Mahesh Babu is son of an industrialist in Vijaywada. He has no name in the film. His father Sathya Raj loves to lead life celebrating festivals with his relatives and family members together. When his brother in law Rao Ramesh who is hoping that Mahesh marries his daughter Pranitha sees that Mahesh kissing Kajal Agarwal hell breaks loose. He walks out of the family and leaving Mahesh Babu father devastated. The tragedy in his family makes Mahesh Babu to find the extended family that is living all over India.
Seethamma Vaakitlo Sirimalle Chettu had elevated director Srikanth Addala to another league. Despite the movie having no major story the way he has handled the scenes brought out the bonding between two brothers struck a chord with everyone.
His next film Mukunda was highly criticized by many. Despite this when he teamed up with Mahesh Babu for Brahmotsavam expectations shot high and the title and teasers hiked them up as they promised a colorful family entertainer. But one feels cheated by the teasers as the movie proceeds on.
Can you sit through a movie in which first one hour is devoted to songs wedding events festival celebrations picnics silly banter between family members and nothing else Yeah the first hour of Brahmotsavam treads on like Sathya Raj and his son playing with a group of 50 to 60 family members and singing songs. When the family is not shown we get to see some silly verbal romance between Mahesh Babu and Kajal Aggarwal.
Like in old Krishna Vamsi movies Murari or Ninne Pelladutha all the ladies either do pooja or make pickles and every room in the large house is decorated with flowers banana leaves and dozens of kids and workers moving all the while. The dialogues in thick Godavari slang sometimes amuse us and the philosophical conversation between Mahesh Babu and Sathya Raj is hard to understand.
While the first half is filled with family drama with song and dances, the second half is more like a Travel documentary for a TV channel with Mahesh Babu and Samantha heading to Nagpur to Haridwar to Jaipur to Sholapur and all over the India to find out the roots of seven generations of his family. Along the way Samantha and Mahesh Babu talk in plain silly way and look at each other admiringly but refrain from doing anything.
The proceedings are as tedious as some of our never ending TV serials like Mogali Rekulu or Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki. Director Srikanth Addala has stressed the focus on Mahesh Babu and his relationship with his father in the first half and then immediately shifts focus to roots of his family. It is like watching two different movies on a single ticket. But that is fine if it is told interestingly.
Although the movie has couple worth family sentiment scenes like the interval tragedy and the climax duel between Rao Ramesh and Mahesh Babu the actual drama is very little in the film flimsy storyline is the main drawback.
While the hero goes all over India to search for his roots he doesnt care to bring his sister who lives abroad to his home. Even when the tragedy happens at home she doesnt come Strange Also, in entire first half the director shows that Mahesh Babus house is filled with atleast 50 members and servants but when the tragedy strikes he shows there is no one in the house to approach except his mother.
Although the film has stunning production values and great cinematography director Srikanth Addala has put all his eccentric ideas here. He directed the film based on his whims and fancies little caring about a cohesive story or screenplay.
All in all Brahmotsavam tests the patience with its idiotic scenes directionless screenplay and snail paced romantic thread. If not for Mahesh Babu presence the film collapses completely.
