Sai Dharam Tej who earned mass image by sticking with formula films has finally moved out of his comfort zone and attempted a different action film. Writer turned director BVS Ravi is back to direction after a long time. The film presented by Dil Raju has created buzz with attractive promos. Did the film live up to expectations?

Story :

Jai (Sai Dharam Tej) is a responsible citizen who loves his country and family. He has an aim to be a part of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). There is a bad guy called Keshava (Prasanna) who plans to steal the Octopus missile designed by the scientists of DRDO. Jai disrupts his plans and Keshava comes and stays with Jai’s family to get his hands on the Octopus missile.

Performances:

Sai Dharam Tej has given career best performance in the film. His styling and look are in perfect sync with the character. He excelled in emotional scenes and gave his best in dances as usual. Mehreen is very chubby and the writer-director takes digs at her weighty issues. Her performance is adequate. Prasanna steals the show as the bad guy. His expressions and body language is perfect as the notorious villain. Jaya Prakash, Kota, Subbaraju did their best in the supporting roles.

Technicalities:

BVS Ravi has a very good visual sense and it is evident in every scene. He did well in executing his ideas in an appealing way. However he should have taken care on the screenplay department as it falters in key situations. Technically the film is sound and on par with any high budget films.

Thaman is the main pillar for the film. His impeccable background score lifts many scenes to another level. Even a couple of songs are very good and visually good on screen. Guhan’s camera work is another asset. Dialogues penned by BVS Ravi are impressive in emotional scenes. Editor did well to keep the runtime short. Production values are very good. The film has quality in every frame.

Thumbs Up:

• Sai Dharam Tej
• Prasanna
• Thaman’s music
• Cinematography

Thumbs Down:

• Silly portrayal of DRDO
• Weak pre climax and climax portions

Analysis:

Sai Dharam Tej took a cue from his cousin Ram Charan who has set aside his mass image for the film Dhruva and took up a theme based film like Jawaan. It is a very different film for Sai Dharam Tej who has been relying upon formula films all this while. Jawaan does have loads of action but it is not a usual mass film that plays to the galleries. It has certain commercial elements like patriotic dialogues, a mass number and an elaborate romantic thread, but the scheme of things is different from usual.

DRDO is something that is not regularly seen in a Telugu film. Although scenes relating to DRDO have been conceived rather illogically, the backdrop gives it a unique feel. The film starts off on an interesting note and moves at a rapid pace. Director BVS Ravi with the help of Guhan’s camera has given it a slick look. The shot making is stylish that makes it visually appealing.

However the scenes that matters have been executed very amateurishly. The security measures taken by DRDO are presented in a silly way. Protagonist disrupting the plans of villain by saving the Octopus missile is straight out of a routine mass drama. Interval scene raises curiosity over the second half and it does starts on a different note. Villain entering hero’s house to execute his plan is an innovative idea.

The screenplay is always engaging although the whole story revolves around single point. Scenes between Tej and Prasanna have come out well, which keeps the screenplay flowing without any hassles. The film never gets boring at any point despite the lack of comedy and other mass friendly elements. Heroine’s track does interrupt the flow here and there and a couple of songs break the momentum.

Pre climax and climax scenes seem hurried and lacks the required punch. A better climax would have helped Jawaan to become a memorable one. Having said that it does have engaging elements and a slick production design, which is worth giving a shot. Jawaan is an engaging action thriller with enough in it to hold audiences interests despite the flaws. Irrespective of its box office outcome, Jawaan will be remembered as one of the better films from megastar’s nephew.

Verdict: Dharam Tej’s Dhruva!

After getting delayed for many months, Oxygen is finally in theaters now. Directed by Jyothi Krishna the film is an action thriller with a social message. It is a pretty ordinary attempt from the director that even Gopichand’s screen presence couldn’t save it.

Story :

Krishna Prasad (Gopichand) is an NRI who comes to India to marry the daughter (Rashi Khanna) of a village landlord (Jagapathi Babu). Krishna Prasad saves their family from their enemies, but there is something that he is hiding from them. He comes there with a plan to avenge his parents and girlfriend’s (Anu) death.

Performances:

Gopichand’s screen presence and his performance is the biggest plus for this otherwise tiresome film. He excelled in action scenes and did his best to keep the film alive despite boring narration. Surprisingly a dubbing artist was used for a few portions. Rashi Khanna has nothing much to do. Anu has an important role to play in the main plot and she is alright. Jagapathi Babu is getting typecast in such roles lately. Ali’s comedy didn’t click. There is not a single noteworthy performance from the remaining star cast consisting seasoned actors.

