Direction| Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring| Vijay Deverakonda, Shalini Pandey, Rahul Ramakrishna
Three years on and Arjun Reddy remains the pinnacle of the contemporary era of Telugu Cinema and marking the evolution of bold and audacious storytelling. In the perspective of cinema, Arjun Reddy is a masterpiece as it artfully captures a young man’s slow obsession with a woman whom he believes is his god-given half. You see Preeti’s naivety as she is almost forced to submit to his overbearing love. Until, you realise that by the time they have been ripped apart, they are actually one and the same. The difference is the subtle change in how the two personalities express their passion. Arjun is shown as explosive, controlling and demanding. While, Preeti a more docile creature, is capable of grating clinginess and deceptively manipulative nature. Though it’s accepted undoubtedly as a young woman in love. Every scene after their split is framed in a detached manner, as though the camera disassociated from what is unfolding. Almost like after Preeti, Arjun has isolated himself from reality and is living in a dream. The only reality, he exists in is a drug-induced haze with sobering moments spent with Preeti.
Vijay Devarakonda essays Arjun with such a searing conviction, helpless with uncontrollable incidents that, you are drawn to his agony. There are moments of pride, arrogance and unnerving misogyny that make Arjun so immensely unlikeable, like the way he possesses Preeti at first glance. Simply he’s put an asshole, and yet you root for him and perceive his grief. Vijay is the brightest star in this film and not for one second do you forget that this is his film through and through.
In no way can I confidently begin to persuade people that, this film isn’t misogynistic, doesn’t glorify the male superiority and condemns violence. It is that and some, but if we treat this film as the riveting piece of art it is then yes, it works and so brilliantly. These two fractured individuals are so perfect for the other, that staying apart does them more harm than good, as though the only semblance of existing as wholes are with each other.
And honestly, it works for me. Yes, I hated Arjun, he represents the vilest category of entitled, privileged men. So in that sense, it was equally satisfying watching him gradually self-destruct. At the end, when his redemption arrives, perhaps hesitantly, you empathise, that yes this man deserved a win after the complete destruction of his sanity.
