Transfer Trimurthulu, Vadde Naveen's comeback film (also produced by him), opens in theatres today. In this section, we are going to review the BO release.
Plot:
Trimurthulu (Naveen Vadde) is a sincere constable whose late father (Devi Prasad, as a constable) instilled in him a sense of honour. The gutsy constable accidentally stumbles upon an explosive police record pertaining to a 20-year-old rape case. When he pulls out the unknown incident that took place two decades ago, the political future of an aspiring Chief Minister (Vivek Raghuvansi) and his mother Kamala Devi (Shilpa Tulaskar) faces a threat of decimation.
Post-Mortem:
In the 1990s, Naveen Vadde may have been a reluctant actor but his filmography was definitely not half-baked. By that day's standards, he did get to play meaty enough roles in solid storylines. Before he lost form and gave way to new-age actors like Pawan Kalyan, Tharun, Uday Kiran and Mahesh Babu, he was a star many family audiences queued up to watch on the big screen. His comeback film, released in theatres today, casts him in the role of an activist constable in a David vs. Goliath context.
When a young filmmaker takes up an investigative thriller or a court procedural, it is but natural for the viewer to expect them to exhibit a grip on socio-political realities. So, even if the core is escapist, the screenplay should have the detailing. Kamal Teja Narla writes incidents with the finesse of a frog-in-the-well writer from a bygone era.
In Transfer Trimurthulu, political heavyweights have no clout, the judiciary functions like it is an ideal First World criminal justice system, and the prosecution is cheered on by a fearless media that certainly is not financed by political parties. The script of this film thrives in a universe of surreal possibilities and limitless optimists. In a story where the protagonist is transferred to new locations at the first opportunity, the very same system becomes compassionate and hungry for justice overnight. In the court, there are no cynics. In the police department, predators meekly make way for crusaders.
Of all the artists out there, they had to cast Sivannarayana in the role of a lawyer who stands up to the future CM. Vadlamani Srinivas is cast well as his rival. Shilpa Tulaskar is natural when she is not making gestures at her henchmen in public. Vivek Raghuvansi looks and sounds like a Bihari or UP strongman with a popular vote base in the Telugu land. As insufferable casting choices go, this one takes the cake. Devi Prasad is predictably cast in a depressing role.
Kalyan Nayak's tunes let Vadde Naveen relive his 90s-era dancing style in a duet co-starring Rashi Singh, his onscreen wife with a penchant for nuclear-grade positivity. Karthik Sujatha Saikumar's cinematography is basic. The action direction by Rabin Subbu and Ram Sunkara doesn't let the constable-next-door hero seem grounded.
Vadde Naveen's calibre remains high, but the treatment of his role is old-school, which drags him down. He somehow comes with the voice of a character artist and the energy of a yesteryear family hero.
Closing Remarks:
Flawed Comeback. Despite Vadde Naveen's conviction, Transfer Trimurthulu is thoroughly undermined by its old-school execution and an overly optimistic script.
