'Kathi Kantha Rao' an enjoyable comedy (Telugu Movie Review)

Film: 'Kathi Kantha Rao'; Cast: Allari Naresh, Kamna Jethmalani, Kota, Ahuthi Prasad, Dharmavarapu Subramanyam, Jeeva, Venu Madhav, Raghu Babu and others; Screenplaywriter-Direction: E.V.V. Sathyanarayana; Producer: E. Ravi Kumar and E. Sreenivasa Rao; Camera: A.Vijay; Music Director: Mallikarjuna; Rating: ** and 1/2

The cast and credits reveal many things about the film. The fact that E.V.V. Sathyanarayana has directed the film that features his son Allari Naresh and severaly comedy actors, indicates its genre.

The father-son duo previously gave big hits like 'Bendu Appa Rao' and 'Kitha Kithalu'.

'Kathi Kantha Rao' is an addition to the list of films where the narration remains the same and only a few fresh and well-written comedy sequences are included here and there. This comedy makes you laugh if you are not looking for logic or reality.

But Sathyanarayana, who was considered one of the most successful directors, should know he cannot fool viewers.

There are problems in the film - first, the story is not fresh, it just looks like an extension his successful comedy 'Appula Appa Rao' that had Rajendra Prasad in the lead.

Sathyanarayana's slapstick comedies spelled good business for producers, but the director has taken too much liberty by rehashing scenes from his own film. He didn't bother to pen a credible script and relied on comedy artists and their fantastic timing.

The characterisation of the heroine is so weak that it will leave audiences' confused. The film also drags in the first half and even the beginning of the second half is slow-paced. The technical aspects of the film are just average compared to the prevailing standards in the industry.

The highlight of the movie are the dialogues, which are sure to be a hit with audiences, and Kamna Jethmalani's glamour quotient.

The overall film is designed to tickle the funny bone of viewers and it succeeds in doing so.

Kantha Rao, a constable, has too many problems. Being a responsible person, he tries to handle all his problems. He shoulders the responsibility of his married and unmarried sisters.

Kantha Rao's father, a suspended home guard, makes him sign an agreement that he will not marry until his all sisters are settled. But Kantha Rao is secretly married to Ratnam (Kamna Jethmalani), whom his boss S.I. Kanakaratnam (Jeeva) thinks is a prostitute.

Kantha Rao somehow manages to find grooms for his two sisters, but fails to keep his marriage a secret.

What happens after that is what the film is all about.

Allari Naresh is a competent actor and excels in comedy centric roles. His dialogue delivery and timing are the best.

Despite weak characterisation, the film's heroine Kamna Jethmalani oozes charm.

The director has been able to take best out of all the comedy artists - Dharmavarapu, Krishna Bhagavan, Kondavalasa and Venu Madhav.

Kota Sreenivasa Rao and Ahuti Prasad have once again showed their consistency in giving top class performances.

If you enjoy slapstick comedies with double innuendos, then watch 'Kathi Kantha Rao'. It will definitely make you laugh.