You expect the expected when Vijay Sethupathi is in his trusted mood to carry the movie on his well-endowed shoulders. As Kotagiri Sasha Reddy, he is not the routine father who will have his daughter caged in the house. Instead, he barks that the man has to be punished.
And his ways of punishment - prising out the manhood is the sort of performance which should send a chill down the spine of the audience. Only the actor keeps his cool with the instructions to his henchmen that tracing the girl need not have to be on the Innovas but in bicycles to ensure that there is no trace and whisper of the intentions.
Kudos to the debutant director for his choice of the character as he wondered whether anyone could have done justice to a role which called for maturity and not hot-headed like the proverbial villains of the South.
Uppena marks the debut of mega hero Vaisshnav Tej, Krithi Shetty, and director Buchi Babu Sana. Like any fresher setting off from the blocks, the movie opens on a dark scent with the lead man Asirwadam aka Asi (impressive work from Vaisshnav Tej. The endearing flashback reveals that the battered and bruised man is from a backward caste and a fisherman. Predictably, cupid strikes, getting hooked to the charms of Bebamma (a smashing Krithi Shetty). Their bond increases at every turn and in `Ghilli" fashion outsmart the baddies to a distant place in Odisha.
Playing the smart game to the letter, Rayanan inflicts the revenge mode on Asi, murdering him. Only his plans to get Babema married to his relative get scuttled, the girl daring to reveal that she had slept with her beloved and it hardly matters if he is not in a position to do for the rest of her life. She recalls the words of wisdom of her school teacher that a man's protective arm is the endearing gift for any teenaged girl, entering the door of the marital bliss.
Dialogues are the cornerstone of the plot with the classy lyrics enhancing the quality of Devi Sri Prasad. Mention must be made of the song picturisation in the boat (astute visuals of Shyam Dutt) where the girl reminds her beloved that the poignant moment be never had and coaxing him to join the party.
The lead actors must be lucky to have had a seasoned hand like Sethupathi, to bring the best out of them. Kudos to Krithi in the climactic act where she reveals that it hardly matters if her man does not sleep over her but by the side. Tej is at home in such an elated company though a trifle short of emotions in the well-etched romantic segments. Pure, pristine love is at its very best with the visuals a treat for the eyes to beholden.
The fringe artists play their roles unflinchingly, Thalimpu driving home a few points as the buddy of Tej. Sai Chand, and Rajeev Kanakala are at home in set pieces.