Within a week's period, we have witnessed two satisfying films that portray the hardships faced by entrepreneurs: Soorarai Pottru, and the newly released Middle Class Melodies (both streaming on Amazon Prime). While the former deals with an idealist's struggles with red tape and crony capitalism, the latter, directed by Vinod Anantoju, presents the everyday (even trivial) battles encountered by a member of the middle class businessman.
Starring Anand Devarakonda and Varsha Bollamma as leads, Middle Class Melodies (MCM) tells the story of a villager Raghava (Anand), a second generation cook who overcomes personal and professional setbacks as he fulfills his dream of opening a hotel in Guntur. An underdog story at heart, MCM also offers a hilarious take on how trivial problems (parents' approval, for instance) play a significant part in the life of the middle class.
Apart from the leads, Middle Class Melodies feature a supporting cast that include Surabhi Prabhavathi, Goparaju Ramana, Seshu, Chaitanya Garikipati in supporting roles. Right from its start, the writing (by Janardhan Pasumarthi) consistently finds humour and heartwarming moments within an ordinary setting, as the screenplay etches its supporting characters with more depth.
As a result, we get to see some satisfying subplots that cohere well with the broader arcs. For instance, take the arc of Raghava's astrology obsessed friend Gopal, who regrets rejecting his crush by citing horoscope issues. The screenplay finds a way to connect this seemingly inconsequential subplot with the story's larger scheme of things.
With an equal balance of drama, MCM features some hilarious stretches. One such instance is the terrific scene in which Sandhya (Varsha Bollamma) desperately tries to warn Raghava about a financial transaction. The scene was thrilling, yet darkly funny.
Another noteworthy aspect of MCM is the grounded, yet convincing portrayal of its characters, especially the enterprising Raghava. Even after achieving the dream of opening his venture, we see him stumbling, making mistakes and battling with self-doubt. The vulnerable portrayal of the film's protagonist is refreshing.
Some of the scenes are effectively elevated by the stellar acting of the film's cast. Anand Devarakonda underplays his part well, Varsha Bollamma gives a consistently good performance (she conveys the desperation, angst and shyness with less dialogue), but it was Goparaju Ramanna and Surabhi Prabhavathi who, as Raghava's parents, delivered the most memorable moments of the film.
Unarguably one of finest Telugu films of this year, Middle Class Melodies is a heartwarming ode to the quirky, yet unique ode to the problem-solving skills of its titular class. A pleasant watch.