Story:

Isaac (Thiruveer), Sathi (Arjun Krishna), Pasha (Bunny Abhiram) and a fourth guy who is crazy about RGV, are a bunch of friends living in a Telangana village named Singareni. Isaac`s life turns upside down when he fails in the ITI exam around the same time as his girlfriend Sireesha (Pavani Karanam) forces him to do something urgently. Isaac has to arrange some big chunk of money and he is fast running out of time. His anxious phase of life and the circus that happens around him is what the film is about.

Performances:

The role suits Thiruveer solidly. After playing the ideal neighbour in `Masooda`, he gets into the zone that Sumanth Prabhas inhabited in the recent `Mem Famous`, minus the joyful demeanour. He looks far more vulnerable and anxious than any artist in `Mem Famous`. The comparison is because, like last week`s release, `Pareshan` too is a Telangana-based village comedy.

Pavani Karanam looks the part. Sai Prasanna shines in the grey character. Arjun Krishna evokes sympathy despite his flaws. Muralidhar Goud is getting typecast these days.

Technical Departments:

Music: Yashwanth Nag`s background score is easy on the ear!

Background score: Apt, never loud.

Cinematography: Vasu Pendem`s work is adept.

Editing: Very good.

Analysis:

Director Rupak Ronaldson of `Kobbari Matta` fame is back. Any film needs to prioritize the story first. `Pareshan` lacks a semblance of a story. The interval scene ends on an emotional note. But this very conflict plot point is abandoned in the second half. It eventually proves to be a storm in the teacup. That`s why the second half doesn`t work.

But if you are someone who just wants to enjoy a popcorn movie with loads of situational humour, `Pareshan` could be your cup of tea. Each of the artist speaks like a native of the village. The production design is genuine. The body language of the villagers is bona fide. 

Merits:

The rural vibe.

Natural performances.

The humour quotient in the first half.

Smooth flow from one scene to the next.

Self-aware comedy about alcoholism in the village.

Demerits:

The lack of an arc involving Isaac and Sireesha.

The low-brow episode where a road accident results in a disability.

The less-than-satisfying climax.

Overall Rating: 2.5/5

Box-office Verdict: All Hopes lie in Telangana.