‘Uppu Kapurambu' movie review: Keerthy Suresh and Suhas anchor a partly-entertaining dramedy on life and death

The Hindu

4 days ago

It is a scenario straight out of the wildest dreams, or nightmares. An entire village, dressed in festive finery, gathers around a specially constructed stage. There is anticipation in the air, a celebratory mood. But the master of ceremonies (Vishnu Oi), a man summoned from a neighbouring town, is left stunned when he learns the purpose of the event: a lucky draw to determine who will win slots in the village burial ground, now perilously close to running out of space.
Director Ani IV Sasi, who previously helmed the offbeat Telugu romance Ninnila Ninnila, returns with Uppu Kapurambu — a madcap satire that takes on the politics of death, land, and legacy. Screenwriter Vasanth Maringanti weaves in layered subtexts touching upon gender, caste, money, and power, exposing the absurdity of fighting over land meant for one's final rest.
Now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, this eccentric comedy gets a major boost from a cast that includes Keerthy Suresh, Suhas, and veterans Babu Mohan and Talluri Rameswari.
Set in the fictional village of Chitti Jayapuram in 1990s undivided Andhra Pradesh, the film creates a universe that feels both outlandish and uncannily believable. The absurdity is deliberate, but the attention to detail — be it in Sri Nagendra Tangala's production design, Poojita Tadikonda's pitch-perfect costumes, or Divakar Mani's earthy cinematography — grounds the story in a very real milieu. Sweekar Agasthi's music, too, hits the right notes, adding whimsy without overplaying its hand.
Uppu Kapurambu (Telugu)
Director: Ani IV Sasi
Cast: Keerthy Suresh, Suhas, Babu Mohan
Run time: 134 minutes
Story: As a village burial ground nearly runs out of space triggering a fight for slots, the new female village head has to find solutions
Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video
It takes a while to settle into the film's farcical, morbid tone. One early scene sets the stage following the death of a village head — his burial becomes less a solemn occasion and more a social gathering, complete with idle gossip, performative weeping and irreverent humour. His daughter, Apoorva (Keerthy Suresh), is reluctantly thrust into the spotlight as the heir to the post — a role passed down through generations.
Things spiral when Chinna (Suhas), the caretaker of the village graveyard, discovers that burial space is rapidly running out. This simple logistical issue triggers a snowballing crisis of power, privilege, and pettiness. Apoorva, woefully inexperienced, fumbles through her newfound responsibilities. Her bungled attempts at diplomacy are laced with biting satire, particularly in a scene where she tries to deflect scrutiny by bringing up the Iran war and tomato prices in the same breath.
Babu Mohan as a well-off, elderly aspirant for her position, and Shatru as a fiery young challenger, embody the absurd politicking that underpins this death-centric tale. Sasi and Maringanti craft a village that thrives on absurdity over logic, but after a point, the humour turns laboured. The whimsy that starts off fresh begins to feel overly exaggerated and even cartoonish in tone.
Amid the chaos, it is Chinna and his mother (played by a grounded Talluri Rameswari) who emerge as the film's conscience. Years of working as the graveyard's caretakers has given them the wisdom about death being the great equaliser, or is it? After all, the elite still manage to secure premium burial plots and ornate headstones.
As the film sprawls into multiple subplots, Uppu Kapurambu loses some of its sharpness. The 2-hour-14-minute runtime begins to drag, weighed down by gags and a wavering tone.
However, the narrative regains some traction in its final act. The film ends on a poignant note, reflecting on how status and pride, often derived from power and wealth, can prove futile in the face of mortality. Apoorva's evolution into a village leader is conceptually compelling, but her arc lacks emotional heft. Keerthy Suresh gives it her best, yet the comedic beats written for her character rarely land. It's only in the final scenes, when she muses on the symbolism of the film's title, that she finds her footing.
Suhas, ever dependable, brings nuance and relatability to Chinna. His performance, understated yet effective, carries the emotional weight that the film sometimes fumbles elsewhere.
Uppu Kapurambu has an intriguing premise and flashes of brilliance, but its inconsistent execution stops it from becoming a truly memorable satire.
(The film is streaming on Amazon Prime Video)