The film begins with Kaali (Kajal Aggarwal) coming to a restaurant and starts scribbling something. The film then reveals episodes about several people present at the restaurant.
The people present at the restaurant are a watchman Shiva (Avasarala), a chef Nala (Priyadarshi), a stewardess Meera (Regina), two lesbian customers Radha (Eesha) and Krish (Nithya Menen) and a magician Yogi (Murali Sharma).
How are they linked with Kaali? And what is the final twist in the tale?
Analysis:-
Awe is essentially a psychological thriller about a woman who had a traumatic experience in her life.
New director Prasanth Varma withholds the psychology part till the end much like Martin Scorcesses Shutter Island. This is not to say that the film has any resemblance to the Hollywood film. It treads a similar path in holding the key point till the end. Those who have seen Scorcesses film are bound to understand it.
A film with episodic stories is not new to Telugu audiences as we have seen several movies that include Praveen Sattarus Chandamama Kathalu. Here the difference is that it is a psychological drama.
New director Prasanth Varma has come up with some interesting individual episodes, but the overall effect is too artificial. It is different for the sake of being different, not organically unique.
In the story of a chef, a guy who doesnt know how to make fried rice applies for a job. How he cooks watching videos in Youtube and how a fish in an aquarium and a bonsai tree help him is told in a funny and entertaining manner.
Eesha introducing her lover to her parents is also hilarious. This is the first time in a Telugu movie that a girl introduces her parents to her girl lover. The lesbian story adds little shock value (for Telugu audiences) and humour.
The episode of a magician Yogi (Murali Sharma) who believes that he is the greatest in the world only to get spooked by another magician is also told in an interesting way.
However, despite these scenes, the movie never gets to the point. The final revelation comes in the last ten minutes of the movie. Till then we get to see the individual episodes and occasionally Kajal Aggarwal taking this and that for few seconds.
When we get to know the traumatized girls story and the final twist, it gives us the feeling that it is much ado about nothing.
Even many sequences in the second half are quite boring. Especially the thread of Avasarala and another woman is outlandish. Regina Cassandras story is told in horror movie style. The film has a blend of many genres and finally ends as a psychological drama. Though it begins interestingly, the movie slips into boredom as it progresses.
One can spot the directors intention to present something different and well intended message in the end, but the sequences in the second half bore.
Moreover, it is clear that the film has been stretched from short film idea to full length feature.
Overall, Awe is a different attempt. This may seem appealing to some section of audiences, but it doesnt entice the general audiences at all.
Greatandhra