Uppu Kappurambu review: Keerthy Suresh, Suhas's quirky comedy works despite flaws

India Today

2 days ago

Prime Video's latest offering, 'Uppu Kappurambu', revolves around an interesting premise, albeit set in a fictional village. A quirky comedy, the Ani IV Sasi-directed film is a clever social commentary on dignity in death and how people are now easily divided over communal differences. Has 'Uppu Kappurambu' hit the right notes? Let's find out!Chitti Jaya Puram, a fictional village, is full of zany characters who follow age-old practices that reek of ignorance, patriarchy and what not. Apoorva (Keerthy Suresh) becomes the village head following the death of her father, who died on duty. But, Apoorva's father fully prepares her to take on duties and calls it the easiest job ever.advertisementOne day, the village's graveyard caretaker, Chinna, approaches Apoorva with a real problem. The graveyard is now short of space, and she is stuck figuring out a solution. Meanwhile, there are influential people in the village, Bheemayya (Babu Mohan) and Madhubabu (Shatru), who want to bring down Apoorva because they do not want to be under a woman's leadership. How does Apoorva deal with these patriarchs amid a brewing cultural problem that forms the crux of the story?
Director Ani IV Sasi's 'Uppu Kappurambu' is a sweet film that is also quite clever in its social commentary. The film highlights many socio-political issues, including misogyny, communal divide, dynasty politics and patriarchy, among others. Like the Telugu film, 'Prince', 'Uppu Kappurambu' is set in a fictional village. All the characters in the village are eccentric and rely on shallow situations to tackle. The initial minutes of the film are a stretch because of Keerthy Suresh's exaggerated expressions. In a quirky comedy, one is expected to overdo expressions. But, Keerthy oversells Apoorva to the extent that you become averse to the film. It is only after Apoorva eases into her village head job that the actor mellows down. That's when the film also picks up momentum and cruises through.People fighting for burial space might sound like too trivial a problem. But, it is a valid concern and Apoorva takes Chinna's help to come up with solutions. Every time they come close to a solution, they face another bizarre conflict. The idiosyncrasies of people might come across as a huge surprise. But, it's not just a problem that Chitti Jaya Puram has to go through. It could happen to any of us living in the city and that's when 'Uppu Kappurambu' hits home.Suhas's Chinna is the backbone of 'Uppu Kappurambu'. The way his character propels the story forward works majorly for the film. Keerthy Suresh, as Apoorva, may initially test your patience, but you'll eventually warm up to her character. The film ends on a positive note, a message that is much-needed in today's society. Even if you don't prefer taking away a message, 'Uppu Kappurambu' still has a lot to offer.- Ends3 out of 5 stars for 'Uppu Kappurambu'.