue delivery. Newcomer Roopika is bubbly, mischievous and looks good in the songs. The veterans have performed their roles with ease.

Music by Micky Meyers is top class. The background score is brilliant. Camera work by Jagdish Wali is good too particularly the song sequences and the Rajahmundry backdrop sequences. Editing work is very good too.

All in all, Cheluvina Chilipili is an enjoyable film.

Rediff Rating: