Varudu - Movie Review

Film: Varudu

Cast: Allu Arjun, Arya, Bhanu Sri Mehra, Suhasini, Ashish Vidyarthi, Singeetam Srinivas Rao, Naresh, Nasser, Rao Ramesh, Sayaji Shinde, Ahuti Prasad, Brahmanandam, Sunil and others

Dialogues: Thota Prasad

Lyrics: Veturi
Music: Mani Sharma
Cinematography: R D Rajasekhar
Editing: Anthony
Fights: Stun Siva
Produced by: Danaiah D V V
Story, screenplay, direction: Gunasekhar
Release date: March 31, 2010

CBFC Rating: U/A

What’s it about!

Sandeep aka Sandy (Allu Arjun) is gen-next youngster who parties hard and has modern outlook but his ideas towards marriage are traditional. As he got job in USA, his working parents (Suhasini and Ashish Vidyaradhi), both got married against the wishes of their parents, ask him to get married. He accepts and tells them that he would rather want to marry a girl that is selected by them in traditional style and wants his marriage ceremony to be conducted in as 5-day event. He also refuses to see his bride before the marriage. Everything is arranged according to wishes, and his marriage is fixed with Deepti (Bhanu Sri Mehra). On the time of marriage, the bride is kidnapped by a local rowdy Diwakar (Deepti). How hero brings his bride back from the clutches of this goon forms the rest of the story.

Analysis

Basic story line of Varudu is just another interpretation of Ramayana. To this plot line, director Gunashekar adds the idea of by-gone ceremonies of 5-day marriage and his style of ‘ Okkadu’ heroism. In Ramayana, Ravana kidnaps Seeta when they lead life of Vanavasam. Here in villain kidnaps the heroine, just before her marriage with the hero. Or to put in other way, in Okkadu, hero saves heroine from villain and puts her in Charminar. In Varudu, villain abducts the heroine and puts in his home. Similarities and inspirations apart, basic conflict in the film’s script is solid but the director has failed to tell it in engrossing manner. He takes plenty of time (almost one hour) to come to the point and after the story is established, he again loses the grip.

First hour of the film is quite boring. In the entire first half, only ‘Bahusha Chenchala’ song is captivating. Soon after the interval the movie comes on the track but again goes off from it. Towards the climax it bounces back, but by that time, one gets the feeling of boredom.Climax fight is silly and it is lifted from X-Men: Wolverine.

Allu Arjun’s high-energy, Arya’s scintillating performance and some action episodes are the saving grace. The lip-to-lip kiss scene is also shot nicely, though. Cl

Performances

It is a one-man show for Allu Arjun as he is there in every frame and shouldering the entire movie. He does his best to salvage the proceedings. He excels in action sequences and in songs. He really looks too good in ‘Varudu’ getup. Tamil actor Arya steals the thunder as the bad guy and brings life to the movie with his antics post interval. Even though Ravi Shankar dubs his voice and the way Arya mouths the dialogues in various ‘getups’ is awesome. His character is designed in the style of Heath Ledgers’ The Dark Knight. Newcomer Bhanu Mehra as bride lacks glamour.

Nasser, Rao Ramesh, Suhasini and director Singeetam in their respective characters have done justice. Chiranjeevi’s beginning voice-over hardly has any impact.

Technically, art-work (Ashok) and cinematography (RD Rajashekar) are the ones that stand out. The visual effects done for marriage mandapam are impressive. Music by Manisharma is good especially “Idu rojula pelli ..” and “ Bahusha Chenchala..” are mellifluous. The way the song “ Bahusha Chenchala..” shot is quite impressive. It is done with great aesthetic sense. Costumes created for the song are equally superb.

Dialogues by Thota Prasad are okay. Director Gunashekar shows his craftsmanship in creating good visuals but his screenplay is mediocre. The way he has narrated the film in the first half shows his lack of grip on the story. He has created and designed scenes from various successful movies but his narration has not interesting. Production values are good.

Bottom-line!

Varudu ’s storyline has potential to become good action entertainer but the director’s unimpressive screenplay spoiled it. Allu Arjun has tried hard to shoulder the entire movie and in the second half Arya takes the onus but on the whole, the film lacks punch. Director Gunashekar's screenplay is the main flaw. It is just reversal of 'Okkadu' sans ‘entertainment’.

