April Fool Telugu Movie Review

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Cast: Jagapati Babu, Bhumika Chawla, Gulshan Grover, Randhir…
Director: Krishnaswamy Srikanth Iyyengar
Producer: GL Sreenivas , Seema Azaruddin
Rating: 2/5

The makers of April Fool advertised the movie as a socio-fantasy absurd comedy (read the words absurd comedy in good sense, not bad sense). Since it starred Bhumika Chawla and Jagapathi Babu, and the director’s name happened to have a Doctor, many did expect something from it. Only that the film was in news two years ago!

To be fair to the writer-director, Dr. KSI, ‘April Fool’ does have a couple of interesting elements. For the discerning, the first half does offer some stuff that is intriguing. The only problem is that the plot is woefully outdated, thereby effectively undoing the novelty that is there in the screenplay.

Ranadhir plays Kaaki, a soft-natured youngster, who nurtures ill-will against none. He is habitually ridiculed by his friends for his immature fashion of talking, walking and living. On an April First, when it’s his birthday, his friends wishing him ‘Happy Fools’ Day’ has him lose balance of mind and cry profusely in front of the photos of his deities. The film, unannounced, suddenly gets into fantasy mode. On that night of March 31, Kaaki gets a series of dreams that border on the mysterious. Unexpected, the series of eerie dreams transform his personality.

The first half has a couple of exciting and well-written moments. The scene where Kaaki does a poignant monologue with his deities is excellent for two reasons. Writing wise, it has good lines that bring out the character’s mindset and low self-esteem wonderfully. Acting wise, Ranadhi does a brilliant job in this scene.

The first ends on a philosophical note. If one expected more from the second half, the movie simply doesn’t deliver that.

Jagapathi Babu plays Prakash, an upright law practitioner. He fights for the cause of the vulnerable and in his attempt to save a set of dwellers, he comes to lock horns with Anna. Anna, played by Gulshan Grover, is a land-grabber, who has to settle scores with Kaaki, whom he doesn’t know.

Bhumika plays Jagapathi’s love interest. In her scenes with both Kaaki and Prakash, she is absolutely convincing.

A set of comedians fail to evoke laughter. Here the dialogue writer fails. Dhanraj and Co as well as Tagubothu Ramesh are jaded here.

The liplock was sort of bonus in a film of no pay.

Having been made on a shoestring budget, the film looks dull in terms of the technical departments. The songs are passable while the cinematography is sub par.

The performances are surprisingly fine. Ranadhir does a brilliant job in one crucial scene and even otherwise, he carries his role with aplomb. Jagapathi and Bhumika pass muster. Gulshan Grover is his usual self. Ralla Palli is also seen.

Verdict: An experiment that could have been for the lovers of parallel cinema had the plot been refreshing.