(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Director Prakash Kovelamudi has impressive credentials; his first film Bommalata won the National Award for best Telugu film, while his second Anaganaga O Dheerudu, starring Siddharth and loosely based on the Malayalam flick Yodha, was a decent entertainer. But when he comes with his third Inji Idupazhagi, also releasing in Telugu as Size Zero, the chips aren't all that stacked in his favour, especially in the film world, where fortunes are fickle.
The sceptics point out to two factors that are rallied against the film: One is the chemistry of the lead pair Arya and Anushka Shetty; their earlier outing for director Selvaraghavan's Irandaam Ulagam was a disappointment. And two, Anushka, while earning heavy acclaim for Bahubali, has not been able to repeat the magic in Rudhramadevi, despite a solid performance. Probably then it will be Prakash's talent as a director that will have to work the magic when it comes to Inji Idupazhagi, now playing at theatres in the UAE.
The film has been in the news for the right and wrong reasons; the latter being that the lead pair were doing the film rather as a favour to placate the producer after the sad show of Irandaam Ulagam (that was released in Telugu as Varna).
The right reasons are perhaps what make the film worth the wait; it has Anushka playing the role of a rather obese lady, for which she had to put on some 20 odd kilos.
Whether the extra flab is all padded-up will remain a rather insider-story (despite PR spins of how Anushka binged on food and the like), but the fact is that the story does come across as relevant, especially in Indian settings.
Most recently, Bollywood pulled a coup with its take on the subject with Dum Laga Ke Haisha, a delightful movie that also worked at the box office. But Inji Idupazhagi does not toe the line of the Hindi film. Here, it is a single lady's yearning for love, stifled only by the fact that she is a little on the weighty side. But if the trailers are anything to go by, the story also comes across as another message on women empowerment where the lady is bold enough to look up to men and say, 'love me as I am.'
Not surprisingly, the cast and crew have gone to town with such inspirational messages all aimed at people to accept others for what they are and not what others expect they must be - be it looks or personality. For Anushka Shetty, the film has been an instant winner from day one. She says she fell in love with the script the minute the story was narrated and immediately felt a connection with the character.
She says that women, who are conscious about their appearance, will be able to relate to her role, and hopes that the film gives out the right messages.
Arya plays an NRI who is in town bride-hunting and has his set of options. Anushka, playing Sweety/Soundarya, and with a sweet tooth, is head over heels in love with him but what comes in their way is not just her obesity but also another girl, who is a perfect size zero. From then on, it is a race for Anushka to shed the excess weight.
But ultimately, the film's success will depend on whether it will pander to stereotypes and if it can indeed rise above compromises and communicate the strong message that being beautiful does not mean having to be slim all the time.
If Prakash does pull off the movie with his directorial flair, Anushka can close the year with a contented mind; after all, she has been part of the biggest movie of the year and that she has also earned her share of box office success almost single-handedly.
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