Some films entertain. Some make you think. And once in a
while, a film comes along that quietly touches your heart. Sing geetham is
one such rare gem.
The biggest reason I walked into the theatre was, of
course, Singeetam Srinivasa Rao garu himself. At the
incredible age of 94, he continues to dream, create and surprise
us. This is the filmmaker who gave us timeless classics like Aditya 369,
one of India's earliest science-fiction films, the unforgettable silent
masterpiece Pushpaka Vimanam, Bhairava Dweepam, Brundavanam,
and several other unique Telugu and Kamal Haasan classics. His storytelling has
always been refreshingly different.
The second reason was Ayaan. I had first seen
him perform as the lead vocalist with Band Capricio a few years ago and was
completely mesmerized by his singing. I was curious to see whether he could
carry the same magic onto the screen and he absolutely did. His acting feels as
effortless and sincere as his singing.
I walked into the theatre with very few expectations, but
walked out with a heart full of admiration.
A Story Wrapped in Fantasy
The story is set in a mystical mining village called Kuberapuram
with gold beneath its soil, and some unknown power leading to unexpected
repercussions - that makes people mysteriously sing instead of speaking.
It is whimsical, magical and unlike anything we usually saw in Telugu
cinema. I will try to express my love towards the movie without revealing
any spoilers...
Like any other human on this earth, every one in that
village has their ulterior motives to earn riches by hook or by crook, except
some pure souls like Gauri - who is fighting for well being of the village and
for the one single tree that is like mother figure to her... Pratap Mannem (
Ayaan ) enters the village and what happens between him , Renu, Renu's father
and the business deal that leads to all the whimsical happenings... What has
happened in the past that may have cast an unwanted and unwarranted curse on
the village? What is the solution and how can one stop it - all these be better
watched on large screens!
As the film progressed, its message slowly seeped into my
heart. By the end, I wasn't just watching a fantasy—I was reflecting on our own
world. I want to list few things I really loved in the movie and some key
take aways for me from the movie:
What Stayed With Me...
- A
meaningful message hidden beneath a fantasy
Beyond gold and greed, the film beautifully touches upon
caste discrimination, social inequality, exploitation of nature, and how wealth
often widens the gap between the rich and the poor. These themes are never
preachy - they emerge naturally through the narrative.
- Refreshingly
natural characters
One of my favourite aspects was how authentically everyone
looked. Especially the women, who appeared with little or no makeup, allowing
their emotions to shine through naturally. It was beautiful to watch characters
who felt so real, as real as the mother nature...
- Music
that becomes the language of the film
Creating a musical where conversations seamlessly become
songs is no easy feat. Huge credit to Singeetam garu for writing and directing
such a challenging concept. Every song moves the story forward.
My personal favourite is the beautiful sequence between
Gauri and Pratap - "Ee Kotha Feeling Ne Emantaro." It
carries an innocence that reminds me of melodies from another era.
- Children give
the film its soul
The presence of children in the movie added
an emotional heartbea to it. Children who are pure souls may also get
misdirected - well not revealing any spoilers but watch the tale to know more
- A
refreshing break from formula cinema
During the time of massive 100 crore movie budgets,
commercial formulas and big pan India banners with a forced glamour of a vulgar
item song infused in it, this movie feels like a respite from all the
mundane stuff. . It reminds us that good storytelling never goes out of
style
- A
film that restored my faith in Telugu cinema
It is not an exaggeration if I say that Sing geetham
revived the hope in me , that good stories and enjoyable experiences can be
brought back to Tollywood. As a person who was not watching Telugu movies much,
this movie restored my faith and redeemed tollywood for me!
- Like
stepping into a Chandamama storybook
The entire film feels like reading one of those magical
children's fables we grew up with. At times, it even reminded me of the
timeless tale of King Midas - but with its own unique soul.
A Truly Golden Ending
The ending literally felt "Golden" and the
final song and the concluding moments gave me goosebumps. To know more you
surely must watch and know for yourself. What made the experience even
more special was watching it with my daughter. She was deeply moved by the
ending, almost in tears. Throughout the film, we found ourselves humming the
songs - even during the interval, and continued talking about them long after
we left the theatre.
That's perhaps the biggest compliment I can give the film.
It gently reminds both children and adults to value
kindness, humanity, nature and Mother Earth...
A heartfelt salute to Singeetam Srinivasa Rao garu.
At 94, to imagine something this fresh, creative and relevant is nothing short
of extraordinary. He continues to prove that imagination has no age. This
is some fan made art https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ40aJYT1PM/?igsh=OGNqN2VkeG1qOWkz,
which seemed so apt for this genius of a man!
To the entire cast and crew - Congratulations! I
sincerely hope this film receives all the appreciation, awards and recognition
it deserves.
If you have children, please take them along. They may enjoy
the fantasy the most—but the lessons hidden within are meant for all of us.
Three cheers to DSP for making such happy and happening
songs and BGM! And yes - I can't stop listening to the soundtrack!
From "Ee Kotha Feeling Ne Emantaro" to "Emaindi
Emaindi" and "Hello Bossu," the songs
have become part of my everyday playlist while I go about my routine mundane
tasks!
A special mention once again to Ayaan, whose
screen presence is as captivating as his voice. I genuinely look forward to
seeing him grow as both an actor and a singer. Lastly a glimpse of Ayaan -
who sings beautifully. This is an archived video from 2023.
Some movies entertain you for three hours.
Sing geetham stays with you long after the curtains fall.
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