Director Raj Rachakonda shot to fame with Priyadarshi's Mallesham in 2019. 23, his latest directorial venture, hit the cinemas this Friday. Three incidents separated by years in the then-undivided Andhra Pradesh form the basis of the film's plot. The Tsunduru massacre of 1991, the Chilakaluripet bus killings of 1993, and the Jubilee Hills car bomb tragedy of 1997 are the events around which the film's plot has been conceived.
23 has been criticized for infusing forced sub-plots, which, as per a review, lack focus. The pacing is said to be too slow, with the indie-style narration struggling to bear results. A Psychology professor's scenes don't make any impact.
The documentary-style treatment hasn't gone down well with many viewers. "23 is obviously preachy in its narrative, almost assuming a documentary-like form in some of its scenes — but it’s also emotionally overwhelming to see such complex and empathetic exploration of humanity," wrote The New Indian Express.
Many artsy films in Telugu don't get the casting right. 23, too, is one such film. Co-starring Teja, Tanmai, Jhansi, Pawon Ramesh, Thagubothu Ramesh, Praneeth and others, the film has music by Mark K Robin.
