Telugu film ‘Yashoda’ springs a few surprises and benefits from Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s performance which makes up for a few missteps
Telugu film ‘Yashoda’ has some surprises and gains from Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s performance which makes up for some wrong moves
When Yashoda (Samantha Ruth Prabhu) asks if a courageous person means a man, the cinema hall erupts in applause. This is one of those moments where Samantha blurs the line between actor and star and directors Hari and Harish use it to good effect. Samantha comes up with a stellar performance and keeps us invested in a story that smartly combines emotional drama. Surrogacy is one aspect of this science fiction thriller based on true events. The payoff could have been better, but it’s an interesting film that tries something new.
In a hospital in the vicinity of a lower middle-class settlement, we see for the first time a tearful Yashoda looking at a poster of a baby. She has opted to become a surrogate mother to cope with a financial need and has agreed to be transferred to a surrogacy facility, as per the agreement, for the remainder of her journey. the warm colors colony Make way for the cooler tones of the plush hospital in which she finds herself.
Yashoda
Cast: Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Unni Mukundan, Varalakshmi Sarathkumar
Direction: Hari and Harisho
Music: Mani Sharma
Parallelly, Yashoda’s journey is linked to the mysterious deaths of a Hollywood actress and an aspiring Miss India contestant, which troubles the police.
A large part of the drama unfolds in the luxury hospital facility managed by Madhu (Varalakshmi Sarathkumar). Art director Ashok creates a fantasy world that is aesthetically pleasing as well as terrifying. Yashoda adapts with trepidation, playfulness and stubbornness to the place, slowly befriending the other women who live in the place. She also forms a bond with Gautam (Unni Mukundan), the only doctor in the facility. Then, when something sinister happens, Yashoda decides to get to the bottom of the puzzle.
The director sprinkles the story with a lot of clues, which at first seem incidental, but which eventually build up to the bigger picture required of the thriller. For example, Yashoda’s routine of sticking her bindi to the mirror – a habit of many women – is cleverly used in this story.
The other women in the hospital, played by Divya Sripada and Kalpana Ganesh, are bound by the common fact that they choose to be surrogate mothers out of financial necessity. Nevertheless, they are distinct characters; One is calm and patient while the other has a tomboy-ish attitude. Divya and Kalpana are impressive in their brief parts.
the story goes into full swing when Yashoda Switches to a probe mode. The transition to an action thriller is smooth. In one of Yashoda’s first fights, it is his survival instinct that kicks in; She confronts her opponent with whatever she finds in a room. He has fights with men and women and he has to outrun even a beast. Although it is not hard to guess what Yashoda might find out about her missing friends, when it actually comes to the fore, it is disturbing and not easily noticed.
The story tries to find out whether surrogate mothers can have an emotional attachment with the child growing inside them. However, surrogacy is only one part of the scam that this story deals with. Much of the science fiction unfolding in the second half unfolds as bizarre, though dramatic departures from true events, partly due to the one-dimensional and stereotyped characterization surrounding the idea of beauty and women. The stark contrast between black and white characters, with no room for grey, makes this a one-sided play.
In a parallel universe, the cops (Murali Sharma, Sampath Raj and Shatru play the lead characters and don’t disappoint) find obstacles at every turn. It’s not hard to guess one of the double faced characters, but the others show interest.
A key factor that makes a thriller work is that clues that are hidden in plain sight need to be understood in retrospect; Yashoda Some of it turns out to be correct. There are also loose ends.
The film rests on the shoulders of Samantha who plays Yashoda with both tenderness and tenacity; Action sequences are right up his alley and he is convincing. Varalakshmi plays her part with ease but her characterization could have been more intriguing. Unni Mukundan is convincing in the key character who takes the story forward. Sukumar’s cinematography and Mani Sharma’s score add to the mood of the thriller.
was Yashoda Avoided some one-dimensional characterization and tied up loose ends better, this would have been a thrilling thriller. But despite the missteps, it manages to be charming.