Aa Ammayi Gurinchi Meeku Cheppali - ``reel`` her in

Aa Ammayi Gurinchi Meeku Cheppali

2022, Telugu

Directed by Mohana Krishna Indraganti

Stars

Sudheer Babu

Krithi Shetty

Vennela Kishore

Srikanth Iyengar

Rahul Ramakrishna 

Mohan's Measure ⭐⭐

I must admit from the get go that the story`s plot is quite clever.  After a freak accident, a famous director finds a film reel.  It contains what appears to be screen shots of a charming young woman's auditions. As would be expected, this sets off romantic sparks, sending the director and crew on a desperate search for her. 

Of course, things aren't quite what they seem, setting the stage is set for a fairly interesting romantic drama. But, there is a little too much grey here, which makes the movie less than memorable. 

Much of the gloominess comes from Ms. Shetty. The Director is so focused on having the camera just so, projecting a Mrinal Thakur like radiance and that certain air of femme fatale mystery. It works every so often, but so much time and filming is spent on this, her character comes across disconnected from the story. 

Mr. Sudheer Babu carries the film along with some comic from Mr.  Kishore.  But none of this can make up for Ms. Shetty's futile attempt to own the screen.