Film: Ye Maaya Chesave
Cast: Naga Chaitanya, Samantha, Krishnudu, Devan, Surekha Vani, Lakshmi, Sanjay Swarup, Sudheer, Trisha Alex, Shimbu and Trisha (in guest appearances)
Dialogues: Umargee Anuradha
Music: A.R.Rehman
Cinematography: Manoj Paramahansa
Editing: Anthony
Art: Rajeevan
Fights: Selva
Costumes: Nalini Sriram
Banner: Indira Creations
Produced by: Sanjay Swarup
Story, screenplay and directed by: Gautham Vasudev Menon
Release date: Feb 26, 2010
CBFC Rating: U/A
What’s it about
Karthik (Naga Chaitanya) is just 22 years old and finished Engineering and aims to become film director. He falls in love with 24-year-old Jessy (Samantha), daughter of his house owner. Jessy is Malayali Christian and works with a software company. First she refuses Karthik’s proposal of love as he is younger than her and she’s Christian and he’s Hindu. But when he comes down to Aleppy when she moves there on a Holiday to impress her and she falls for his charms. Next comes how they go through family problems, their emotional conflicts, etc.
Analysis
After a long time, here comes a very refreshing and beautifully told romantic story. Ye Maaya Chesave is engaging and touching. Tamil director Gautham Menon weaves magic on the screen with some heart touching scenes, poignant moments, beautiful frames, and realistic performances. Rarely we do see a love story told in realistic way with casual dialogues on Telugu screen. Gautham Menon’s film scores there in big way. Story per se is not new but the director’s touch of class in presenting it, narrating it in matured manner grabs us. Anyone who craves for sensitivity in movies would love this one! And those who have fallen in love or tasted romance in their life even more like it! Gautham’s eye for visual beauty, extracting honest performances from the young lead cast, sense for simplicity and realistic approach strikes the chord with us. What this reviewer really liked most is the way the director ha captured the longings of young couple, their confusions and emotional chasm. In most of our Telugu film love stories (or for that matter Tamil movies also), young couple’s desires are shown in cheap manner, here he presents them so delightfully and naturally.
Naga Chaitanya wooing the girl, convincing her and kissing in Train, Samantha expressing her anger before leaving the hero, New York episode show what a fine director Gautham is.
Add to that chemistry between Naga Chaitanya and Samantha is awesome. Especially the girl’s beauty is bewitching. Stunning visuals and Rehmana’s some soulful numbers further elevate the mood of the movie.
On the downside, it is slow paced and before the interval it slackens. Also the heavy usage of English dialogues might not go well with a section of audiences. Entire episode of New York and Climax sequences really stand out. It is completely the director’ film.
Performances
Like his father and grand father, Naga Chaitanya is at home in romantic scenes. This film proves that he should have made debut in love story rather than action story like he did. Naga Chaitanya’s asset is his voice and his casual acting style. Chaitanya has improved much better in performance from his first film but he needs to look after his face. He still looks very ‘boyish’. He can now confidently act in more romantic films and strengthen his position.
Samantha is real scene-stealer. Her beauty is alluring. She can go places in Tollywood if she makes right moves and selects right films. She is good at subtle moments and expressing it with eyes. She is the girl to watch out for. Singer Chinmayi’s voice is perfect and we should thank Gautham for taking Chinmayi instead of regular and boring voices of Savitha Reddy, etc.
Chemistry between both the lead actors rocks.
Among other cast, Devan makes impact. Producer Sanjay Swarup as father to Naga Chiatanya is okay. Krisnudu is okay but his voice dominates than his actions. That is his drawback. Puri Jagannadh, Trisha and Shimbu appear in guest roles.
Visually the film is eye-feast. Manoj Paramhamsa’s camera captures the backwaters of Kerala, Hyderabad and New York so beautifully. Every frame looks rich. Art direction, editing by Antony is neat. Rehman’s songs are not that good on hearing but they are in sync with the mood of the movie. ‘Kundanapu Bomma..’, “Ee Hridayam.. “ are good.
Dialogues by Umargee Anuradha are okay but the heavy usage of English should have been avoided (probably it is choice of Gautham). Nalini Sriram's costumes are uber cool. Sarees designed for the heroine so pretty. As a director, Gautham Menon emerges winner. It is completely his film, part of the episodes look like his autobiography (assistant director, Kerala episodes). He has always been good at handling romantic scenes but looks like he has really poured in his heart in this movie. Undoubtedly, he deserves all the praise for everything in this flick.
Gautham Menon weaves magic with some beautiful romantic moments on screen with Ye Maaya Chesave. Great chemistry between the young star couple, great visuals, nice songs, and heart touching scenes really grab you. It is simple but sensitively, realistically made with lot of conviction. The movie haunts you and stays in you even after leaving the movie hall. Go for it and enjoy.
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