Technicalities:

Jyothi Krishna’s script is seriously flawed with too many holes in it. Entire first half is plain bore to sit through. Second half focuses on the action part and Jyothi Krishna fails to narrate the film in an interesting manner. Elementary level direction made mockery of the things to an extent that it looks like a stage play at times.

Yuvan Shankar Raja’s music is mediocre. He didn’t even leave his mark with the background score. Even the Cinematography is ordinary compared to the films of this class. There’s nothing much for an editor to do with such poor content on hand. Production values are surprisingly average in spite of AM Ratnam’s brand.

Thumbs Up:

• Gopichand
• Interval twist

Thumbs Down:

• Pointless narration
• Aimless direction
• Meaningless execution

Analysis:

Oxygen is primarily a revenge drama but with a twist. First half is a futile exercise just for the sake of bluffing the audience so that they could be surprised with the twist before the interval. Although it takes us by surprise, it doesn’t raise curiosity over the second half as it can be easily guessed at the intermission point only.

Second half focuses on the flashback portions of the protagonist that are not even mildly engaging. He loses his brother and later his parents and girlfriend all because of some greedy businessmen. Now he is after them to put an end to their illegal business. It would be a huge spoiler if we get too much into the details of this flashback part.

Once the flashback is done, protagonist goes after remaining bad men to complete his mission. Despite nonstop action, nothing seems to be exciting due to poor characters and awful writing. Not even a single scene makes an impression. It is lazy and amateurish in its approach to characterization and narrative.

Pre climax and climax scenes are unintentionally funny. Even the predictable climax twist doesn’t help the film to redeem a bit. On a whole, Oxygen suffocates its viewers with terrible writing and equally worse execution. Even the masses cannot tolerate this amateur stuff. You can look for better options if you are planning for an entertaining weekend at the cinemas.

Verdict: On a ventilator!

The post Oxygen Movie Review appeared first on telugu9pm.com.

By the time Adirindi hit theaters in Telugu it is already a mammoth blockbuster in Tamil. Mersal is Vijay’s highest grosser and is all set to become the second biggest ever hit in Tamil cinema history. So the buzz around Telugu version is obviously high and it reflects in its openings.

Story :

Bhargav (Vijay) is a noble doctor who wants to give free medical aid to the poor. He also performs magical tricks like a wizard and kills a person in a live act. He is caught by the police and he reveals the entire secrets one after the other to the police official (Satyaraj). We come to know that the magician is not Bhargav but Vijay, his brother (also, Vijay). There is a reason why Vijay is after a particular group of doctors. We get to know about their father Vijay Bhargav (Vijay again) and his mother (Nitya Menen) who were ruthlessly killed by Daniel Arogyaraj (SJ Surya)

Performances:

The story is tailor made for Tamil superstar Vijay. There is nothing challenging about the three characters that really tests Vijay’s acting skills. He looks different from usual in the getup of a villager. Kajal and Samantha are restricted to miniscule roles. Nitya Menon gets a meaty role among the female leads and she does well. SJ Surya as the villain impresses. Satya Raj is over the top at times. Kovai Sarala and Vadivelu are okay in supporting roles.

Technicalities:

Atlee has penned a commercial story keeping the actor’s mass image in mind. He totally plays it to the galleries by relying upon Vijay’s image. There are certain moments that he shines as a director. Hospital episode in the first half is highly emotional and very impressive. He does well in packaging the movie with masala elements.

Music by AR Rahman is a mixed bag. He impresses with his background score but the songs are very ordinary. Not even one song bears his stamp nor makes an impression. Cinematography is good. There is so much lag in the second half that needs to be taken care of. Production values are superb.

Thumbs Up:

• Engaging first half
• Vijay’s performance

Thumbs Down:

• Boring flashback episode
• Runtime
• Routine script

Analysis:

Director Atlee has written a regular revenge plot where the sons avenge their parents death. He makes the revenge plot relatable by adding the medical scam theme, which works in parts. Atlee tries to make a routine script seem different with screenplay tactics. The school girl’s accident scene followed by hospital episode and the pre intermission episode are particularly impressive and ends the first half on a high note.

Atlee holds the audience interest with engaging screenplay in the first half coupled with some whistle-worthy mass moments. However, the film totally derails in the second half where the story shifts to 1970s. Thalapathy episode is painstakingly boring with little entertainment. The episode makes an impact with the killing of Thalapathy and his wife.

The story straightaway enters climax after the conclusion of flashback scenes. Climax is a regular one with two brothers taking on the villain. The anti-GST speech of Vijay in the climax has been muted in the Telugu version. Adirindi is a passable entertainer for the masses, but offers nothing for the audience that look for freshness.

Director Atlee does his best to keep the adrenaline flowing with some nicely written episodes that comes at the right intervals. The film will impress Vijay fans for sure, but offers very little for others. The pre release buzz around the film has ensured very good opening and it could be a successful venture if it holds for a few days.

