Exploring the Dark Comedy of Uppu Kappurambu
A Unique Take on Comedy
Amazon's Uppu Kappurambu presents a challenging yet intriguing dark comedy, featuring Keerthy Suresh in her first venture into physical comedy.
Her performance is captivating as she energetically flails her limbs, shakes her midsection, and dances with a quirky charm reminiscent of Govinda, albeit with a sprained ankle. In this narrative, she portrays Apoorva, the village head sarpanch facing a dire shortage of burial spots.
The twist? Apoorva receives advice from her deceased father, who humorously appears to be as bewildered as she is, guiding her through the absurdities of managing a village filled with eccentric characters.
Extracting humor from themes of death is no small feat, and while the film attempts to tackle this, it often feels overemphasized. Director Ani. I.V. Sasi seems to rush through the comedic elements, resulting in a chaotic atmosphere where every character behaves as if they’ve just escaped a mental institution.
Keerthy Reddy's portrayal is a blend of Chaplin and Yogi Babu, showcasing her departure from her usual delicate persona with mixed results. Nevertheless, her quirky character remains engaging throughout the film.
Suhas, playing the village grave digger, strives to add depth to his role, but the writing limits emotional connection, leaving his interactions with Keerthy feeling distant.
This disconnect persists, with Keerthy and Suhas appearing as two strangers navigating a bizarre situation. The bond between Chinna and his mother (played delightfully by Rameshwari) feels more genuine than that between Chinna and Apoorva.
A humorous moment arises when Apoorva is offered a chair in Chinna's home that is so unused it won’t open, proving to be funnier than many of the repetitive jokes surrounding graves.
As Chinna attempts to reminisce about their past, Apoorva yawns, a moment that thankfully the audience is spared from experiencing. The film's zany energy propels viewers through one outrageous scenario after another. While it may not be the pinnacle of black comedy, it certainly offers a unique satire, highlighted by a scene where Keerthy Suresh comically blows her nose at a burial, leaving others in shock.
Her willingness to embrace such absurdity is commendable, and the film, despite its exaggerated antics, lacks a sense of realism. The comedy feels forced, and the characters seem aimless, struggling to find their place in a narrative that leaves them adrift.