Panchathantram: An Engaging Anthology of Human Senses
Panchathantram, directed by Harsha Pulipaka, is an anthology film that tells five different stories, each one centered on one of the five senses. The film stars Brahmanandam, Swathi Reddy, Rahul Vijay, Shivatmika, Naresh Agastya, Samuthirakani, Divya Sripada, and Vikas Muppala in pivotal roles. Let’s take a closer look at the film and see how it fares.
Story:
The film follows the story of Veda Vyas Murthy (Brahmanandam), a retired employee of AIR who decides to become a writer and participate in a storytelling competition. Veda Vyas narrates five stories, each one centered on one of the five senses: hearing, taste, smell, touch, and sight. Each story features a different set of characters and explores different themes and emotions.
Plus Points:
One of the biggest plus points of the film is its unique concept, which is both interesting and engaging. The idea of linking the stories to the human senses is clever and adds an extra layer of depth to the film. The dialogues are well-written and thought-provoking, especially in the second story where Shivathmika Rajasekhar talks about the importance of knowing oneself before entering into a marriage.
The performances are also a highlight of the film. Brahmanandam does a great job as the narrator, and it’s nice to see him in a non-comedic role. Swathi Reddy, Rahul Vijay, Shivathmika, Divya Sripada, and Vikas Muppala all deliver strong performances and add depth to their respective characters. The last story, featuring Swathi Reddy, Aadarsh, and Utthej, is emotional and heart-touching, and delivers a powerful message about the importance of self-confidence.
Minus Points:
Despite its strong concept, the film is not completely engaging and suffers from a few weak points. Some of the stories have more potential but are only explored superficially, making them underwhelming. The concepts of a few of the plots are also not clearly conveyed, and the film could have benefited from more depth and interesting scenes.
The pace of the film is also a bit slow at times, which can make it feel a bit boring. The editing could have been better as well, as the film feels a bit prolonged due to some unnecessary sequences. The first half of the film in particular could have been more exciting and fast-paced.
The film’s niche appeal may not appeal to everyone, as it lacks commercial elements. The length of the anthology may also be a deterrent for some viewers, as it could have been shorter and more impactful. A few of the stories could have had more impact with more drama and emotion.
Technical Aspects:
The music by Shravan Bharadwaj and Prashanth R Vihari is pleasant and adds to the film’s atmosphere. The cinematography by Raj K Nalli is solid, and captures the visuals well in accordance with each story’s theme. The editing could have been better, but the production values are good.
Director Harsha Pulipaka does an okay job with his first film. His idea of conveying stories through the five senses is a good one, but the execution could have been stronger. A few of the stories are well-executed, but a few are not. The potential is there, however, and it will be interesting to see what Pulipaka does in the future.
FINAL VERDICT
Panchathantram is a collection of five short stories that explore the different senses of humans. The film follows retired employee Veda Vyas Murthy (Dr. Brahmanandam) as he participates in a storytelling competition and narrates the five stories, each centered around one of the five senses. The first story focuses on hearing and follows a frustrated software employee, while the second story explores taste and follows a person searching for their perfect life partner. The third story centers on smell and follows a retired employee experiencing an odd smell, the fourth story is about touch and follows a wife and husband going through a difficult time, and the final story focuses on sight and follows a children’s storyteller.
Overall, Panchathantram is an anthology film that caters to a specific audience. While the performances and a couple of the stories stand out, the film’s length and some underwhelming stories hold it back from being truly engaging. The film’s concept of using the five senses to tell stories is interesting, but more depth and excitement could have been added to make the film more captivating. The pacing is a bit slow and the editing could have been better, but the production values are strong. Director Harsha Pulipaka’s first film shows potential, but more effort could have been put into making the film more engaging. Those who enjoy anthologies may find Panchathantram worth a watch, but others may not find it as compelling.