DJ TILLU

Che buffo, scellerato film. E che buffo, sconclusionato personaggio. Il riccioluto attore (Siddhu Jonnalagadda) è irresistibile, si diverte come un pazzo - noi con lui -, e si intuisce che vorrebbe sostituire lo stile di vita di Tillu al proprio. Vogliamo biasimarlo? Il primo tempo è una chicca di sciagurata, variopinta demenzialità. La storia è allegramente assente. Sullo schermo si susseguono sequenze il cui obiettivo è solo quello di caratterizzare il protagonista. Nel secondo tempo la trama bussa alla porta e si fa strada fra le eccentricità di Tillu. La sceneggiatura cerca di sostenerla, un po' intimidita da tanta bizzarria, con esiti non sempre soddisfacenti. Ingenuità e forzature si moltiplicano. Il carismatico Siddhu regge la pellicola sulle spalle: quando la camera si concentra su di lui, il film si accende e noi ringraziamo beati. Quando la camera lo trascura, DJ Tillu purtroppo perde mordente e vivacità. 

Da segnalare la figura di Radhika: le maliarde sensuali e pericolose non sono molto comuni nel cinema indiano. Neha Shetty parte col botto, per poi gradualmente spegnersi. Peccato. Impagabile l'attore che interpreta il padre di Tillu, e delizioso il cameo di Pragathi. Una menzione anche per i dialoghi, redatti dallo stesso Siddhu - talento poliedrico: recita, collabora alla sceneggiatura, presta la voce ad un brano, ed è pure carino. Apprezzabile in larga parte il contributo del cast tecnico: fotografia, costumi, scenografie e soprattutto montaggio. La colonna sonora è piena di brio e conquista al primo ascolto. Il commento musicale, che non è solo strumentale, non è purtroppo disponibile in YouTube, a differenza delle canzoni considerate ufficiali. Ragione in più per visitare il giocoso mondo di Tillu.

TRAMA

Tillu è convinto che la musica sia la sua strada. Si atteggia a DJ, fonda una band sgangherata, allieta le feste del quartiere causando grande imbarazzo ai genitori. Ammaliato dalla voce suadente di Radhika, intreccia una relazione con lei. Ma Radhika, all'insaputa di Tillu, è già impegnata. Quando il fidanzato scopre la tresca, cominciano i guai. Grossi. 

ASSOLUTAMENTE DA NON PERDERE

* I manierismi di Tillu. Delittuosamente godibili. Tutto in stupefacente sincronia: gesti, movimenti, espressioni, battute. Siddhu si abbandona con incoscienza al personaggio senza mai risultare eccessivo. 

RECENSIONI

The Hindu:

'Director Vimal Krishna helms a laughter riot populated with quirky, morally ambiguous characters. DJ Tillu takes a fresh look at the idea of a ‘mass’ film. (...) Director Vimal Krishna (...) ensures that the narrative is packed with madcap fun moments. (...) Radhika is designed as a morally ambiguous character whose moves evoke distrust not just in Tillu, but also us, the viewers. Is she a victim of liaisons that went wrong, an opportunist, or a mix of both? (...) The first hour is a riot anarrated with sharp humour and Tillu getting the best lines. It nearly becomes a one-man show as Siddhu gives it his all to play the eccentric character, owning the swag. It is also a physically demanding character, where his body language adds to the fun. He does this with no inhibition, unafraid to look silly in a few places. Nothing Tillu says or does is there just for fun. The dance he does in front of an apartment complex and casual conversations in scenes that seem to be randomly placed at first, all come in handy to push the story forward. When Radhika tells him to stop looking at her through the compass of morality, she is speaking to all those watching the film. The narrative, while showing how glamorous women are viewed as objects of lust, neither judges her nor gives her a clean chit. Neha Shetty pulls off this complex character well. Accentuating Tillu’s madcap world is Sricharan Pakala and Thaman’s vibrant music, cinematographer Saiprakash Ummadisingu’s almost psychedelic visual canvas and Avinash Kolla’s production design. (...) The fun wears off in the later portions. (...) However, the film redeems itself to an extent'.

