Ameer Log, which released last Friday, marks the directorial debut of architect-turned-filmmaker Ramana Reddy Soma. The film introduces fresh faces MC Hari, Manoj, Sasidhar and Vedha Jalandhar.
The story revolves around three irresponsible youngsters from Hyderabad’s Old City who eventually find a purpose in life and strive to achieve something on their own.
MC Hari leads the film and delivers a good performance. Manoj and Sasidhar are also impressive. Vedha Jalandhar, who made her debut with Thimmarajupalli TV, plays a vital role and does justice to it. It is refreshing to see her character written as a sister figure and a motivating force behind the three boys rather than as a conventional romantic interest. Vishwender Reddy is effective in his important role and performs with conviction.
Ramana Reddy structures the screenplay like a buddy film, allowing the story to flow smoothly without a major conflict for nearly 80% of the runtime. The primary conflict emerges only towards the end and is resolved rather quickly. However, he establishes the characters well and makes the camaraderie among the youngsters feel natural and authentic.
The director cleverly uses cricket and biryani as elements to generate interest. The biryani-related track, particularly the conflict between quality and profitability, is an interesting idea.
On the downside, a major portion of the dialogues is in Hindi. While this adds authenticity to the Hyderabadi setting, it could be difficult for audiences who are not familiar with Hindi. The final stretch, where the central conflict is introduced, could also have been handled in a more engaging manner. Nevertheless, Ramana Reddy Soma does a decent job for a debutant director.
Smaran Sai’s music has a distinct flavour, with most songs following a rap-oriented style and being presented through montages. Saliganti Vijay Kumar’s cinematography complements the indie aesthetic of the film, while Rohit Penumatsa’s editing is decent.
Overall, Ameer Log is a different kind of film, made in an indie style while capturing the spirit and flavour of Hyderabad. It may not appeal to everyone, but if you enjoy slice-of-life films and don’t mind the frequent use of Hindi, it is worth a watch.
