Kalyan Ram’s Kathi has been in the news from the beginning more for its title than anything else. However, Nandamuri Kalyan Ram has promoted the movie well enough to keep his fans expect a film like his previous hit Athanokkade. Is Kathi sharp enough to make a cut at the box office? Let’s see

What’s it about: Ramakrishna (Kalyan Ram) is a decent footballer who is trying to be selected to play at National level. He has a doting family of two brothers, their wives and children. However the most important member of his family is his sister (Saranya Mohan). Though his sister is very naughty, Ramakrishna comes to her rescue almost all the time. Ram is selected to play Nationals, and his sister is about to get married to a well to do businessman’s son. However, one fine day his sister goes missing. His family, believing that she has eloped, convinces him that she will be safe somewhere and will comeback one day. As he sets off to play nationals, Ram rescues his sister, who is being chased by white dhoti clad goons lead by Krishna Mohan (Shyam). Who is Krishna Mohan, why is he chasing the girl who has been missing from her actual home and how does Ramakrishna react when he finds answers to all these questions – Find all the answers only in Kathi.

What is Good: Kalyan Ram performance is good as long as he performs within his limitations. Saranya Mohan is a decent actor and she can carry all kinds of roles. Sana Khan, does well in whatever little she gets to do. However, it is Kota who excels in the role of an egoistic villain of Rayalaseema. Shyam acts ditto like he has come out of the sets of Kick. Brahmanandam, Dharmavarpu, Venu Madhav are just OK.

The first half of the movie raises good questions towards its end, setting up the plot of the movie very well. It leaves enough clues and an intriguing problem for the audience to come back with an inquiring mind after the break. However, the screenplay in the second half of the movie takes it completely down.

What is bad: Even though the movie starts on an interesting note, the first few minutes are spent like the number of Telugu movies we have seen in the recent times. Incidentally, almost all the characters introduced in these minutes have NO role to play later! Then there is Sana Khan, who is there only to add a song in first half and one more in the second half.

It is the second half that comes across as a Telugu TV serial. There is a sad wife, hard hearted husband, a cruel father in law, and crueler father in law’s mother who has black teeth! All of them are set in a rural village in Kurnool. Then comes the bride’s brother who we know will solve the problems. His methods aren’t too clever, yet he wins over the cold blooded villains, changes hearts and ends everything on a positive note. Such movies, sometimes work on the charisma of its main leads. Kalyan Ram is no Jr.NTR, and once his limitations are exposed, the movie goes out of control.

Technical Departments: : Dialogues are good in parts. Mani Sharma, as usual, excels with his re-recording and, as usual has nothing great to add to the songs. Choreography in most songs is done keeping Kalyan Ram’s limitations in mind. Fight sequences are fair and shot well, though the last one isn’t as good as the previous ones. Art direction is appreciable throughout the movie.

Final Point: There are always scenes when one thinks the movie might step up and spring a surprise. However, the director fails to seize on such opportunities and ends up telling us a stale story.