The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992), already seen as the Hindi film Khal-Naaikaa (1993), now comes 'remade' as Kavya’s Diary on the Telugu screen. Still, Kavya’s Diary manages to end up as reasonablely slick thriller, which in spite of meandering on for the first hour, manages to up its ante and completely turn the tables on the audience just before the intermission and hold on up to its end.  

The very mention of a diary has a sinister vibe to it. Diaries are meant to spill out steamy secrets and Kavya’s Diary, therefore, had this curiosity factor right from the beginning. Interestingly, the promos never gave away the movie and until the movie review is out, not one soul had a clue what the diary contains. For all those curious cats, this diary is worth a peek. Grab your pen torch and latch the door. We’ll just begin in. 

The movie starts with a few disjointed bits but towards the end, the pieces fall in place like a cracked jigsaw puzzle. The movie is a new trend in Tollywood because it portrays women as powerful, intelligent and go-getting. We like it. Be it in the way Kavya decides that she should get back all that life was due to her or be it Pooja who turns into a mother cat to defend her kittens, both the women have powerful and charming roles. 

Charmee is going great guns in the Telugu industry essaying yet another tailor-made role. Kavya is just what the doc ordered for her. As a woman consumed with jealousy and vendetta, she looks every bit the invidious woman your father told you to keep away from. Like Rebecca De Mornay, Kavya wants to get back all that is due for her, by hook, crook or murder! How she uses her eyes to convey all her emotions is where her talent lies. Charmee looks so busty and big, the college bunksters in the backseat kept saying Kavya’s ‘dairy’ whenever the scene of Kavya feeding Pooja’s child came on screen! She can certainly tone down a bit. Nevertheless, she does a great job of her role. 

Manjula plays the assertive, today’s woman who speaks her mind. She complains about a doctor’s sexual harassment to the media, thereby turning his wife Kavya’s life upside down as the accused doctor commits suicide leaving Kavya as a widow, with a aborted child and the dream house just remaining a dream. Manjula looks athletic and far too toned for a new mom in a movie. She is known to be choosy about her roles and she gets a meaty role in this one as well. Though Shashank (of Anukokunda Oka Roju fame) has an inconsequential role, his name is seen early in the credits because of his filmography. On the contrary, it is Indrajith (Raj) who has the pivotal role.  

The screenplay, though inspired, deserves a special mention because it builds up the curiosity right from the word go. We are shown a happy family and we sense their happiness is under threat. A few red herrings in the form of Raj’s ex-girlfriend and a crazy house help enter the scene but with the death of Raj’s brother's murder, the movie starts taking a U-turn. Few scenes like why the house help is unceremoniously thrown out of the house and the romance between Kavya and Raj’s brother look half-baked, however. Musically, the number showing Kavya and Pooja getting pally is about the only hummable number in the film.