Pottel Movie Review: ‘Rangasthalam’ Level Telugu Film? Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s BOLD Comparison, Ananya’s De-glam Avatar Shocks, But Second Half DISAPPOINTS!

Cast: Yuva Chandra Krishna, Ananya Nagalla, Ajay, Priyanka Sharma, Tanasvi Choudary, Noel Sean, Chatrapathi Shekhar, Srikanth Iyengar, Jeevan, Riyaz, Vikram, and others.

Written and Directed by: Sahith Mothkuri

Music by: Shekhar Chandra

Cinematography by: Monish Bhupathi Raju

Edited by: Karthika Srinivas

Producers: Nishank Reddy Kudithi, Suresh Kumar Sadige

Production Companies: Nisa Entertainments, Pragnya Sannidhi Creations

Release Date: 25-10-2024

In the latest film Pottel, Ananya Nagalla and Yuva Chandra pair up in a film directed by Sahith Mothkuri, who made his directorial debut with the film Savari. Pottel has garnered unprecedented publicity for a small-scale cinema. Pan-India director Sandeep Reddy Vanga praised this film by comparing it with Ram Charan’s ‘Rangasthalam.’ The screenwriter Trivikram also raised expectations by lauding the film. Released on Friday (October 25), did this film meet expectations? Did it bring success to Ananya? Let’s see in this review.

Plot

The story unfolds in Gurramgadda village, located at the borders of Maharashtra and Telangana. The villagers conduct a festival for the village deity Balamma once in every cycle and offer sacrifices. It is believed that during this time, the deity possesses Patel (Ajay), the village head, who then prevents the villagers from progressing, particularly in education. On the other side, Pedda Gangadhari (Yuva Chandra) serves as the keeper of the sacrificial animals and secretly educates his daughter. When Patel finds out, he makes the sacrificial animal disappear. He threatens to sacrifice Gangadhari’s daughter if the animal isn’t found by the festival. What does Gangadhari do to save his daughter? Is he able to bring back the animal? What role does Bujjamma (Ananya Nagalla) play in this story?

Performances

Ajay, as Patel, delivers a powerhouse performance, surpassing even his impactful role in ‘Vikramarkudu.’ Newcomer Yuva Chandra excels as Gangadhari, a man desperate to educate his child and improve his village. Despite being his debut, he perfectly fits into his role. Telugu actress Ananya Nagalla gets a substantial role and shines as Bujjamma. Even in a deglamorized role, she delivers an exceptional performance. Singer Noel also got a significant role and did justice to it. Srikanth Iyengar and Chatrapathi Shekhar lived up to their roles, along with other supporting cast members who performed competently within their limits.

Direction

Director Sahith Mothkuri captures the essence of a rural 1980s setting right from the beginning, immersing the audience into that era within the first 20 minutes. He vividly portrays how the oppressed and weak were subdued during the Patel era, focusing on the prejudices rooted in caste and pride. The introduction of characters, the love story between the hero and heroine, and other scenes are well-handled in the first half. However, the second half seems a bit faltering. The director appears to rely too heavily on the villain’s oppression to drive emotional engagement, resulting in scenes that sometimes lack logical continuity. Nevertheless, the director succeeds in connecting the audience with the film’s underlying message.

Technically

On the technical front, the music and cinematography departments have performed well. The songs and background score positively impact the film. However, editing flaws are noticeable, particularly in the second half where scenes drag. The art department excels, recreating the atmosphere of the 1980s with their workmanship.