Note Book Movie Reviews

With the success of '10th Class', Chandu launched 10th Class Productions on his own and chose Vellampally Prasad as his producer to launch his second project 'Notebook'. Rajiv, son of noted music director Koti, has been introduced as hero, while Gayatri as heroine. Gayatri had an experience of the camera as a child artiste for a popular tele-serial 'Nagamma'.

Though Rajiv had to utilise the film as a launch pad, it is Gayatri who took the cake with good footage all through the film. The story of the film had the scent of 'Gangotri and Chanti' films.

However, the director changed the track in the second half and got a grip over the film. The old-fashioned screenplay and slow pace of direction sans masala or action scenes killed the patience of audiences.

Raju (Rajiv) turns an orphan with the death of his mother (Surekhavani). The village elder and his wife take him away and bring him up along with their daughter Nandini (Gayatri). Both remain good friends right from their childhood. Nandini falls in love with Raju and reveals it to Raju. But he politely refuses her.

Nandini teases Raju in many ways but he silently escapes every time. Nandini's father looks for an alliance for Nandini. Even as Nandini reveals to her father that she is in love with someone, he did not accept it. Nandini goes to Raju's hut and gives her notebook, in which she writes down her opinion on him and asks him to write his opinion on her before the sunrise next day as Nandini's father fixes her engagement with some boy the next day.

Though Raju writes down all his love and affection in his heart towards her, he could not give it to her in time. Unable to share her life with someone other than Raju, Nandini commits suicide. After Nandini's father lights the fire to the pyre, Raju jumps into it and commits suicide. Nandini's father comes to know their love and curses his fate for failing to acknowledge their love. The film ends on a tragic note with the death of Raju and Nandini.

Nandini's performance is the highlight of the film. Comedy by the hero's sidekicks is worth watching. Tunes by Mickey J Meyer are melodious and their choreography is also good. Cinematographer V Jayaram was able to capture the greenery in a village excellently. As the love story was made with rural backdrop, the hero gets very less chance to show his abilities. The last half-an-hour is quite good to watch.

Cast: Rajiv, Gayatri, Ganapati, Sudarshan, Surekhavani, Deepanjali, Srinu and others

Credits: Camera €“ V Jayaram, Editing €“ Gouthamraju, Lyrics €“ Veturi, Vanamali, Music €“ Mickey J Meyer, Presents €“ S Shankar Reddy, Producer €“ Vellampally Prasad, Screenplay and direction €“ Chandu.

Banner: Tenth Class Productions

Released on : February 2, 2007