Synopsis:
The film Happy Birthday looked very crazy from the very beginning of its promotions. The film unit of Happy Birthday did creative and unique promotions for the film so as to prepare the audience for the crazy characters present in the film. The character names, looks, and posters were very interesting. Even the trailer was cut in a non-linear manner, hiding the story and revealing only the crazy elements present in the film. Why is the word “crazy” repeated again and again when we talk about the Happy Birthday movie? This is just because the film is much crazier than what we saw in the trailer and what we talked about. Ritesh Rana, the director of the film, is back with his Mathu Vadalara team to deliver the best crime comedy film of the year. The film was released in theatres today and it received the same positive reviews from the Telugu audience. Let us discuss the film in detail and review it.
Cast And Crew:
Title – Happy Birthday
Release Date – July 8th
Cast – Lavanya Tripathi, Naresh Agastya, Satya, Vennela Kishore and Others
Writer And Director – Ritesh Rana
Producers – Chiranjeevi and Hemalatha
Presenters – Naveen Yerneni and Ravi Shankar Yalamanchili
Production Banners – Clap Entertainment and Mythri Movie Makers
Music Director – Kaala Bhairava
Cinematographer – Suresh Sarangam
Editor – Karthika Srinivas
Happy Birthday Movie Review:
Story:
The Defence Minister of India, Rithvik Sodhi (Vennela Kishore), passes a new law in the country that says every individual needs to carry a gun along with him. Implementing the gun culture, the entire nation gets hold of guns. The housekeeper (Naresh Agastya) of a popular hotel in Hyderabad, the Ritz, is hired to replace a lighter in the film. Pasupuleti Happy Tripathi (Lavanya Tripathi) who attends a party in the same hotel, gets kidnapped by some guys who are looking for the same lighter. The significance of the lighter, how the lighter is connected to Happy, the Housekeeper, and other characters, and why some guys are searching for the lighter are the interesting elements that unfold as the story progresses.
On-Screen Performances:
Lavanya Tripathi, as the lead actress in the film, perfectly fits the role as Happy Tripathi. She got the opportunity to explore herself as an actress in this film in a unique setup and new dimension, and she perfectly made use of that. Happy is one such role that exposes us more of Lavanya’s acting side, showing screen performance rather than that of her regular glamorous side, limited to screen presence.
Ritesh gets everything he wants from Naresh Agastya yet again. Naresh, the Mathu Vadalara actor, scores the full marks in Happy Birthday too.
Satya is the show-stealer of the film. His expressions, dialogue delivery, facial expressions, and what not. The audience will surely enjoy every bit of his presence and performance on screen.
Vennela Kishore repeats his super comedy timing and form in this film too. In particular, the interview part is the highlight from his side. Also, the transgender characteristics are presented perfectly by him.
Off-Screen Highlights:
Ritesh Rana’s recognisable screenplay format from his debut film Mathu Vadalara gets repeated for the Happy Birthday movie too. Firstly, the story idea itself looks very crazy, and the other story elements that are added on as the run time passes are much more interesting. The narration of the story from the character’s point of view adds strength to the screenplay of the film. We can observe a new dimension in the story whenever a new character is introduced, but the interesting move here from the director is that he connected the characters and infused them with the main storyline so perfectly. Ritesh explores this unique screenplay technique so greatly in the film. We can see the likes of Quentin Tarantino’s screenplay in dividing the film into chapters. Here, Ritesh named the chapters after the names of the main characters. Rana’s dialogues and punches at urban society are satirical and hilarious. Ritesh also incorporated the satire on TV shows from his previous film, Mathu Vadalara, and expanded on it in Happy Birthday.
Talking about the technical aspects of the film, the art department needs to be totally credited for the unique and unconventional set designs and patterns that match the film’s themes and elements. The production values are very good.
Kaala Bhairava is on the same line as his director. Bhairava is the second hero of the film on the technical side. The background score is very suitable and apt.
Endnote:
Happy Birthday is one such crazy film with energetic characters possessing and projecting sarcastic humour. Ritesh Rana’s screenplay format and satirical dialogues are the core strengths of the film. Lavanya, Satya, and other actors contribute their best to this unconventional film, just like their director. If you are a crazy urban human who enjoys humour, then this party invitation is for you.
Happy Birthday Telugu Trailer:
Also Read: The Idea Of Happy Birthday Was Inspired By Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Director Ritesh Rana
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