Recent trends in film industries paving the way for new talents, more artistic freedom, and creative plots have seen significant changes in classic genres such as love stories. By using love stories as the platform to voice out serious social issues, Tollywood has progressed in delivering content that broke from the stereotypical love stories that generations grew up with.

The rise of streaming platforms and OTT Platforms delivering high-quality Telugu movies online helped change the film industry’s already established trends. With the audience now preferring more real and content-rich but sophisticated plots, filmmakers have now been more creative with their content delivery. 

Johar is one such film that epitomes the changing nature of the Telugu film industry.

Directed by debutant Marni Teja Chowdary, Johaar is a 2020 Telugu film starring Esther Anil, Ankith Koyya, Naina Ganguly, Easwari Rao, Chaitanya Krishna, and Subhalekha Sudhakar. The film was streamed on Aha on 15 August 2020. With the music by Priyadarshan Balasubramanian and cinematography done by Jadgdeesh Cheekati, Johaar is an anthology revolving around five stories.

The story opens with Vijay Varma, the son of the late Chief Minister of the state. Being the current Chief Minister of the state, he wants to build a huge statue in his deceased father’s memory to be remembered in history. This move calls for a large budget, for which he seizes funds in various sectors. What follows this is how the actions of one man’s selfish needs affect the lives of others, sectioned in four stories.

• The first story is set in Varanasi, including a girl who elopes with a chaiwala because of love and to escape her mother and the dangers in her home.
• The second story is set in a village near Srikakulam that is infected with waterborne disease. Gangamma’s grandaughter, like her son, is infected with kidney disease because of the water in the area. All she is left with hope for a change.
• The third story is set in Rayalaseema, a man in his 70s who runs an NGO and hopes for a brighter future for the street children in his country.
• The last story deals with a Vizag-based street circus performer Bhanu who dreams of being an athlete and finds a coach, but it is never enough as she lacks the government’s funds.

What connects all the stories is later narrated to the Chief Minister by a journalist, who pragmatically tells him that people’s death and some dreams were because of the freezing of funds as commanded by him. In the credits, the minister, guilt-ridden, inaugurates his father’s statue.

The stories get real and lively with the help of an ensemble cast. These four words are given distinct textures by cinematographer Jagadeesh Cheekati, art director Gandhi, and music composer Priyadarshan.

Anthologies are often a difficult genre to master, especially when you are new to the industry. Still, debutant Marni Teja does it with dramatic brilliance with a masterstroke of his own. With five different stories that come combined in the end, the bold depiction of the country’s political scenario is one of the main reasons you should give it a watch.

Films such as Johar depict cinematic excellence and are streaming on OTT platforms like AHA., so grab your subscription to watch more such New movies online.