Choosi Choodangaane

Choosi Choodangaane doesn’t pretend to tell a novel tale right from the get-go. You know what’s going to come next and nothing really surprises or disappoints you on-screen. And that is not necessarily a bad thing. Siva Kandukuri picks a smart film to make a debut with, not disappointing the audience but also not letting them expect much from him.The first-half of the movie spends its time at Siddu’s college, with seniors ragging him to go talk to Aishwarya. What happens next is no mystery and lo and behold, they fall for each other, go on ice cream dates, watch movies and avoid friends, just like any other couple. To anyone who has seen the trailer, it’s not a surprise that this relationship doesn’t end well. Director Sesha Sindhu Rao cleverly doesn’t add weightage to the content she showcases on-screen. Thankfully, the film is devoid of unnecessary comedy tracks or worse, action scenes. For a refreshing change, all you get to see is engineering students falling in love and following their passion.When Siddu chooses to follow his passion for photography after college, he disappoints his mom. He also bumps into Shruti, who has a surprise for him. While Siddhu is surprised by what she has in store, it feels quite illogical to see on-screen. But you don’t mind much because writer Padmavati peppers the film with feel-good dialogues. Shruti’s characterisation is such a saving grace to the film, you really wish she was there in the first-half too. Varsha pulls off the role beautifully and is a natural, not to mention, beautiful to see on-screen. The subtle comedy makes you smile and Rajesh Khanna and Venkatesh Kakamanu truly deserve more such work. The climax is as sugary sweet as the film and it works.Shiva Kandukuri plays the boy-next-door to the tee but he doesn’t have scope to disappoint either. However, his acting needs improvement, so do his expressions. Debutant Malavika delivers a stable performance and looks beautiful too. Varsha, the more experienced of the lot, of course outperforms them all. She is a promising addition to the Telugu film industry. Gopi Sundar’s music work out in few scenes but they’re definitely not his best work.Movies like Choosi Choodangaane are like a comforting plate full of carbs – they might be regular, don’t bore or disappoint you, but fill the stomach. If you’re craving for a popcorn watch this weekend, give this a try.

On the whole, Choosi Choodangane is a typical romantic love story which has some passable moments. Shiva Kandukuri and Varsha Bollama stand out but a slow narration and lack of effective drama takes the film down at regular intervals and makes it just an okay watch this weekend. Watch it only if you have nothing else to do.

Choosi Choodangane is a rom-com that doesn't resort to low-hanging fruits. It has an interesting plot. Don't expect a Sekhar Kammula-type entertainer. Suffice it to say that it's watchable. There are stretches that could have been far more engrossing.