Paradha Movie Review: Praveen Kandregula Delivers a Thoughtful Social Drama with Strong Performances

With its many layers of metaphors, emotional depth, and breathtaking visuals, Praveen Kandregula's most recent film, Paradha, offers a novel perspective on women's liberation. The film, which is anchored by Anupama Parameswaran, Darshana Rajendran, and Sangeetha Krish, successfully brings attention to urgent social issues without ever coming across as preachy.

The plot

The story follows three women travelling to Dharamshala from various backgrounds. They are forced to seek refuge at a camp due to a landslip, where their lives start to intersect. As Subbalakshmi (Subbu), a woman constrained by her village's strange custom that forbids women from exposing their faces in public after puberty, Anupama Parameswaran excels. Sangeetha Krish portrays Ratna, a loyal housewife navigating personal struggles, while Darshana Rajendran plays Amishta, an ambitious civil engineer fighting gender bias at work.

Kandregula uses the superstition of the veil (paradha) and the folklore of the fictional village as a metaphor to start discussions about social conditioning and female autonomy.

Performances

• As Subbu, who is caught between tradition and freedom, Anupama Parameswaran gives a strong performance.
• As Amishta, Darshana Rajendran gives depth by striking a balance between tenacity and vulnerability.
• As Ratna, Sangeetha Krish adds warmth and relatability, which makes her journey just as interesting.

Supporting actors Rag Mayur and Harshavardhan give the story realism, and veteran actor Rajendra Prasad makes a fleeting but memorable appearance.

Technical Mastery

The film's technical skill is its strongest point. Gopi Sundar's music enhances the poignant beats, and cinematographer Mridul Sujit Sen masterfully depicts the scenery and symbolism. The production design lends authenticity to the storytelling, while editor Dharmendra Kakarala makes sure the story flows naturally.

Highlights and Drawbacks

• The most captivating part of the movie is the road trip section, which offers both philosophical and emotional insights.
• Together with authors Poojitha Sreekanti and Prahaas Boppudi, Kandregula steers clear of generalisations and gives each woman her own storyline.
• However, there are times when the screenplay becomes overbearing, with scenes that are more intended to convey a message than to allow the narrative to flow.
• Some montages evoke scenes from films such as Queen (2013), giving them a vaguely familiar feel.

Conclusion

Occasionally, Paradha exaggerates its argument and runs the risk of coming across as tokenistic. Its heart is in the right place, though. Kandregula's film is a nuanced social drama that inspires viewers to embrace freedom, individuality, and resilience through strong performances, striking visuals, and a timely message.

Final Score: ⭐⭐⭐☆ (3.5/5)