‘Pottel’ is produced by Nisa Entertainments, Pragnya Sannidhi Creations and Sahit Mothkhuri Writings. The film releases in theatres this Friday.
Story:
The period drama is set in the 1980s for the major part, in a backward village on the Maharashtra-Telangana border. The village deity, Balamma, is believed to oversee the welfare of the village. And, as a form of worship, a goat (pottel) must be sacrificed to the deity periodically. It is believed that Balamma possesses the village Patel during the ritual.
While the Patels have traditionally been virtuous and God-fearing, the current patriarch, Patel (Ajay), is a total savage. He develops a rivalry with Gangadhar (Yuva Chandra Krishna), for whom his daughter Sarasawthi is everything.
When a sacred responsibility given to Gangadhar results in a major existential crisis for him, the man, his wife Bujjamma (Ananya Nagalla) and their daughter stare at a dismal future.
Analysis:
The theme of education as a tool of empowerment runs through the film’s veins. Usually, films that deal with the theme of caste-based oppression show the oppressor as the landed aristocratic class with no major ideological corruption. He is a land-grabber and that’s all there is to his character. In contrast, ‘Pottel’ portrays the oppression of disempowered caste groups through an ideological lens. How the antagonist seeks to perpetuate inter-generational poverty and backwardness in the village has been narrated without resorting to cliches.
Patel, a man haunted by a dark secret, manipulates the villagers’ faith to maintain his dominance. The film, directed by Sahit Mothkhuri, tells a tale of a father’s love, a village’s fear, and the battle between good and evil.
While Yuva Chandra is a relative newbie, the actors around him are familiar to the audience. He never looks out of place, confidently delivering what was required. He looks vulnerable and strong in turns. Ananya gets to deliver a powerful monologue.
Ajay shoulders the film’s most intense scenes, making a strong impact. His performance during the ritual scenes is damn good. Chatrapathi Sekhar and Jeevan Kumar of ‘Ee Nagaraniki Emaindhi’ fame are seen in relatively smaller parts. Srikanth Iyengar plays a grey-shaded school teacher. Noel Sean, as Bujjamma’s brother, plays an emotional role. The baby artist shows a sense of fear where required.
Although some plot points could have been dramatized in a better way to heighten the stakes, ‘Pottel’ is engaging for the most part. At times, the screenplay choices are assured. Shekar Chandra’s music, particularly the songs Vavvare and the Penchal Das-rendered pathos song, is excellent.
Verdict:
‘Pottel‘ explores themes like education-driven empowerment and the abuse of faith in perpetuating social inequality in a Telangana village.
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