Just when I thought Telugu cinema was doomed because all the big stars are in this pan-Indian game, and hardly 2 out of 10 actually make a good film, while the other so-called stars churn out cringe-worthy commercial flicks that make you want to stop watching movies altogether, we get gems from unexpected, unknown small films like 35, Committee Kurrollu, Pekamedalu, and others. Committee Kurrollu is yet another nostalgia trip into childhood, teenage years, and adulthood from Telugu cinema this year.
I’d request producers to stop funding filmmakers like Harish Shankar or Puri Jagannath, or at least demand proper bound scripts that make sense, to avoid trash like Mr. Bachchan and Double Ismart. Instead, they should support small films like 35, Pekamedalu, Committee Kurrollu, etc. Spend money on content more than fame.
Committee Kurrollu focuses on a group of kids who grew up together but were separated due to a silly mistake that resulted in the biggest horror any teenage kid could experience. The story follows their reunion 12 years after the incident. The film mostly revolves around three plot points:
Election
The election is introduced at the beginning of the film, setting the tone and giving a glimpse of what happened and who these people are. The rest follows, and in the third act, the election comes back to the forefront.
Jathara
The Jathara is a gathering where the villagers come together and celebrate with all their hearts, following traditions. In this case, the Jathara happens every 12 years, and one of the traditions involves the sacrifice of a goat. The goat’s head, mixed with rice and blood, is carried throughout the village. This Jathara plays a crucial role in setting the boys apart and later bringing them back together as men.
Kurrollu (Boys)
The bond between the boys is depicted in a deeply rooted manner that will make everyone watching shed a tear, remembering their own gang and the things they did together as kids and teenagers. From spending almost every possible minute together to not meeting each other for 12 years, the director staged the film beautifully. The transition from goofy kids doing the dumbest things to teenagers dealing with crushes and silly fights makes this a proper coming-of-age film for not just one character but all 10 Kurrollu.
Director Yadu Vamsi and the other writers took great care in depicting all the kids, ensuring that each one got a proper character arc with set-ups and payoffs. The songs of the film are a huge plus, hitting all the right chords of your heart while watching. The film starts as just another coming-of-age story, but the genre shift after 50 minutes, leading to the interval, will leave you on the edge of your seat, wanting to get onto the screen and stop them, but you can’t, because you’re so involved in the film.
The second half takes a nostalgic turn, with all of them coming together, and then taking you on an emotional ride that will leave you running out of tissues. That emotional journey gets a proper closure. The election arc that starts after this feels a bit overstretched or not fully explored, even though it’s necessary.
Subbu’s arc, however, is very well fleshed out, and the payoff is so emotional that I couldn’t hold back my tears, I cried a river. Songs like Oo Baatasaari and Aarojullu Malli Raavu will dominate your playlist for a while after watching the film. From Committee Kurrollu to your own Kurrollu, irrespective of how much you grow up, Aarojullu Malli Raavu…
Nazeef is a cinephile in the truest sense of the word. While his devotion to Martin Scorsese is unparalleled, his love for cinema knows no boundaries. He explores films from every corner of the world with a deep curiosity and a critical eye. Every movie he watches opens up new perspectives, and his reviews always bring fresh insights, making him an essential voice in the global film community.