Vimanam Movie Review
A small-concept film starring notable names such as Samuthirakani and Anasuya is bound to grab the attention of moviegoers, and “Vimanam” accomplished just that.
Let’s delve into the movie and see if it has any merit.
Story:
Veerayya (Samuthirakani) is a disabled, impoverished man who resides in a slum with his fourth-grade son, Raju.
Raju has always aspired to fly. Veerayya often takes Raju to Begumpet Airport to witness the planes taking off.
On the same day Raju receives admission to the prestigious Korukonda Sainik School, Veerayya receives devastating news: his son has leukemia.
The doctors inform Veerayya that Raju has only one month to live. Considering Veerayya’s financial constraints, purchasing a plane ticket seems impossible.
Will he be able to fulfill his son’s wish within such a limited timeframe?
Artistes’ Performances:
The film’s hero is Samuthirakani. With his touching performance as a disabled poor father, he makes us feel sentimental. Although his Telugu dialogue delivery is not flawless, he is credible in the role. Master Dhruvan’s portrayal of Raju is endearing.
Rahul Ramakrishna and Dhanraj are okay in their roles. Anasuya performs neatly as a prostitute.
Technical Excellence:
The film is made on a limited budget. The cinematography and art direction are adequate for this budget. Both songs and the background music are over dramatic in the manner of SA Rajkumar.
Some of the dialogue is corny. The attempt to write in rhyming verse is particularly in bad taste. “Kancham Kottevaadini Choosa Mancham Kotte Vaadini Ninne Choostunna”, for example, sounds awkward with Kancham-Mancham prasa.
Highlights:
Samuthirakani’s acting
Couple of scenes in the second half
Drawback:
Old-school narration
Rahul Ramakrishna-Anasuya thread
Over sentimental drama
Analysis
We frequently hear in the news about young children suffering from cancer and other life-threatening diseases who wish to meet their favorite celebrities. The core concept of “Vimanam” is similar. However, in this story, no celebrity appears to grant the child’s wish. The plot revolves around a poor and disabled father who endures numerous hardships to fulfill his son’s dream of flying in a plane.
How much does his wish cost? A little over Rs 10,000. The director chose to set the story in 2008 to make it an impossible dream for the impoverished father to achieve, as acquiring Rs 10,000 in 30 days seemed unattainable. The father’s character is portrayed as disabled, making a living by operating a sulabh complex.
The director may have felt that these issues alone were not sufficient for the audience to empathize with the father’s character. Scenes like the government demolishing the Sulabh complex during road widening, thereby destroying his livelihood, are used to reinforce the belief that the father’s character will be unable to afford the flight ticket. The father’s character faces more problems and suffering throughout the story.
To create emotional drama, the director employs various techniques to emotionally manipulate the audience. However, this does not imply that the film lacks genuine emotional moments. There are instances in the second half that genuinely bring tears to our eyes. Yet, the feeling that the director relies on outdated techniques to evoke sentimentality persists.
Furthermore, the entire episode involving Rahul Ramakrishna and Anasuya is awkward, especially within this type of drama. The sequence of Rahul Ramakrishna hiring a photographer to capture Anasuya in various poses so he can indulge in inappropriate activities is in extremely poor taste.
The final climax sequence elicits mixed reactions as well. However, the main point of “Vimanam” is touching.
Overall, despite its good intentions, the narration of “Vimanam” feels dated and relies on every trick to evoke sentimentality, which often comes across as theatrical.
Bottom line: Old-school sentiment