Rating: 2.5/5

Prasthanam - Movie Review

Film: Prasthaanam

Cast: Sharwanand, Sandeep Kishan, Sai Kumar, Ruby Parihar, Jeeva, Jayaprakash Reddy, Vennela Kishore, Surekha Vani, Reshma, Ghosh, Master Atulith, Balayya, and others
Music: Mahesh Shankar
Editing: Marthand K Venkatesh
Cinematography: Shyam Dutt
Produced by: Vallabhaneni Ravi
Written and directed by: Deva Katta
Release date: April 16, 2010
CBFC Rating: A

What’s it about

Lokanatham Naidu (Saikumar) is a henchman to a local leader in Krishna district. When rivals attack the leader’s son, he marries his wife and adopts his son Mitra (Sharwanad) and daughter (Surekha Vani) as his and becomes a big politician in Vijayawada in later years. Now his biological son Shiva (Sandeep) gets jealous of Mitra, for getting all the support from his father and becoming a leader. Shiva hates his brother as his father constantly humiliates him for his wrong doings. One day, he kills his girlfriend Nadia accidentally that sets the motion of series of events, which also kill him. In a stunning climax, the secrets in the family reveal.

Analysis

Greed, politics and greedy politics are the backdrop of the story. Director Deva Katta who tasted success with his very debut movie, Vennela has chosen a story that is completely different from his first flick. He should be appreciated for picking up a story that treads unique path than the regular political potboilers. Prasthanam is told in more serious way than normal commercial films and layered with philosophical tone. What makes the film tick is the gritty narration and solid plot. If only the pace of the film were tighter, the film could have been even better. Although second half is slow, the pre-climax sequences are stunning. Superb dialogues are its strength. Added to that, excellent cinematography has elevated the mood of the movie.

The influence of Ram Gopal Varma’s Sarkar can be seen on director Deva Katta in the scenes of Mitra Vs Shiva. And also the climax sequences slowly unraveling to tell a more stunning secret resemble to that of Sarkar Raj.

It has its own share of blemishes too. Two songs in the post interval come as obstacle to the free flow of the narration. And also when the focus of the movie is all about revealing the secrets and conspiracies, the director has wasted much of the time on Surekha Vani and Sandeep episodes, thereby diluting the impact. The director also seems to have confused as to how to fit romantic angle in the narration. That is clearly evident.

On the whole, it is a good attempt by director Deva Katta. Audiences who enjoy serious films would certainly like this one.

Performances

Sharwanand has done full justice to his role. As the character requires composure and maturity, Sharwanad has grown his beard and maintained the serious look throughout the movie. But it is the other guy, newcomer Sandeep Kishan that steals the show as the bad son. After a long time, we get to see Sai Kumar in a restrained role. His role is more complex one but the senior actor pulls it off effortlessly. Thanks to his great dialogue delivery, many of the dialogues he sounded are really good. New heroine Ruby has not much role to catch our attention. Jayaprakash Reddy provides comic relief. Reshma as Nadia looks good.

One of the highlights is Shyam Dutt ’s camera, he has brought unique tone to the movie in sync with the theme of the movie. As the movie has dark secrets, he has given enough room to highlight the ‘dark’ in shots as metaphor. Music by Mahesh Shankar is equally good. Editing is nice. As a director, Deva Katta has matured a lot and has shown that he is capable of directing varied themes. His dialogues and screenplay are also good. But this time he has not used comedy as effectively. Production values are first rate.

Bottom-line!

Prasthanam treads different path within the regular commercial setup of films. It has got enough drama and powerful characters to keep the story flowing. Stunning climax, superb dialogues and good technical values are appealing.

Rating: 3.25/5

Darling - Movie Review

Film: Darling

Cast: Prabhas, Kajal, Shradhdha Das, Prabhu, Kota Srinivas Rao, Chandra Mohan, Mukesh Rishi, Ahuti Prasad, MS Narayana, Sivannarayana, Tulasi
Dialogues: Swami
Music director: GV Prakash
Cinematography: Andrew
Editing: Kotagiri
Action: Peter Heins
Produced by: BVSN Prasad
Story, screenplay and directed by: Karunakar
Release Date: Apr 23, 2010
CBFC Rating: U

What’s it about!

