Rating: 9/10 (Amazing)
Sekhar Kammula is a director known for introducing new faces to the industry and often makes realistic films contrary to the unrealistic commercial cinema we see today. In 2007, he made a film called Happy Days which has gone onto become an all time classic. What makes the film so good? Find out in this review.
Story: Happy Days tells the lives of 7 college kids who all become friends at CBIT, an engineering institution. They are Chandu(Varun Sandesh), Madhumati (Tamannah), Tyson (Raahul), Shankar ( Vamsee Chaganti), Rajesh (Nikhil), Appu (Gayatri Rao), and Shravanthi (Sonia Deepti). The film showcases the ups and downs, the feelings and infatuation, and the struggles and bonds between them over the course of 4 years of college. The film is bound to bring nostalgia to graduated folks with a degree and a job and it's a film every can relate to.
Performances: Since it's a film full of debutantes , you can't expect a Mahesh Babu or Raviteja type performance here from any of the leads.
Varun Sandesh is good as Chandu and I like his american accent cause he kinda sounds like me. Nikhil as Rajesh is hilarious and will make you laugh the whole movie.
Raahul as Tyson steals the show in the scene where he talks about how a man's constant worry is whether the girl he likes is cheating on him. He was spitting some straight up facts. He is good.
Vamsee Chaganti as Shankar has a bit of negative shades but when he reconciles with his friend, it makes you cry and smile at the same time. He is fine.
Tammanah is really bubbly and looks glamorous and does a fine job in the movie. Gayatri Rao is fine as Appu. Sonia Deepti has a decent role as Shravanti. Randheer and Adarsh Balakrishna are good as the seniors.
Technicalities: Music and background score by debutante Mickey J Meyer is excellent and all the songs are memorable especially Oh My Friend and Arerey Arerey. Cinematography by Vijay C Kumar is simply incredible. The film is mostly shot during the day and has rich and vibrant visuals going along with the mood and flow of the film. Art by Kishore Chowski is very good. Editing by Marthand K Venkatesh is superb. Production Values by Kammula himself are very good and it's always good to know that there are filmmakers like him out there.
Analysis: To be quite frank, there's not much to say. Happy Days is not a film, it's an experience. If you've been to college or you're currently going to college like me, then you'll be able to relate to every scene and incident in this film.
Every person, whether you're a guy or a girl has gone through the situations in the movie in their life.
And the best part is Kammula shows you how the characters grow over the course of 4 years and the ups and downs that they go through.
Telugu cinema needs more films like Happy Days and more directors like Kammula.
In a country where cinema is such an influential media, it's better to show the audience realism than blur reality and make hackneyed films that are nonsense in my opinion.
The first half is nice and the 2nd half is equally as good. Happy Days is truly a gem of a film and every person who's graduated college or is currently going to college should watch the movie. Movies like this don't come around often.
If you haven't watched Happy Days, then go and find 2.5 hours to spare and watch this movie. I can guarantee you will feel nostalgic and love every minute of this realistic film that is truly a classic.
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