Parugu (2008)

Parugu is yet another example of how heroes tend to do cliche characters. Krishna (Allu Arjun) is an energetic, light hearted and easy going young hyderabadi who seems to be smarter than the average "hero". That pretty much describes his character in all his movies. That aside the movie cast has all the familiar supporting actors including Sunil, as usual is a friend to the hero, and Prakash Raj the distressed father. Sheela, the female lead, is yet another new face in the history of female lead actors in "tollywood". It is still amazing to see new non telugu faces' ever so often. Off course the absolute lack of any substance in the role for almost all heroines makes it easy for this "constant face lifts". Prakash Raj has turned into a worder off late with 11 tamil and 3 telugu movies just in the year 2008. It also reflects how directors are so stuck upon "hit formulae" and fearing excessive experimentation especially with support cast.

Plot: As for the plot, it basically shows a Father's love from a Father's point of view. Neelakanta (Prakash Raj) is a powerful man in his village with two daughters. Pretty much similar to the character he plays in Bommarillu, he thinks he knows whats best for his children. His elder daughter Subbalakshmi (Poonam Bajwa) elopes with a guy called Babu from a lower class on the night of her arranged marriage. Thinking Babu's friends would have helped in their escape, Neelakanta kidnaps them. Krashna being one of them and obviously being the one who helped their escape too. Krishna on one morning while trying to escape from the village sees a "girl in the mist" (Meena- younger daughter) and "stops running". Another cliche. Love at first silhouette. Interestingly in this movie the hero falls in love with the silhouette of the heroine and doesn't know who she is until halfway through the movie. The second half is a dragged attempt at showing the angst of a father as he frantically searches for his daughter. Meanwhile the second daughter (Meena) fall in love with Krishna and starts to worry if she will follow the footsteps of her sister. The rest of the movie turns into a sensitive drama between the father and the lover, who understand each others feelings at the end of the movie.
A few, after viewing the movie, felt there was an uncanny resemblance between the movie and the recent drama in Chiranjeevi's family. Some speculate that the movie is a publicity stunt by Chiranjeevi to gather sympathy.

Personally I thought a lot of things in the movie could have been improved. The second half dragged on as though the director had lost the main script and bridged it in situ. Music was quite decent. Acting wise, everyone pretty much live up to the script. The comedy is quite good. In fact, the movie somehow manages to keep you smiling if not laughing until the end.

If story is not the most important thing, amidst all the violent movies like Kantri, Bujjigadu, Jalsa etc Parugu stands out as the lone serene movie. With the exception of one short fighting scene the movie is acceptable to all ages.

I give it 3.5/5 all thanks to timely comedy and energetic action by the stylish star Allu Arjun. (Though the title "Stylish Star" sounds quite juvenile, its somehow fitting.)