Review for ‘‘The Group (Balagam)’’ by Venu Yeldandi

Balagam (The Group) is Venu Yeldandi first attempt at filmmaking following a successful career in comedy. The writer/director's experience in the industry shows, as Balagam exhibits all the merits of quality comedy while combining social commentary, satyre and brightly showcasing the reality of Yeldandi's own Telangana region at the intersection of India's various cultures.

First and foremost, the film is an over-2-hour-long epic, combining magnificent establishing shots of rural life, snappy dialogue, drama rooted in generational trauma & inflexible societal norms, all the while respecting and closely depicting the form that tradition, work, family and love takesin today's India. Especially considering it's Venu's debut film its extremely impressive and commendable how it manages to stand out as a modern classic, and how it switches between grand scale, a very personal family conflict, and professionally-crafted and timed music numbers that elevate every emotional or sarcasm-tinged scene.

Esthetics is where Balagam undoubtedly shines. An amazing production, it brings forth crystal-clear photography, huge crowd scenes as if ripped straight from old hollywood or older acclaimed Telugu heavy-hitters, and last but not least, excellent sound design and an unforgettable soundtrack. To top it all off, every performance is convincing and filled to the brim with energy, be they troubled and emotional or bordering on slapstick, depending on each scene's needs.

We can conclusively judge that Balagam - or, The Group - is one for the ages. An incredibly strong and high-budget debut, it may not reeinvent the wheel but it iterates on the long tradition of indian filmmaking in a most addictive and immersive way, all the while staying close to the creator's roots and lived experiences.