There do come some films which require a thorough take and moral/intellectual critique of the subject they deal with or the arguments they throw up, than about the film itself. Shambo Shiva Shambo falls under this category. Like wise, there is not much to be written about this film. At one point in the film, Shambo.. just outrages our moral sensitivities. Here is a film that comes up with a shocking and terrifying moral judgement. Thankfully, the ending was not as silly than this reviewer imagined. There is some moral sense left in the writer of the film. Thank God, for that.
First, let's talk about what is normal, non-painful, non-atrocious about the film. There live three friends Karna (Ravi Teja), Malli (Allari Naresh and Chandru (Shiva Balaji) in a hamlet. The three come from different backgrounds, but share the same emotions, especially when it comes to helping lovers elope. Before they finally dedicate themselves to the cause of helping lovers, not necessarily genuine, marry and make them live happily and correct them by hook or crook when they stray the wrong path, they live the life of ordinary youths struggling to find the right job and marry their girl friends. Karna has to get a government job before he marries Kanamma (Priyamani). Chandru wants to start a business of his own and things almost seem to be materialising soon. Malli has his life too.
That is when Santosh (Surya Teja), Karna's friend, visits the latter only to commit suicide owing to the impossibilities and obstacles that are in his way to marry his girlfriend Priya. Now, Karna, Malli and Chandru can just sacrifice their lives to ensure that Santosh lives his life happily with his girl friend. The girl is the daughter of Mukesh Rishi, a Kurnool-based factionist. The jobless threesome immediately resolve to whizz off to Kurnool and unite Priya and Santosh whatever it takes. In the process, just like us audience who do not always get lucky every Sankranthi, Malli loses his hearing ability and Chandru, his right leg. The factionists do not harm Karna, the leader of the operation, who manages to come out unattacked.
Criminal cases of abduction are registered against the three youths. Karna can forget about a government job. Malli is dumb. Chandru is just recuperating and we do not know when he will settle in his life. Meanwhile, Priyamani's father, played by Tanikella Bharani, asks her to forget our hero Ravi Teja. After they have lost peace of mind, a career and happy living, what happens in their lives that makes them grow distraught, embittered, angry and sad? Watch it for yourself if you are someone who can bear with mindless philosophies held steadfast by pervert minds that our films continue to reflect.
Malli the crook, who are you to punish those who dissolve their love marriage? There is no difference between those wicked-minded jilted lovers who attack a girl with acid and Malli. Outrageously, his character is glorified. Senseless and stupid. Director ji, do you really endorse this kind of thinking or was it just a creative idea? Sorry that Allari Naresh has done this role.
We live in a society where some of us justify acid attacks against women. No wonder that when Santosh and Priya are demonised and Malli decides to kill them to teach a lesson to all of those who fake love and marry, the "some of us" amongst the audience clapped away in glory and kept whistling. I was ashamed.
Performance-wise, everyone does a good job. Priyamani seems a typical Tamil heroine though. Ravi Teja does justice to every role he plays and this one is no different. Naresh takes care of comedy, at places. Surya Teja as the lover in despair, desperation and disgust is adequate.
The film is not nativised which becomes its biggest drawback. Background score (Sundar C Babu) is perfect and elevating. Songs cannot be enjoyed by the Telugu audience.
The film was packaged as an emotional drama about friendship and love. It is, but only when they are defined in Samuthrakani's terms.
The film is targeted at youngsters and doesn't suit the family audience.
Released on: 14th Jan, 2010
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