DEAR COMRADE (TELUGU) (2019)

The initial sequences of debutante director Bharat Kamma's Dear Comrade feels like a hangover from Arjun Reddy with Vijay Deverakonda steeped in alcohol and angst of loss of love even as his friends try to support him. 

We quickly cut to a flashback which captures Bobby in his college days donning the role of titular comrade in all his raw aggressive spirit.

By now.. the alarm bells of being in another Arjun Reddy wannabe start blaring in my head. 

I begin to wonder if this is another case of  a talented actor getting trapped in an overshadowing image of his past successful outing. 

Thankfully, that is not the case. 

The narrative quickly moves on and we see that this is indeed a love story of an impulsive, hot-headed Bobby (Vijay Devarakonda) and composed, clear thinking Lilly (Rashmika Mandanna) - a state level cricketer with soaring ambitions to become a national level player. The portions between the lead pair (fresh after their successful Geetha Govindam) are capture with warmth with ample support from the score and songs from the talented Justin Prabhakaran. Even the many template tropes work because of the easy chemistry that the lead pair shares. There is a beautifully measured sequence halfway through which introduces the conflict which launches the second half which sees a role reversal between the leads. Both Bobby and Lilly are tested for their commitment for each other and their own dreams. This portion also involves the leads embarking on their own journeys - both in literal and metaphorical sense - to identify the true meaning of comradeship.

This movie is indeed a pleasant package on multiple counts - praiseworthy performances from both the leads, a smooth flowing narrative with emotional heft that feels just right in most places and exceptional music. Bharat Kamma deserves kudos for keeping off the much trodden path of simple romance and delivering a drama with heart.  The writing deserves credit for the several subtle elements through which it establishes the character arcs of the leads initially and takes them forward through the ordeals that they have to face. The manner in which they deal with those ordeals resonates and stays true with the initial sequences and this keeps the viewers invested in their journeys.  Perhaps, that would also explain why even a contrived final sequence of confrontation seems to work.

Overall, Dear Comrade is a heart warming, well executed drama which explores the idea of comradeship commendably in an exceptional way.

AN ENGAGING DRAMA !!

RATING -  3.5/5