Smoke Cheyaku Bro

It’s easy to mistake ‘Smoke Cheyyaku Bro’ (Don’t Smoke Bro) for an involving, entertaining buddy film at first glance. However, while the two adjectives still apply, it is far from being anything about buddies or their friendship, and deliberately so.

Anirudh takes a phone call at a gas station after having had a terrible day. The clerk on the late night shift, Sai Santosh joins the stressed Anirudh with kindness and compassion, offering him wisdom that truly helps him calm down. However, soon things take a very unexpected turn. The ensuing story ropes the viewer deep into its world, ensuring there is no looking away now.

If it weren't for the dark events that are about to unfold in this comedic but equally shocking ride of a film, it would be a welcoming prospect to inhabit its world with its beautiful coloring and editing. The screenplay is constructed with care, and the portrayal and performance of the protagonist are handled with even more control. The visuals, combined with the choice of the background score, together with the film's stylized approach, present a wonderful realm at the end of it all, even if ever so unsettling.