Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi

don't have to say this as everyone knows this is a modern classic. The benchmark for buddy coms in Telugu cinema. It's just pure Tharun Bhascker magic all around. The character introductions of all Four friends is smooth and funny. And each character is just iconic. Vishwak as Vivek, Abhinav as Kaushik, Sushant as Karthik and Venkatesh as Uppi. These characters will always be close to the hearts of the Telugu audience. It has such breezy screenplay and editing and there are great cheeky lines which are very well timed delivered naturally with subtle acting. There is this natural feel of the cinematography of Niketh and it's so fresh to see. It geels like a real group of friends and you are almost intruding their personal intimate space. Just 10 to 15 min of the love story with Vivek Sagar's beautiful composition 'aagi aagi' in the background makes you care so much for the characters and keeps you so invested. The interval sequence in the bar is just bonkers. That's the funniest thing I've ever seen. It's just too chaotic and always makes me laugh until my stomach hurts, that's just perfect comic writing and acting. Abhinav Gomatam absolutely kills it as Kaushik in this whole sequence. The 2nd half set in Goa is a beautiful balance between humour and emotion. It's just beautiful writing. My favourite scene is the one in the camera rental shop where Uppi tries to speak in his broken hindi just blurting out hindi movie names and songs has me in splits every time. He goes "Yeh dedh kilo ka haath padtha insaaf dilaatha". The scene between vivek and kaushik where Vivek gets fully drunk absolutely intimidating Kaushik is just iconic. The scenes I mentioned are just from the top of my head. I mean each scene in the movie is a modern pop culture reference. Just iconic. Coming to the end each character's arc is beautifully written and concluded. The emotions hit so hard during the final act through the confrontation between Vishwak's character Vivek and Sushant's character Karthik. Those dialogues where Vivek talks about happiness in life, saying "Life ante Naluguru nachinolatho ondukunta, naalugu methukulu thinukunta, neeku nachina Pani cheskodam ra, dantlo untadi ra asalaina sukhoon", hit right at the sweet spot of your heart. This is so beautifully followed up by showcasing the bond Vivek and Karthik share reminiscing their school going days as kids and reflecting on how kids have the most freedom without the burden of responsibilities and expectations. And I always love the nostalgia when the 4 friends just lie down and talk about the cartoons and tv shows of the early 2000s, pure nostalgia. Vivek Sagar is just so brilliant, what a beautiful album and such beautiful background score. He really set the vibe of the film. He's just too underrated man. It's not just a buddy comedy but a movie which tries to tell you that true happiness comes from being surrounded by the people you connect and vibe with around whom you can just be your natural self expressing everything without inhibitions or pretence. Sukoon is doing what you love and following your passion instead of chasing materialists things. Tharun does all this without being preachy and with great sensitivity, integrating it's central themes in a buddy comedy. I first watched it during the lockdown in 2020 and then re-watching it in Gokul in 2023 during it's re-release with my own ENE gang and getting to meet Abhinav Gomatam (Kaushik) and almost meeting Tharun was such a core memory. I kept getting reminded of that during the scene in the movie where the Gang meets Gautam Menon. Beautiful parallels.