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Story
Whisky (Vamsi Pujit) is a youngster from a low-income family, living in a basti. His best friend, Arun (Pranav Kaushik), comes from a high-income household. The two share an unbreakable bond. Whisky falls in love with Aishwarya (Preethi Pagadala) and introduces her to Arun. But life takes a turn when Arun and Aishwarya start developing feelings for each other. Aishwarya has struggled with decision-making since childhood, so they announce a kite-flying contest - whoever wins, gets Aishwarya. The rest of the story revolves around the emotional conflict and the big question: who wins the contest, and who ultimately wins Aishwarya’s heart?
Artists Performance
Pranav Kaushik fits his role perfectly with his urbane appearance, delivering a confident performance backed by good dialogue delivery. Vamsi Pujit shines as the basti boy, portraying the character with conviction. His role is well-crafted and layered with rich emotional depth. Preethi Pagadala, as the female lead, is the pivot around whom the entire narrative revolves. She brings out the purity, innocence, and inner confusion of her character effortlessly, handling a demanding role with remarkable ease.
Gautham Vasudev Menon appears in a special role as himself and adds a fun dimension to the film, which the director smartly uses for engaging meta moments. Vishika is effective as the girl who stalks one of the heroes, and her performance during the climax game stands out as particularly entertaining. Vignani does well as the hero’s sister, benefiting from a well-developed role. Anu Haasan and SP Charan are commendable in their roles as the parents, lending solid support to the narrative. Vishnu Oi’s special appearance as the match commentator adds an extra layer of fun to the film.
Story - screenplay - direction:
The idea of deciding a girl’s fate through a match between two lovers sounds hard to believe on paper. However, debutant director Praneeth Prattipati pulls it off with remarkable ease. The film thrives on moments and features an extended 30–40 minute kite-flying competition. The triangular love story is filled with fun and innocence, and Praneeth crafts the romantic and lighthearted moments effectively, making them work seamlessly on screen.
One of the most hilarious and endearing episodes is when one of the heroes tries to set up his sister with his best friend - purely to distract him from his girlfriend. It’s written with so much cuteness and charm. The meta references involving Gautham Vasudev Menon and the lead characters are cleverly done. The director treats the film almost like a musical, which adds a refreshing touch.
The design and execution of the kite-flying contest deserve special applause. No other film has captured aerial views of flying kites and their clashes with such energy and animation. Despite lasting nearly 40 minutes, the sequence never feels lengthy, offering an immersive experience akin to watching a live match in a stadium. An underlying emotion of friendship runs throughout the film and culminates on a high note. Praneeth Prattipati is certainly a director to watch out for.
Other departments: Jose Jimmy’s music is trendy and pleasant to the ears, perfectly suiting the film’s musical nature. With multiple songs and a soothing background score, the soundtrack adds charm throughout. Sreemani’s lyrics are catchy and easily hummable. Cinematographer Shakthi Arvind deserves special praise for visuals that beautifully complement the film’s mood, bringing a refreshing vibrancy along with the old city’s distinctive charm. Editing by Chanakya Reddy Toorupu is crisp and effective, with the kite-match episode standing out for its excellent pacing and execution. Venkat Saathavahana’s production design works well, and the stadium chosen for the climax is particularly impressive. The VFX used in the kite-flying climax is top-notch. Producers Vijay Sekhar Anne, Sampath Maka, Suresh Reddy Kothinti, Ramya, and Naani Bandreddi deserve special appreciation for backing such a bold and unconventional storyline, which is hard to pull off convincingly.
Analysis: Patang is a refreshing watch, reminiscent of Sekhar Kammula’s early films, but presented with a more vibrant touch. The presence of mostly new actors and technicians adds to its freshness. The kite-flying climax stands out as the film’s biggest highlight. Its amateur, unpretentious approach turns out to be its greatest strength. Overall, Patang is a romantic musical entertainer set against a sports backdrop, best enjoyed on the big screen.
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