Vimanam review: This plane drifts off the runway due to poor writing and an abrupt ending

With the promotions hitting sky-high over the past few days, director Siva Prasad Yanala’s Vimanam promises to be an engaging cinematic experience.

The audience’s expectations reached even higher as Samuthirakani is playing the lead in the film.

Synopsis

Veeraiah (Samuthirakani), a physically challenged man, makes a living out of the sulabh complex on the roadside along with his son Raju (Master Dhruvan).

Raju’s mother passed away when he was a toddler and since then, he is bred by his father Veeraiah.

Watching aircraft taking off and landing from the slum abutting the airport, Raju aspires to board a flight one day. Slowly, he develops a liking to become a pilot.

But his dream is cut short as he gets diagnosed with leukaemia. Will he ever board a flight in his life? Will his father help him achieve what his son wishes for? This is the story in short.

Poor characterisation

The film sets off on a dull note with the characters of father and son living an unpleasant lifestyle in the slums, albeit with a ray of hope for better days in future.

But then, the relationship between the impaired father and aspiring son strikes a chord with audiences. The emotional bonding, although it seems a bit exaggerated in a few portions, might make you feel disheartened.

The poor characterisation and how the story ebbs out without raising curiosity make the first half boring. However, the funny episodes between Rahul Ramakrishna and Anasuya fill the gap with some laughter.

The story inherits a suspense theme as to how this poor lad from a slum would become a pilot in the future, that too without formal education. Nevertheless, director Siva Prasad Yanala makes not even the slightest attempt to explore that side which would have given the excitement while approaching the pre-climax twist.

A heartwarming story of father and son.#VIMANAM Releasing Today 🛬
The movie will showcase the Importance of human relationships

Wishing @thondankani garu & the entire team of Vimanam all the very best 👍 #Meerajasmine @lemonsprasad @zeestudiossouth @ZeeStudios_ pic.twitter.com/EJuAWS95tK

— People Media Factory (@peoplemediafcy) June 9, 2023

Also Read: Film City for Sandalwood: All hopes rest on CM Siddaramaiah

Abrupt ending

Another flaw in the story is the abrupt ending which makes the viewers feel more distressed. The climax block leaves audiences with a sense of poignancy.

This may arouse a deep sorrow making you teary-eyed while exiting the hall but the story could not rightly deliver justice to it with the theme that it got started.

A wide range of emotions and thoughts keep running through Veeraiah whose future looks bleak.

The emotional impact and how the father conceals the fact by not disclosing to his beloved son that he is reaching the end of his life may appeal heart-touching towards the end.

Veerayya’s love towards Raju is immeasurable ❤️#VIMANAM LANDING TOMORROW at your nearest theatres🛬

Book your tickets now!
– https://t.co/1wJKMuOUVU@thondankani @anusuyakhasba #Meerajasmine @DhanrajOffl @eyrahul @SivaPYanala @CharanArjunwave @zeestudiossouth pic.twitter.com/LqMlIMCQp1

— Aditya Music (@adityamusic) June 8, 2023

Performances

Samuthirakani emerges as one of the indispensable artists of Telugu cinema, of late. He made a comeback with the Allu Arjun-starrer Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020) where he played villain Appala Naidu.

The actor kept grabbing some meaty characters — antagonist and supporting actor — in some of the big-budget flicks like Krack (2021), Sarkari Vari Pata (2022), Bheemla Nayak (2022), Godfather (2022), Panchathantram (2022), Sir (2023), Dasara (2023), and Nenu Student Sir (2023).

Samuthirakani’s role as a physically impaired, sacrificing father in Vimanam is incredibly good.

Master Dhruvan as Veeraiah’s son makes e a fabulous attempt as his emotions look organic on the screen.

Rahul Ramakrishna plays the role of Koti, a local cobbler who flirts with “Thella Tholu” Sumathi (Anasuya Bharadwaj), a sex worker in the neighbourhood. Their scenes evoke some laughter in the hall.

Koti keeps designing various tricks to woo Sumathi, but he realises that he would not get what he wishes for with the meagre income he earns through his profession.

All his silly attempts are immediately thwarted by Sumathi.

Anasuya Bharadwaj performs well as the sex worker Sumathi who was once duped by a man and developed a hatred for men.

Also Read: Scoop review: Hansal Mehta brings alive yet another real-life story

Tamil actors Motta Rajendran, Jabardast Dhanraaj and Meera Jasmine — who plays a cameo of sorts in the end — perform well.

The music rendered by Charan Arjun is reasonably good. Though it elevates the emotional scenes between the father and son, is not up to the mark.

Vivek Kalepu’s cinematography and Marthand K Venkatesh’s editing are appreciable in parts.

Verdict

In all, Vimanam is a heart-touching tale of father-son bonding. But the climax and poor characterisation drown the story making it a not-so-well-rounded narrative.

(Views expressed are personal.)