The title Okka Kshanam is apt, it is about ten people who are entrusted with the responsibility to meet, discuss, vote and arrive at a conclusion to prove that a youth who brutally murdered a teenager is actually guilty of the crime. The film begins in a very routine manner of a channel reporter speaking to the witnesses in and around the apartment in which the girl was killed. Her death had become talk of the town and the minister who is under pressure asks the channel head to constitute a committee to determine the fate of the accused.
Analysis :
the discussion begins with ten people from all walks of life voting for and against Kishore the accused. They all confidently spell out the reasons for voting against him but the lone not guilty vote comes from Rajeev Kanakala who gives logical explanations and asks the rest to give a benefit of doubt, think once before giving their judgement as it is 'a life' they are dealing with. Slowly, Kanakala's compelling but credible reasons changes each person to cast their vote for the accused and by the end of the film, the result is predictable but gratifying. Now what makes the story interesting is the manner at which the 10 members arrive at a consensus, giving us a glimpse at their personalities, their background, their attitude and those small foibles, frailties and prejudice. The film runs for one hour forty five minutes and major chunk of the scene is at the discussion room. The members ridicule, joke, scream, humiliate and even empathise while at the round table trashing out their conflicting thoughts.
TeluguOne Perspective :
The film is not gripping as it made out to be, it is purely engaging as it progresses. The first 15 minutes is boring excruciatingly painful and would lure you to exit from the theatres but if you hang on, you will be led into an animated confabulation that would last for an hour. What ails the film? The conversations lack intensity, it doesn't move you, even the last important scene when Kota Srinivasa Rao breaks the walls of personal prejudice there are no strong emotions. The characters move from behind and merely place their hands on Kota's shoulders or arm. Except for the arguments revolving around the dagger the rest of the reasons seem so flippant and dj vu. How many times didn't we see a lawyer raise doubts about the screams of a woman being murdered amidst the shrill of a plane taking off?