The Background:
Directed by Subhash Chandra, Godari Gattupaina is a romantic entertainer that created decent buzz with its unique promotional campaigns. The film stars Sumanth Prabhas and Nidhi Pradeep in the lead roles, while Jagapathi Babu and Laila appear in key supporting roles.
The Story:
Raju (Sumanth Prabhas) quits his studies after Class 10 and starts working as an auto driver. Though he initially clashes with Maya (Nidhi Pradeep) due to unexpected situations, he eventually falls in love with her. Maya, an engineering student and academic topper, shares a deep bond with her father Shyam Babu (Jagapathi Babu). She dreams of marrying the man chosen by her father, but slowly develops feelings for Raju after witnessing his honesty and kind-hearted nature.
However, with the two belonging to different castes and Raju being an auto driver, did Shyam Babu accept their relationship? Could Raju’s goodness change his mindset? Did Raju and Maya finally unite? The rest of the story unfolds around these questions.
The Good
Sumanth Prabhas and Nidhi Pradeep deliver decent performances, even though they do not leave a strong impact. Jagapathi Babu fits perfectly into the role of an affectionate father and carries the character of Shyam Babu with ease. However, the writing does not give the role enough depth or intensity.
A few emotional moments in the latter half work reasonably well, especially the scenes leading into the pre-climax. Sudarshan also manages to bring a few laughs with his comic timing in certain portions.
The Bad.
The basic premise of Godari Gattupaina feels outdated, as Telugu cinema has explored similar themes many times before. The film fails to convincingly establish why the lead pair falls in love and later drifts apart emotionally.
One particular scene, where the heroine realizes her love after being slapped by the hero, comes across as cringe-worthy and poorly executed. The screenplay remains inconsistent for most of the runtime, while the twists towards the climax are highly predictable. The melodrama too feels old-fashioned and overdone.
Laila, who plays the heroine’s mother, is severely underutilized. Her character lacks importance and is not given any memorable or impactful moments.
The Worse:
The first half hardly offers any engaging moments, and most of the romantic scenes feel silly and forced. While Sudarshan provides occasional comic relief, several scenes involving him and his friends fail to land and appear bland.
Director Subhash Chandra attempts to touch upon serious themes like caste differences, religious harmony, and the stigma faced by auto drivers in certain sections of society. However, these sensitive topics needed far stronger writing and impactful scenes to create the intended emotional effect.
Screentime:
The predictable and flat storytelling gives the audience plenty of time to browse through their mobiles during the film.
Takeaway
The decent performances from the lead cast, along with a few comedy and emotional scenes, are the only saving graces of the film.
Bottom Line:
Godari Gattupaina: A bland love story that misses emotional depth for most of its runtime.
Rating: 2/5
