Kathanam HD Released

Kathanam is a film that tries oh-so-hard to not just be unique, but also intelligent and fast-paced, and yet it fails at it all. By the end of the film you wonder why some of the scenes are even placed in the film and come up short of a logical conclusion, just like the film. Director Rajesh Nadendla tries so hard to fool the audience and distract them from the ‘twist’ in hand; he ends up losing track of the story he wants to tell.

Anu (Anasuya Bharadwaj) is an assistant director to Maruthi who is waiting for that big break in the film industry. Her best friend Dhana (Dhanraj) is also looking for an opportunity to play varied roles instead of the usual side roles he plays in films. But what happens when Anu pens a story for four old producers and realises that everything she has written is coming true, including the gruesome murders. Do Anu and the ACP (Ranadhir) she has teamed up with and who never questions her motives manage to save the day?

In the film there’s a scene where after Vennela Kishore’s character, writer CK is brought in by Dhana, he says that the best way to make a movie is by picking up plot points from two flop films and no one will notice. Except, Rajesh’s film seems awfully reminiscent of hit films like A Film by Aravind, Arundhati and even Bhaagamathie in bits and pieces. Putting aside the fact that the film seems like an awful mish-mash of other films, one never knows why CK existed in the first place, especially seeing as how he takes up a major portion of the first half.

Kathanam is also anything but the gripping or thought-provoking thriller it seems to sell itself as. Devoid of any commercial tropes and with Anasuya leading the show, one truly goes in expecting more. The film's story just goes from bad to worse in no time, with the melodramatic climax being the cherry-on-top. Anasuya too, after her powerhouse performance as Rangamatta in Rangasthalam, fails to hold the audience’s attention, delivering a subpar act. Srinivasa Avasarala is the only actor who shines in the muck, except the way his character is handled is supremely laughable. The film’s RR is extremely loud and the cinematography has nothing to write home about. Give this one a major skip unless you’re a fan of Anasuya. You’re not missing out on much.