Balu Gaari Talkies Review: An Aha Original – A Decent Thriller Comedy-Drama Worth Watching?
The Aha Original film, ‘Balu Gaari Talkies,’ with a runtime of 2 hours and 2 minutes, has recently been released. (Our channel has a previous review for Kalinga, which was mentioned as a reminder). Overall, after watching ‘Balu Gaari Talkies,’ I found this movie enjoyable. The first half starts slowly, transitions with comedy, and then becomes interesting with a problem. While the second half has some slow moments, the climax twist is truly unexpected.
Balu Gaari Talkies: Plot Overview
The basic storyline revolves around a cinema theatre owner whose establishment, Balu Gaari Talkies, has failed to develop and instead resorts to showing adult movies. He issues a challenge to make his theatre houseful. The plot explores why he made this challenge, what film he eventually screened to achieve his goal, the massive problem that arose from this decision, and the subsequent complications.
Performance Spotlight: Sivakumar Ramachandra
Sivakumar Ramachandra, a familiar face from films like Premadesam, Sarangadarya, and Ewal Shashi, takes on a significant role in ‘Balu Gaari Talkies.’ His acting is commendable, yet the reviewer felt he hasn’t fully shined despite his talent. This film can be considered his ‘one-man show.’
The Good: Plus Points of Balu Gaari Talkies
Among the film’s strengths are the hero’s performance and a well-crafted script featuring an impactful climax twist. The comedy provided by a Jabardasth actor and an elderly man in the first half is also a highlight. The movie maintains a consistent thrill factor throughout, with a setup that keeps you guessing about what truly happened. Additionally, the background music is decent, performances from other actors are good, and the direction is well-executed.
Room for Improvement: Minus Points
However, ‘Balu Gaari Talkies’ does have its drawbacks. The initial 20 minutes are somewhat slow, taking time to establish the story. Parts of the second half feature scenes that felt familiar from many other crime thrillers and also experienced pacing issues, slowing down in the middle. The ending felt somewhat ambiguous, making one question the necessity of some preceding scenes. The conclusions for certain characters, such as the uncle (babai) and aunt (atta), could have been shown more comprehensively. There were noticeable dubbing issues, with instances of dialogue stutters and slight background noise appearing in the final cut. The cinematography is generally acceptable but only ‘just okay’ in certain areas. Like many contemporary films, ‘Balu Gaari Talkies’ also suffers from a few logical inconsistencies, often attributed to cinematic liberty.
Is Balu Gaari Talkies Family Friendly?
Regarding family viewing, the film might present some challenges. The starting scenes of ‘Balu Gaari Talkies’ depict adult pictures, and related posters and dialogue could be uncomfortable for some audiences. Furthermore, there are romantic touches involving other heroines interspersed throughout the movie, which might cause discomfort for family viewing.
Final Verdict & Rating
Ultimately, ‘Balu Gaari Talkies’ is a decent thriller comedy-drama. When compared to other recent OTT films, it stands out as a worthwhile watch. Based on personal opinion, the film receives a rating of 3.25 out of 5.
