Eega: Buzzing Revenge

In all probability you don’t need this review or any review for that matter to watch S S Rajamouli’s Eega. The man has won our confidence with his body of work which if anything else shows that he cares for what we want and come looking for in a cinema. With Eega he goes one step ahead ensures that his vision is aligned with that of his viewers be it a mere fly or a Chatrapati on screen.

“Narula valla kani Vaa Narula valla kani naku Mrityuvu Rakudadu “ states NTR is his famours Ravana’s role showing his utter disdain for men and apes whom he thought to be inferior to him and could do him no harm. How he would have flinched looking at a housefly killing the Ravana-esque Sudeep in Eega. This film might well be the answer for all creature films that are churned out from Hollywood on a regular basis and to achieve it in an industry dominated by stars and item songs is no mean feat.

The story is as old and as generic as the Ramayana itself but what makes it a memorable viewing experience is the sheer conviction with which it was made. The producers deserve a pat on the back as well but they would have felt safe with SSR at the helm of the project. To pit the protagonist, a miniscule housefly against a rich and powerful antagonist would be to fight against all odds since there is simply no way to copy from anywhere as the concept itself was unprecedented in any cinema of the world. Everything has to come from researching and careful study from how it is born to how it would eventually fly. One of the very few moments of self-indulgence of the director comes when Eega realizes that it can fly and enjoys itself in a park with families. It alludes to to SSR realizing what he can do with it. Bravo. Indulgence was never this delightful or thoughtful.

With all the blood it spills along its way to revenge, Eega is still a sweet film. We want the fly to succeed but still feel it to have something stopping its way only to see how it copes with it and emerges a winner. Every little battle that the little one wins is ably supported and enhanced by the soundtrack, which resonates long after we leave the theatres. Rajamouli knows he has a lot on his palette to impress, entertain and intrigue the audience and he prepares a sumptuous film, which is unpretentious and grounded in its sensibilities as to who wins the battle of good vs. evil. The action is clean and does not carry any fuss or the weight of in your face attention to detail. Make no mistake this is a kids’ film and if the hoots and whistles are any indication this has found its way right into their hearts.

This is not a perfect film by any means but it has something for everyone in it even for nitpickers but that is not the point of the film. It is an important film in the history of Telugu Cinema for its sheer vision and the unremitting belief the crew had in the film.