Prabhas (Prabhas) is a happy-go-lucky youth and adores his father (Prabhu) who dotes on him. One day, a girl (Sraddha Das), proposes to him and when he rejects her she tries to commit suicide. Her father (Mukesh Rishi), a dada, kidnaps his friends and demands Prabhas to get married to his daughter. Then, Prabhas narrates a story that he is in love with a girl Nandini (Kajal) in Switzerland and she is now in coma as she met with an accident. With this tragic story, the dada excuses him. Later, it is revealed that it is just an imaginative story created by Prabhas to escape the situation but suddenly in his real life too, a Nandini (Kajal), his child hood friend, enters into his life. Then his life changed forever.

Analysis

Director Karunakaran is known for presenting feel-good films with wafer-thin storyline. He does the same again with this Darling. Nothing new in the script but the film’s second half evokes some interest among the viewers thanks to some sentiment scenes. Prabhas’s dashing looks, Andrew’s eye catching visuals and second half scenes are the only praiseworthy. The film also lacks entertainment and songs are another big drawback. Don’t expect too much. Pretty ordinary flick, solely relying on star factors. The director has been stuck in Toliprema days (his debut film), so you hardly see any novel thing in presentation except the marvelous CG song of snow drenched Hyderabad ala Switzerland.

Performances

Dashing Prabhas looks handsome. His costumes are trendy and his look appeals to the youth. He has shouldered the film with his sincere performance and some entertaining antics. Young boys surely fall in love with Kajal’s great looks in this film. She looks gorgeous. In the role of Hanmanthu, a jolly modern father, Tamil actor Prabhu’s performance is exhilarating. He brings charm to several scenes. Sraddha Das appears in another miniscule character. Rest of the cast is okay.

Among the technicians, all the credit should go to Andrew. He has already proved his mettle in Karunkaran’s earlier film, Ullasanga Utsahanga and his work in the film a notch above. Eye-catching visuals and perfect D.I are what make the film pleasant in otherwise dull movie. G.V.Prakash’s music is neither good to ears nor carries the mood on screen. His work is drawback. Editing is fine. So is Peter Hiens’s work. Producer BVSN Prasad who gave Chatrapathi to Prabhas seems to have provided the sky to the director to make the film look grandeur. As a director Karunakran has not proved anything.

Bottom-line!

Darling is plain simple movie with no big twists and turns. Although the film’s central idea of ‘imagined’ character appearing in real life might seem novel but the same idea came in one of Rajashekar’s early movies. On the whole, the film is just time pass flick.

Rating: 3/5

Andari Bandhuvaya - Movie Review

Film: Andari Banduvaya
Cast: Sharwanad, Padmapriya, Naresh, Vijay Sai, Pragathi, RK, Anand and others
Story and dialogues: Balabadrapatruni Ramani
Music: Anup Rubens
Lyrics: Chaitanya Prasad
Cinematography: Jayakrishna Gummadi
Editing: Nandamuri Hari
Produced by: RK and Chandra Siddardha
Screenplay and directed by: Chandra Siddardha
Release date: May 14, 2010
CBFC Rating: A

What’s it about!
A noble youngster Nandu (Sharwanand), working in a mobile company, like her colleague Paddu. He does charity. She doesn’t let a single paisa to be wasted. He goes out of his way to help if someone is needy. But slowly friendship is developed between them when he moves into her home as tenant. One day, they go to Nandu’s village upon receiving a call from his father that he is not well. In the village, everyone likes Nandu’s father Hanmanthu as he lives on the motto of helping everyone. Seeing the nobility of Hanmanthu, Paddu changes her attitude and also falls in love with Nandu. On the other hand, Nandu takes Rs 5 Lakhs from a local goonda (RK) by promising that he would give away his eyes and heart if he fails to repay within a month. Nandu fails to repay by the time and now RK wants to take his heart and eyes.

Analysis

Chandra Siddardha is a director with different sensibilities – plays middle ground between commercial films and art films. He made Aa Naluguru, that won him several awards and accolades and later made a slightly commercial hit Madhumasam. Now he chooses a subject that is off the beaten track for Andari Bandhuvaya. Without a doubt the film has an inherent appeal mainly because of its genuine theme. Yet, the director has not completely achieved in bringing out an engrossing film. The movie’s intentions are good but the director deviates from the main storyline just to fill the run time. That is the major problem for the movie.

