Virata Parvam - Turning Red

Virata Parvam

2022, Telengana

Director - Venu Udugola

Stars - Rana, Sai Pallavi, Nandita Das, Priyamani

Mohan's Measure ⭐ ⭐

It's hard to explain Tollywood's newfound love for Naxalism, the violent Communist movement that promotes guerrilla warfare. We can only suspect a political agenda. 

But, for Vennela, the reason for joining the revolution is not politics, or even justice, but love, blossomed through poems that have a lot more to do with the Red Book than red roses. 

The author of these books turns out to be a ruggedly good looking,  machine gun toting killer, who is ready and willing to kill the cops and other baddies who are raping and pillaging the villages of Telengana. 

Inspired by what we are told is a true story, Virata Parvam offers one woman's perspective on love, and how its unconditional nature can transform a person into doing extraordinary things. But, we are never really told how poems about revolution and anarchy inspired one woman to fall in love. 

The object of affection the leader of a radical Naxal faction, who is also part time poet and philosopher. Rana projects him as a mix of Gregory Peck and Fidel Castro, which at times makes the character feel dysfunctional. 

But, he, along with the rest of a seasoned cast are put into the background to allow Ms. Sai Pallavi and her character acting to run the show.  There is something  about her predictable mood swings, hair tosses, strong sense of self, and winning smile that doesn't quite work here.  She is a woman hardened to a violent manifesto; there is little room for charm here.  

But, that what's we see, and perhaps that's what we are to see to explain her bad choices.