2016: Evaluating The Best Performers (Female)
When it comes to best performances in female category, year 2016 was hardly that of superstars among the actresses. Barring Samantha and Keerthy Suresh (who was not a superstar on Jan 1 when her Telugu debut hit the screens, but who is now a superstar), the year largely belonged to the greenhorns out there. Notably, two yesteryear sensations - Ramya Krishna and Gautami - stole the show in the role of a housewife.
IndiaGlitz presents a review of the best performances of the year.
Putting in a redoubtable performance in 'Soggade Chinni Nayana', Ramya Krishna brought back the memories of 'Hello Brother' (for Nag, that is) and sheer entertainment for the rest of us. In a measured fantasy, she was innocence personified. It is an enjoyable subtlety that the behavior of Ramya Krishna and the son Nag was kept charmingly sinless. Like mother, like son - a rarity in our films nowadays. Just goes to show that an actor doesn't perform in an island; her performance is as good as the script.
The Suvarna of 'Guntur Talkies' has had many takers. Playing that not-so-conventional villager-neighbor covertly infatuated to Siddu, Rashmi perked up the film's glamour quotient from word go. It was not just oomph. She showing her love for Siddu was the film's only emotional element. As for the sensuous number 'Naa Sontham', it has turned out to be the most-viewed song on You Tube in Tollywood's history!
If her performances in '24' and 'Janatha Garage' were so-so, it was in 'A Aa' and 'Brahmotsavam' that Samantha was really great. In Srikanth Addala's film, confidently wearing those innocent expressions, Sam was vivacious. In the case of 'A Aa', she was the first hero. Thanks to Trivikram, she here gave one of the her career best performances with ease. Her child-like demeanour intact, she didn't even have to cry too much to convey her pain.
A debutante in Telugu, Niveda was one of the major reasons why 'Gentleman' turned out to be such a big hit. Her stylized performance had a lot of takers, with her attitude winning her many laurels. That it was a thriller opposite someone like Nani helped matters. A performer, she has also come to be called a heartthrob. She is seen making smart moves, making sure not to accept any and every role.
The talent of 'Prema Ishq Kadhal' fame finally had her tryst with a blockbuster. Ritu Varma hit the bull's eye with 'Pelli Choopulu' in the role of a career-oriented, strong-willed woman who grapples with a patriarchal father and an irresponsible business partner. The scene where she behaves bossy with Vijay Devarakonda received a thumbs up in our review. Like Niveda, Ritu is not in a hurry. And that's great.
The Mega Princess showed she likes challenges when she chose a conversational love story like 'Oka Manasu'. Debutante Niharika showed pain without crying, she betrayed happiness without smiling too much. An understated performance, in short. For those audience who had known only her bubbly and spirited self as a talk show host, her role in this Rama Raju-directed movie was nothing short of a revelation. Much like Niveda and Ritu, she is not in a hurry. And that's great
Delivering an impeccable act in 'Manamantha', Gautami was very relatable as a housewife whose only concern is her family. In one of those scenes, she talks about her husband's qualification and talent, only to be reminded by Gollapudi's character of her academic accomplishment. As an unselfconscious woman oblivious to what she is missing, Gautami was brilliant. Her act in the climax where she sobs because her of family members' willingness to she leaving the country, was a masterly act.
If her 'Nenu Sailaja' act was over-rated, her best performance got ignored because the film was a disaster. It's 'Rail', the dubbed version of 'Thodari'. As an unfashionable, uneducated orphan, Keerthy Suresh played a deglam role with aplomb. She was utterly convincing in the role of a wannabe singer who doesn't realize she is a pathetic singer. The way she behaves, her costumes - everything befits her identity of a girl from a poor background.
Nandita Swetha was to 'Ekkadiki Pothavu Chinnavada' what Niveda was to 'Gentleman'. A debutante in Tollywood, she came with an impressive profile, having donned challenging roles and worked with directors like Pa. Ranjith, Selvaraghavan, Radhamohan and Durai Senthilkumar. In 'EPC', one of the biggest hits of 2016, she played a possessed woman with a characteristic vulnerability as well as toughness. So much so, even Allu Arjun made it a point to congratulate her.