Sangeetha Devi Dundoo, 13.02.22

Recensione integrale

Deccan Chronicle: ***

'It’s a character-driven narrative. (...) Siddhu’s dressing style, his body language, his antics and gestures set the mood and lift the scenes. (...) The director keeps the audience entertained for the entire first half. (...) The crime comedy loses steam during the second half. There were one too many characters. Had the filmmaker stuck to the main characters, the film would have been more impactful. (...) Though Neha Shetty is adequate, her character lacks panache. (...) The background score is one of the saving graces and a great add-on. Siddhu needs to be appreciated for pulling off the title role with elan. He was apt for the part and does his role convincingly while creating an impression as a writer too. On the whole, DJ Tillu is a breezy entertainer that has elements of fun and quirkiness. The writing was cool, but goes overboard towards the end. Watch out for Siddhu’s characterisation and performance'. 

12.02.22

Recensione integrale

Cinema Hindi: ***

Punto di forza: l'incontenibile Siddhu, la follia.

Punto debole: dal rapimento dello smemorato Tillu la sceneggiatura mostra troppe debolezze e il divertimento diventa intermittente.

SCHEDA DEL FILM

Cast:

* Siddhu Jonnalagadda - Tillu     

* Neha Shetty - Radhika

* Prince Cecil - Shannon

* Brahmaji - ispettore di polizia

* Pragathi - giudice

Regia: Vimal Krishna

Sceneggiatura: Siddhu Jonnalagadda, Vimal Krishna

Dialoghi: Siddhu Jonnalagadda

Colonna sonora: Sricharan Pakala, Ram Miriyala. Commento musicale di Thaman S. Il brano Nuvvala (Female version) è suggestivo. La versione maschile è interpretata da Siddhu Jonnalagadda. Alzate il volume al massimo per ascoltare Tillu Anna DJ Pedithe. 

Fotografia: Saiprakash Ummadisingu

Montaggio: Navin Nooli

Scenografia: Kolla Avinash

Lingua: telugu

Anno: 2022

Trailer (non rende affatto giustizia al film)

RASSEGNA STAMPA

* I want to be a star of a 100-crore film in the next three years, Sangeetha Devi Dundoo, The Hindu, 5 febbraio 2022. Intervista concessa da Siddhu Jonnalagadda:

'What was the origin of the character Tillu?

At first, it was a simple story of a girl who has had a couple of questionable associations and a guy. After much brainstorming, we felt the need to have a crazy, vibrant and loud character from whose perspective the story can be narrated. We thought of a Telugu stand-up comedian; but stand-up comedy is restricted to a few urban pockets of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Vimal [Krishna] and I then hit upon the idea of a wacky DJ. Tillu thinks he is the man, though he is far from a successful DJ. He is someone who masks his inferiority complex with a show of superiority complex. (...)

During the trailer launch, you stated that Tillu’s characterisation stemmed from the people you observed while growing up in Secunderabad. Can you explain?

I grew up in areas near Padmarao Nagar. Youngsters in Warasiguda and Chilkalguda talk like Tillu (the Hyderabadi Telangana dialect). We wanted Tillu to reflect on how these youngsters speak and how they handle things... Each one is his own boss and for no reason, there is the rivalry between gangs from each street. These boys are also more chilled out than those in, say, Banjara Hills. (...)

You are an engineer and an MBA diploma holder; during your years of struggle in cinema, did you consider taking up a steady corporate job?

Not at all; in fact, I turned down corporate jobs. Deep within, I knew I was in the right place. After learning the basics in four to five years, I was determined to swim ahead rather than go back.

Was there a decisive moment when you decided to enter cinema?

It was not like I aspired to be an actor since childhood. I did not train in acting, writing or editing. I began doing all these things out of desperation. I did not want my parents to take a huge loan to send me to the US and then me working in a corporate job to repay it. That path did not excite me. Acting happened when I spotted an audition call. Having been around for more than a decade, without being too modest I would say it is a god-given gift to be in a creative field.

What are your plans for the near future?

I want to be a next generation actor who can have a wide reach. I want to be a star of a ₹100-crore film in the next five years. No, let’s make that three years'.

CURIOSITÀ

* Riferimenti al cinema indiano: Mahesh Babu, Allu Arjun, Katrina Kaif, Bhumika Chawla, Bunty Aur Babli, Prabhas, Pokiri, Prakash Raj.