Anukoni Prayanam review: An emotional story set in the backdrop of death and Covid-19 lockdown

Senior actor Rajendra Prasad, who has been juggling between lead and character roles, has come up with Anukoni Prayanam, where he has played the protagonist after a long time.

Billed as an emotional drama dealing with life and death in the backdrop of the Covid-19 lockdown, this small-budget movie is out in the theatres this Friday, 28 October. Read on to know how the journey goes:

The journey after death

Rajendra Prasad and Narasimha Raju work as construction labourers in Bhubaneshwar and share a good relationship.

Narasimha Raju is a married man and his family resides in a village near Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. He toils hard even in old age, staying away from his family, to settle his widowed daughter.

On the other hand, Rajendra Prasad is single and free of any responsibilities.

While Rajendra Prasad is content being single, Narasimha Raju repeatedly pesters him to get married and have a family, for “that’s what gives life a purpose”.

As the days of these best friends keep moving jovially, the world turns upside down when Narasimha Raju succumbs to a cardiac arrest.

Things get worse as the Covid-19 lockdown is imposed, making it difficult for Rajendra Prasad to shift his friend’s body to Rajahmundry. Nevertheless, he braves all odds to take the body of his late friend to the latter’s native village.

What experiences did he encounter on the way from Bhubaneswar to Rajahmundry? How did the people he meet influence his journey and his thinking on life and relationships? This is what Anukoni Prayanam is all about.

Heavy drama entwined with comedy

The movie lends itself to heavy drama and pathos, given the backdrop of death and the Covid-19 lockdown. But debutant director Venkatesh Pediredla has used light comedy to keep the film from becoming too melodramatic or ponderous.

While this works partly, it takes the impact off a serious story. At times, too many characters entering and exiting the story dilutes the main plot.

Despite these shortcomings, the director needs to be appreciated for selecting a thought-provoking story, instead of banking on routine comedies or rom-coms for his debut.

Rajendra Prasad is the pilot

Anukoni Prayanam has a big cast, mostly character artists. But it is Rajendra Prasad’s film and he has added yet another meaningful role to his filmography.

Being a versatile actor, he impresses the audience as a responsible person who braves all troubles to fulfil his late friend’s wish.

Actor Prema, who has been away from the limelight for a while, makes a comeback with this flick. Though she plays an important role, she gets limited screen space.

Senior actor Narasimha Raju appears as Rajendra Prasad’s friend in a crucial role.

Tulasi, Ravi Babu, Dhanraj, Shubhaleka Sudhakar and Prabhas Sreenu appear as supporting cast. Sathya Krishnan and Jogi Brothers also appear in the movie after a long gap.

Music-cinematography complement each other

As the movie traces the journey of the lead actors from Bhubaneswar to Rajahmundry, the camera tracks the picturesque locales en route.

Northern Andhra terrain is showcased beautifully by cinematographer Mallikarjun Naragani. The music by Siva Dinavahi is apt. The songs are thought-provoking.

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Final take

Anukoni Prayanam is an emotional movie dealing with death and highlighting the importance of true friendship. Though it takes the old-school sentiment route, the movie must be appreciated for its genuineness.