Virata Parvam Review: A Love Story Marred By Politics And Violence

Released on June 17, Virata Parvam’s appearance on OTT so soon after its theatrical release was a surprise, albeit a pleasant one. I was only aware of the fact that it is set against the backdrop of the Naxalite movement from the 90s in today’s Telangana .

Director Venu Udugala’s voice and the newspaper cutouts of a woman’s killing inform viewers that the film is based on the life and death of Thumu Sarala and is dedicated to her. Venu’s reel adaptation of this real incident has a poetic demeanour that leaves its audience spellbound, and numb.

Virata Parvam Film Review

The film opens on a gruesome night showing the birth of Vennela (Sai Pallavi) amidst firing between the police and the Naxals. It seems like the director is foreshadowing her eventual association with Naxalite insurgence.

Unlike in reality, where Sarala had fallen in love with the revolution, Vennela falls for Rana Daggubati’s Ravi Shankar alias Aranya or Ravanna. Her love makes her so determined that she, without thought, not only calls off her wedding with her cousin but also leaves her parents behind and joins the movement.

Vennela, time and again, is reminded by many people like Teacher (Nandita Das) that she is not prepared for the dangers that await on the path she has chosen to follow. Determined still, she joins the revolution and risks her life.

The books, written by Aranya, ignite a fire within her which is constantly fuelled by her love for him. Pallavi’s Vennela understands his movement, and his passion but despite claiming to love her, he fails to understand her.

The film is a visual treat for viewers. Cinematographers Dani Sanchez-Lopez and Divakar Mani play with the light and shade creating a masterpiece as they show Vennela’s story yet none of the stark surroundings are ever romanticised. Coupled with Suresh Bobbili’s melodious music which induces goosebumps, the poetic quality of the film goes a notch higher.

A haunting scene that remains etched in my mind is that of the last confrontation before the imminent tragic end at a waterfall. The way the camera focuses on both—Ravanna and Vennela—after showing the expanse gave me chills.

Every time guns and grenades go off in the film and Vennela is caught amidst the firing, you want nothing but for her to be safe. When she is brutally assaulted over suspicions of her being a covert police informer, your heart aches.

Although, as Venu himself confessed, the film did not show even a fraction of the brutality with which Sarala was treated, the audience is made to empathise with Vennela. But in the same heartbeat, it inspires them because of the way she persevered.

Undoubtedly, it partially is brought by the writing of the story and its execution but the major contribution comes from the actor, Sai Pallavi, who gets under the skin of her character. With stellar performances in films like Paava Kadhaigal, she had already cemented the extent of her acting prowess and she continues amaze us with each new screen outing.

The four years of research that the director put into the making of this film shows through. It harks back into the tumultuous past of the southern state and its grappling issue with the Naxalite movement.

However, the movie falls short when it focusses on the dilemma and conflict of interests of the Dalit Bahujans and when it comes to capturing the impact of the Naxalite movement on the lives of those marginalised.

Virata Parvam is not run-of-the-mill love story yet it will tug at your heartstrings with the sentiments it is anchored to. You may not be a fan of gore or violence, but I’ll still recommend you watch this film once. It is currently streaming on Netflix

Views expressed are author's own

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