'Sarkaaru Noukari', directed by Sekhar Gangamouni, stars playback singer Sunitha's son Akash as the hero. Bhavana Vazhapandal is its female lead. The drama hit the screens on January 1 as the first Telugu release of the year.
The film, made on a shoestring budget (most of the scenes were shot in a village), has been struggling to find takers. The audiences are preferring 'Salaar', 'Hi Nanna' and 'Devil', completely ignoring the old-school film presented by K Raghavendra Rao.
Featuring Tanikella Bharani as a sarpanch, the film tells the story of a Mandal office employee who wants to raise awareness about the indispensability of condoms. The story is set in the 1990s when AIDS was threatening to spiral out of control. Melodramatic treatment, old-school ideas, predictability and dull performances mar the intent of the film completely.
Akash should have picked a serious subject where the treatment is contemporary. 'Sarkaaru Noukari' is flattened by forgettable writing that never rises above cliches. Akash hoped that the emotional flashback and the climactic monologue would make a difference. But when the treatment is stuck in a time warp, there is no hope.
