Story
In a village called Purushothapalli, a group of friends remains very close until their EAMCET results are released. An OC student fails to secure a government seat despite having a decent rank, while another student gets a government seat with a lower rank. A heated argument causes the group of friends to split into two. A mishap occurs during the village's Jathara, a festival celebrated every 12 years. The rest of the story follows how these groups of friends make an effort to reunite during the Jathara after 12 years. There is also a political angle.
Artists Performance
Most of the actors are new faces, bringing a lot of freshness to the screen. Prasad Behera, a familiar face from social media, is part of the students' gang and has done a commendable job. Every actor who played the role of a student performed well. Sai Kumar once again showcases his expertise in an antagonist role. Goparaju Ramana is good in a positive role. Sri Lakshmi is brilliant as the grandmother, and her makeup is excellent. Producer Niharika Konidela makes a special appearance in a satirical election song.
Story - screenplay - direction: It’s the story of a group of friends spanning 36 years, with events taking place 12 years apart. Director Yadhu Vamsi uses a mishap as a turning point and builds the screenplay around it. He also portrays emotions naturally. The humor in the first half, depicting friendship among the kids, is shown organically. The romance is handled well, though a boy repeatedly kissing a girl without her consent feels regressive (but things like this might have happened in those days). The director has taken special efforts in getting the dubbing right representing the Godavari accent. The director handles the sentimental aspects of the story well, although the second half appears sluggish. He also provides a realistic ending. However, the large number of characters, especially with so many friends in the group, can confuse the audience as each has an individual backstory. The pre-climax and climax should have been more engaging.
Other departments: Music by Anudeep Dev is very good. He drew inspiration from the 'Happy Days' soundtrack while composing a few songs and the background score for certain scenes. Cinematography by Raju Edurolu is natural, despite the limited budget. Production design by Pranay Naini is authentic. Editing by Anwar Ali is adequate. Action choreography by Vijay is decent. The dialogues, written by Venkata Subhash Cheerla and Kondal Rao Addagalla, are well done. Production values by Pink Elephant are solid.
Analysis: "Committee Kurrollu" is an authentic film naturally narrated by debutant director Yadhu Vamsi. The film's strengths include its fresh cast, authentic backdrop, music, and the first half. On the flip side, the second half could have been more engaging, and the climax could have made a stronger impact. This film definitely provides nostalgic moments for kids of the '80s and '90s.