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Cast: Sumanth, Colors Swathi, Subbaraju, Shafi, Tanikella bharani, and others
Story: Hari Mohan Paruvu
Music: Kalyani Malik
Editing : Shravan Katikaneni
Cinematography: K K Senthil Kumar
Produced by: P Ram Mohan
Story, screenplay, directed by: Indraganti Mohana Krishna
Release date: January 15, 2011
What's it about!
A famous school Golconda High School is going through financial problems to run it. One of the directors of the trustee that runs the school comes with plan - to convert the vast land of play ground into a commercial building and set up a coaching center there. The principal of the school (Tanikella) opposes this idea put forth by the director (Subbaraju). The principle believes that play ground is important for kids for their holistic education. And he brings in ex-student and former cricketer Sampath (Sumanth) to train the school's cricket team so that they could excel in sports and bring back the glory to the school. Sumanth takes the challenge of board directors that if the school's cricket team wins in the coming inter-school championships, the playground wouldn't be touched upon. So how this coach will train the boys who never won a single mach and turn them into champions? That is the rest of the story.
Analysis
Rarely do we come across films that tread off the beaten path in Telugu film industry. Director Indraganati Mohan Krishna has chosen unique script based on the engrossing novel, The Men Within , by Harimohan Paruvu. The plot line - that a former champion (who has a past that also bogs him down) turns the boys team into a champions team against all odds - is highly motivating and every Indian can easily connect with the backdrop of the subject - cricket. So that makes director Indraganti's job easy. What is tough is that making audiences go with the story that hardly has any twists and create scenes that arouse sympathy or empathy. Well, the director able does it. To the most part, he succeeds. Except that the film lacks pure gripping and tense moments, Golconda High School, by and large, is a neat and appreciable effort.
Any drawbacks? Yes, the antagonist is not strong. Even the cause - fighting for playground is nothing new - we have already seen in it in Rajamouli's Sye , another sports based film, albeit in a different aspect. Even the point that - Aaatalu Maa Hakku (Sports are my right) - is not told effectively.
The film's last 20 minutes are its strength. While the first half is monotonous, the second half is gripping and makes us sit through the end.
Added to that the film's music especially background score has elevated the mood further and the boys (newcomers) come up with knockout performances.
Performances
Sumanth as coach has done extremely well. He looks dignified and straightforward in approach. Colors Swath i is just a prop in the whole set up of the movie. Subbaraju as villain is okay. Tanikella and other cast members have performed well too. But the show belongs to the boys - crickets. Every one of them is natural. You don't find any awkwardness in them while facing the camera. Especially the boys who played the roles of Siddhanth, Gautham and Noel look like seasoned actors.
Top cinematographer Senthil has once again proved that he can give best results to even low-budgeted film. His frames and lighting have gelled with the story. His brilliance is clearly visible in capturing the Cricket game. Editing by Sravan is smooth but he should have cut away some scenes in the first half to speed up the narration. Talented Kalyani Malik once again comes up with innovative tunes - the duet shot on Sumanth and Swathi - is one of best melodies in the recent times. And Vittanam Sarikottaga Molakottutunna Vainam is equally good.
Director Indraganti Mohan Krishna proves with the film that he's one of the most sensible directors in Telugu. This reviewer has not seen his Ashta Chemma but after Grahanam, he has shown his mark with this film again.
Bottom-line
Golconda High School is good movie and clean movie. The team should be commended for its effort but it doesn't inspire you. The movie may connect with niche audiences, the film is interesting flick. If more emotional and motivational elements added, the film could have been better. On the whole, it turns out be to be a film that can be watched for once.
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