Kiran Abbavaram's latest showstopper, Kramp, burst onto the Diwali scene looking to bring the heat with its all-in, mass-appeal rom-com vibe. And boy, did it leave audiences feeling like they'd just got a slice of that classic, mixed bag experience - the sort of thing that keeps coming up in films that rely way too heavily on finger-on-the-beat formula.
So what did the initial crowd reaction look like? Well, it was a right ol' mishmash, folks - a pattern we see all too often in films that are banking on tried-&-tested beats to carry them through. For those who'd been hoping for Kiran Abbavaram's signature high-energy antics and some quality situational comedy, the film delivers a few genuinely chortle-worthy moments, particularly as the second half gets going.
Now, the one thing that undeniably stands out in Kramp is Kiran Abbavaram himself. He gives it his all as Kumar, that initially ridiculously carefree rich kid. And you have to hand it to him - his body language & expressions are just infectious, even when the rest of the script is stumbling around trying to find its footing. The film's structure leans heavily on a major plot twist at the interval - and I've heard from fans that just takes the whole thing by surprise and sets the stage for a much more engaging back half.
But this bit, and the effective entry of Vennela Kishore, really get things going & deliver some solid laughs. Plus, the emotional stuff, especially the Naresh track and the father-son equation has managed to win over quite a few viewers - and those really do stand out as the film's strong points.
However, where Kramp really trips up is its unevenness. Jains Nani's directorial debut starts off feeling like business as usual, only to kind of meander on a predictable college romance track in the first half. And while a bit of the comedy works, a lot of the rest has been panned by critics as just cringeworthy - we're talking double innuendos and over-the-top gags that fall flat. And on top of all that, some are saying the film slaps PTSD around like a cheap laugh, rather than treating the subject with the respect it deserves.
All told, I'd put Kramp firmly in the 'one-time watch' or 'passable' category. It's a film that's kind of succeeding by playing on familiar tropes and because Kiran is 100% committed to the role. If you're after a light-hearted, non-taxing watch with a few genuinely funny bits, that you can just about overlook the formulaic writing and clumsy handling of some themes, then yeah - Kramp might just about cut the mustard. And given its decent box office debut, it looks like it's at least managed to tap into that mass appeal and get some of the right people in the seats.