Oka Telugu Prema Katha – tongue lashing

Oka Telugu Prema Katha 

2020, Telugu 

Director – B Santosh Krishna

Stars – Mahinder Babu, Lavanya, Sammeta Gandhi

Mohan's Measure ⭐

Unconfirmed reports, along with a walk through any American suburb, suggest Telugu is one of the fastest growing languages on earth. Even in these United States, there is no dearth of courses in Telugu language, music and classical arts. Indeed, even the next generation of fast paced Telugu Americans are making time and effort to maintain what their parents brought to these hallowed shores. 

However as one who arrived on these shores decades before such events could take place, Lady Liberty has taken this Telugu guy on a clearly American journey. It has come to pass age now serves as a barrier in attempting to relearn my mother tongue. 

Leave it to Tollywood to rub salt in the wound. Oka Telugu Prema Katha is a heavy handed message film which challenges one love–struck Millennial to speak only in his native tongue for two weeks in order to win his beloved's heart.  The Millennial is played by first timer Mahinder Babu, who seems more excited at being on the big screen than winning the girl of his dreams. Meanwhile Lavanya, as said love interest, is spending the entire film trying to get her hair to look just so for the closing credits. 

The only person taking this seriously, and obviously too much so, is Mr. Gandhi. His histrionics and choice of clothes certainly made me reminisce about my Telugu American upbringing, however; as he seems to have drawn inspiration for both from a one time President of our local Telugu Association.