Panchathantram Movie Review: Looking at some of the movies that are coming out now, it seems that the directors and producers have given thought of appealing to all sections. It seems that some are making films targeting the multiplex audience, while others are making films with the hope that they will pass in OTT. 

Young director Harsha Pulipaka’s latest ‘Panchantram’ is also a movie of that category! Akhilesh Varthan and Srujan Erabolu produced this movie. Vedavyasa Murthy (Brahmanandam), retired from All India Radio, writes stories, publishes them, and tries to give readers a new experience. But he is discouraged by his daughter Dr. 

Roshini (Swathi). Telling stories to please the boys is not your thing to underestimate the father. But Vedavyasamurthy, who believes that he can tell the stories demanded by the publishers, goes to the storytelling competition. There he tells five stories. As the organizers said that they should be interlinked, he tells those stories based on Panchedriyas. The movie starts with five stories.

The first story is about a software engineer who yearns to see the ocean shore, while the second is about a young man who misses the girl he loved as a child and wants to relive those memories. Both these are feel-good, youth-filled stories. The third is completely different. 

This is the story of a man who sees his dead mother in his daughter and suffers from mental illness at the time of her delivery. And the fourth is the plight of middle-class people. The gist of this is that the newly wedded couple are faced with an unexpected hardship and their lives are thrown into turmoil. 

the Inspiring Story! Vedavyasa Murthy’s daughter sees in herself the characteristics of the heroine in that story. The film ends with her appreciating her father for telling all five stories brilliantly. Watching this movie reminds me of the movie ‘Chandamama Kathalu’. 

Also, Telugu and Tamil anthologies that have come out in recent times come to mind. However.. it can be said that it is a Telugu anthology. Except for one or two actors like Samuthira Kani, all the other actors are Telugu. The way it is combined with the Telugu Nativity is nice. Director Harsha Pulipaka has penned witty dialogues. In the second story, the conversations between Rahul and Shivatmika are super!

When it comes to the actors, Naresh Agastya and Srividya Maharshi played the lead roles in the first episode, while Rahul Vijay and Sivatmika Rajasekhar played key roles in the second episode. In the third story, Samuthira Khani and Divyavani played key roles. 

Divya Sripada and Vikas Muppala played the main roles in the fourth story, while Atkhwa, Colors Swathi, and Adarsh Balakrishna played key roles in the fifth story. Brahmanandam acted as the negotiator who tells these five stories to the audience. 

Singer Madhu, Mirchi Hemant, Surabhi Prabhavathi, Rupalakshmi, Baby Pranaya P. Rao, and others played. The director has got natural performances from all the actors. But.. Samutira Khani’s dubbing seemed a bit awkward. Technicians include Prashant R. Vihari, Music by Shravan Bharadwaj, Gary B.H. Editing and Cinematography by Raj K Nalli are good. 

Production values are also okay. But…Veda Vyasamurthy says at the beginning that these stories are told based on the five senses. Their importance should have been shown more effective in these five stories. Also, many questions that arise while watching the movie do not get answers. Some of the episodes seem to have ended in a different way. 

Some do not understand what the director wanted to say. It is not known how Vedavyasamurthy’s daughter is connected with the heroine of the last story. There are many such doubts. It seems that director Harsha has not effectively presented his feelings on the silver screen. However.. the feeling of watching this movie in OTT is different than in the theatre!!