Story
Satya (Shiva Kumar Ramachandravarapu) is an aspiring actor who struggles to make it past auditions and is widely regarded as a poor actor - even by his own father. Self-centered and accustomed to the privileges of a wealthy family, he receives advice from a friend to travel far away and experience various emotions by living as an ordinary person. Satya heads to Kerala, where he encounters a stranger named Salman (Nithin Prasanna) in a village near Kochi. Staying as a guest in Salman's home, he begins to learn about life and, in turn, about acting. The story then follows his journey of self-discovery in both life and craft.

Artists Performance

Shiva Kumar Ramachandravarapu does a commendable job as the protagonist. Playing a character who initially acts poorly is challenging, but he shines in the role. Nithin Prasanna delivers an excellent, natural performance, with impressive Telugu dialogue delivery. His mimicry of Kamal Haasan in Telugu is also a nice touch. Sruthy Jayan is convincing as the neighbor, while Viva Raghav is very effective as the protagonist's friend, displaying excellent Telugu diction. Dayanand Reddy is well-cast as the hero’s father.

Story - screenplay - direction: This film is a slice-of-life journey about self-discovery, with the director Rishikeshwar Yogi skillfully crafting a naturally flowing story centered around friendship. Salman’s love story is charming, and the second half has a few quirky moments, especially when the duo gets drunk and does some amusing things. The climax is well-written; rather than opting for a traditional happy ending for the protagonist’s love story, the director chose a poetic conclusion, presenting the main character as a traveler unattached to people or places. It’s refreshing to see 30% of the dialogue in Malayalam with Telugu subtitles in a Telugu film, and it works nicely. The protagonist’s journey of self-discovery is portrayed convincingly. Despite a few flaws, they’re easily overlooked, considering it’s an independent film on a limited budget.

Other departments: NYX Lopez’s music is well-composed, and Fahad Abdul Majeed’s cinematography is beautifully picturesque, capturing the charm of Kerala’s Kadamakkudy with its scenic backwaters, lush greenery, and boats. The production design feels authentic, and the dialogues are well-written. Editing by director Rishikeshwar Yogi is seamless, and the production values are fitting.

Analysis: Narudi Bratuku Natana is a fittingly titled film that follows the journey of an aspiring actor from a wealthy background who learns the art of acting by living humbly and traveling far from home. Set in Kerala, with a fair amount of Malayalam dialogue, the movie has the distinct feel of a Malayalam film. True to that style, the director takes a leisurely pace in storytelling. It’s a slice-of-life film best enjoyed at a relaxed pace.