If only it were made in more taut manner and focused on the main theme of a young person mortgaging his heart and eyes to help a friend and consequently falling in the situation of losing them, the film would have been better. But the movie goes this way, that way and another way, before coming to the main point. Thus the impact is not that effective although the plotline and the sincerity to tell a story far from regular commercial movies are clearly evident.

On the whole the Andari Bandhuvaya is okay film, although it reminds of ‘Aa Naluguru’ elements like RK’s character is another version of Kota’s in Aa Naluguru. The director has faulted in not evoking drama in the conflict between RK and Sharwanand. It may not appeal to all.

Performances

Senior actor Naresh steals the show with his exhilarating performance. He has completely moulded into the role of a noble person living in a village. His body language, appearance, and his performance are perfect. Next comes Sharwanand. He is evolving with each movie. His voice is his asset and he expresses some scenes pretty well. Padma Priya who has acted in several movies in Malaylam lacks glamour and she is misfit in that role. Vijay Sai and Krishna Bhagawan have tried to provide laughter. RK is okay.

Dialogues like - Pakshulaki konchem dhanyam, Pasuvulaki konchem ghraasam, Manishiki konchem saayam…ade Jeevitham are good. Music by Anup is pretty good. Especially Kalla Mundu Nuvvu song is haunting. Gummadi Jayakrishna’s cinematography is beautiful. Director Chandra Siddardha has uncanny sense of picking subjects. But he needs to focus on the main theme than worrying about run time and filling it with unnecessary scenes.

Bottom-line

Andari Bandhuvaya has inherent appeal thanks to genuine and sincere theme but it may not appeal to all. It is too slow and lacks any entertainment. On the whole, it may remain a nice attempt.

Rating: 3/5

Rama Rama Krishna Krishna - Review

Film: Rama Rama Krishna Krishna

Cast: Ram, Priya Anand, Bindu Madhavi, Arjun, Nasser, Banerjee, Sayaji Shinde, Brahmanandam, Srinivas Reddy, Pragathi, Bharath, Gracy Singh and others
Dialogues: M Ratnam
Music: M M Keeravani
Lyrics: Anantha Sriram
Cinematography: Sekhar V Joseph
Editing: Gautham Raju
Fights: Vijay
Produced by: Dil Raju
Story, screenplay, directed by: Sri Vaas
Banner: Sri Venkateswara Creations
Release date: May 12, 2010

What’s it about!

Ashok Deva (Arjun) becomes a don in Mumbai after fighting against a mafia leader. Soon he loses his wife in the fight in mafia rival killings, so he leaves the city and lands in a village on the banks of Godavari in Andhra Pradesh. He stays in the village along with his sister Priya (Priya Anand). And the village head’s son Rama Krishna (Ram) falls in love with Priya and in one of his encounters with another mafia don, he comes to know the real story of Ashok Deva. How street smart Rama Krishna solves the problems in the end forms rest of the story.

Analysis!

Biggest problem with so-called mass-masala action entertainers in Telugu is that they lack proper script. Most directors just mix several blockbusters together and write one or two interesting scenes (for them ‘blocks’), and try to put them in new bottle (in new cans). Director Sri Vaas, who made debut with ‘Lakshyam’, has done the same: he tried to rehash Rajnikant starrer Basha with other commercial hits of Telugu films. None of the scenes – heroine falling in love with hero after initial misunderstanding, a maradalu chasing bava for love, a father scolding hero, a mother supporting him, a brother behaving like a dummy, a gang of friends praising the hero - are novel. Everything is predictable and routine. Where the director has succeeded is that he didn’t put audiences in guessing the next scene as everyone easily tell what follows the next.

Sri Vaas’s first Lakshyam was also predictable mass flick but it had ‘sentiment and emotional’ backdrop to hold the audiences’ interest. Here it doesn’t work. A very tedious exercise in making another masala fare.

Performances

Ram is known for bringing high energy on to the screen. He does justice to his role. Arjun has not much length of role but he has brought dignity to the character. Priya Anand as the main heroine is okay. Bindu Madhavi plays unimportant second lead but it is nice to see Telugu speaking girls playing the lead roles. Gracy Singh as Arjun’s wife in a brief role is okay. Brahamanandam has tried to provide comic relief.

NTR has provided an introductory voice-over but that hardly has any scope for a big star like NTR to narrate it. A big hero like NTR should accept such obligations only when his voice brings some value to the film/story, as it was in the case of Mahesh Babu doing for Jalsa and Amitabh’s for Lagaan, other wise it would remain just a gimmick like what Chiru did for Varudu.

Technically too the film doesn’t score much brownie points. Sekhar V Joseph’s has done what is required for the film through his lenses. For a 200th movie, one expects better musical score from M M Keeravani. His songs are uninspiring. Ratnam’s dialogues are adequate. Action stunts (by Vijay) are good but they are too lengthy. Director Sri Vaas has failed both as story writer (by rehashing from several scenes) and as director to sustain the interest. Probably second movie syndrome! Producer Dil Raju has put on lot of expenditure to make the film grandeur but he should have concentrated on script than providing budget.

Bottom-line!

Rama Rama Krishna Krishna is an attempt to put old wine in new bottle but both bottle and the wine are not attractive. An outdated script with predictable narration.

Rating: 2.5/5

Simha - Movie Review

Film: Simha
Cast: Balakrishna, Nayanatara, Namita, Sneha Ullal, Brahmanandam, Jhansi, Venu Madhav, Ali, Dharmavarapu, and others
Music: Chakri
Cinematography: Wilson
Editing: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
Art: A S Prakash
Produced by: Paruchuri Kiriti
Story, screenplay, dialogues and directed by: Boyapati Srinu
Release date: April 30, 2010
CBFC Rating: A


What’s it about!
Sreemannarayana (Balakrishna) is a lecturer in a college in Hyderabad but he doesn’t tolerate any injustice and bashes up the wronged guys. A voluptuous female colleague (Namita) loves him, and so does Janaki (Sneha Ullal) who Sreemannarayana saves from goons. When a rowdy (Aditya Menon) from Vizag comes to take away Janaki from Sreemannarayana, a flashback is revealed. 30 years ago, in Bobbili, a family of landlords treats the local people as slaves and kills if anyone revolts against them. Enters a foreign-returned doctor Narasimha (Balakrishna) belonging to the Bobbili royal dynasty to save the people. Within no time, he takes law into his hands and becomes savior, but he and his wife (Nayanatara) are killed in a fight in the end. It is now Sreemannarayana’s job to finish the mission.

Analysis
It has been six long years since Balakrishna delivered a hit. His last blockbuster was Lakshmi Narasimha (2004). All the movies that came during this period disappointed his fans and general audiences alike. But his fans can rejoice now. Balakrishna’s latest flick Simha is packed with right commercial ingredients to satisfy them. Although the film has nothing new to tell, second half is packaged well. Soul and highpoint of the film is scenes involving the second Balakrishna’s character - that of a doctor. Though violence is excessive, action episodes and editing is fine. And also Balakrishna looking ferocious again in key scenes has elevated the movie. High-voltage action-dialogues is his forte and he does it with finesse this time.

First half is mediocre; second half saves the movie. For die-hard fans of Balakrishna, Simha entertains to the core. For other audiences, it seems an average fare. On the whole, it is a better film for Balakrishna in the long time.

Performances
Balakrishna looks good in the role of doctor. Unlike his regular movies, he is restrained and yet very ferocious when required. He has also tried to come up with some steps in songs. Nayanatara as a jamindari wife looks royal and beautiful. Her role is minuscule but makes impact. While Namita looks unappealing in her oversized figure, Sneha Ullal appears like a kid in front of Balakrishna. K R Vijaya as grandmother is okay. Aditya Menon and Malayalam Sukumar as antagonists are perfect. Kota Srinivas Rao once again shows how good an actor he is. Comedians like Venumadhav, Brahmanandam, Dharmavarapu, and Krishna Bhagawan try hard to make us laugh but fail miserably.

Camera work (Wilson and Prasad) is first rate. Music by Chakri is also good. Editing is nice. Director Boyapati has tried to play safe with the same time-tested mass elements that are seen in films like Narasimha Naidu, Samara Simha Reddy and Magadheera.

Bottom-line!
After a long time, Balakrishna’s movie comes with right commercial ingredients. Second half is asset to Balakrishna’s Simha. On the whole the film is a pucca commercial entertainer.

TC Rating: 3/5