Verdict: Mass Masala.

MOVIE: Vunnadi Okate Zindagi

Director Kishore Tirumala’s previous film Nenu Sailaja with Ram was a runaway super hit. One would expect similar kind of feel good film when the actor and director come together again. Vunnadi Okate Zindagi seemed promising from the outset but ended up as a disappointment.

Story :

Abhi (Ram) and Vasu (Sri Vishnu) are childhood friends. Abhi falls in love with Maha (Anupama), a house surgeon. When Abhi was about to express his love for Maha he comes to know that Vasu also is in love with her. Both of them express their feelings for Maha and she chooses Vasu over Abhi. Later friends get separated and four years later they meet in a friend’s marriage. How do they rebuild their friendship forms rest of the story.

Performances:

Ram is seen in two different getups in the film. His rockstar getup is good. He is particularly impressive in emotional scenes. Anupama got a very nice role and she did justice to it. Lavanya is alright as a struggling wedding planner. Sri Vishnu as Ram’s friend played a key role and he is apt. He is impressive in the emotional sequences. Priyadarsi’s comedy is good in parts. Kireeti, Anand and Anisha played other important roles.

Technicalities:

Kishore Tirumala did well in getting the emotions right. A couple of key emotional scenes came out well. Story is an old one that lacks any freshness. Screenplay is not up to the mark as it moves aimless at times. Screenplay in the second half is particularly unimpressive.

Devi Sri Prasad came up with a couple of catchy tunes. His music is the mainstay of the film. He did well with the background score too. Dialogues are good in emotional scenes. Cinematography is neat. Editor could have kept the run time short. Second half drags on and on. Production values are good.

Thumbs Up:

• Ram
• Emotions
• Climax

Thumbs Down:

• Screenplay
• Second half

Analysis:

Vunnadi Okate Zindagi’s plot is a time tested one. Director Kishore Tirumala tried to make it look like a fresh plot, but apart from a couple of well conceived scenes, VOZ is a routine friendship-love saga that lacks freshness whatsoever. Right from the childhood episodes to the drinking scenes between grownup friends, nothing about this film is fresh and appealing.

First half of the film is neatly paced though. Scenes between Anupama and Ram are decent enough to keep us engaged. However, one could easily see the plot twist that is in the waiting. Pre interval scenes are done well and set a nice platform for an emotional second half. Surprisingly, second half opens on an entirely different note with a marriage setup.

The film totally goes off track at the beginning of the second half and only makes sense during the last scene. Neither comedy nor emotions work in the second half that is leisurely paced with some lazy writing. Climax is good with an interesting twist, but one will have to sit through a boring second half to experience that touching scene.

Kishore Tirumala’s previous film Nenu Sailaja also had a routine plot, but he made it into an effective romantic drama with perfect screenplay. In VOZ, he couldn’t recreate that magic and simply relied upon performances and dialogues to make an impact. VOZ had its moments but they are very few and far between. It may appeal to youngsters who value friendship a lot, but on a whole VOZ is a below average fare with so little to take home.

Verdict: What Amma… What is this Amma?

Raju Gari Gadhi was a successful horror comedy made on a shoestring budget. Its sequel caught the attention with big names like Nagarjuna and Samantha in the star cast. Although the brand name of Raju Gari Gadhi is used, RGG2 is not a sequel to it. The film is a remake of Malayalam movie Pretham.

Story :

Three friends (Ashwin, Kishore, Praveen) buy an old resort that is haunted by a ghost. After convinced that their resort is a haunted one, they seek the help of a mentalist Rudra (Nagarjuna). He comes and finds out that the ghost is Amrutha (Samantha) who is searching for some answers. Rudra with his mindreading skills find the people who are behind Amurtha’s ill fate.

Performances:

Nagarjuna’s styling and screen presence are pretty impressive. He is the main highlight of the film with his spotless performance. It is a very different character for the veteran who breaks the stereotypes yet again playing the character of a mentalist. Samantha has a very brief role, but makes a huge impact in the climax sequence. Ashwin, Praveen and Vennela Kishore are alright in their respective roles. Shakalaka Shankar, Naresh, Rao Ramesh and Abhinaya played other important characters.

Technicalities:

Ohmkar made a few changes to the original script according to Telugu nativity. The major difference is the way he presented the mentalist character. Nagarjuna is full of swag and style as the mentalist. Ohmkar handled the emotional scenes well, but failed to get the comedy right.

Thaman’s background score is spectacular. His score lifted many scenes to another level. Rudra theme and the signature music are pretty impressive. Cinematography is good. Dialogues could have been better. Production values are very good. The film is made on a high budget in spite of genre limitations.

Thumbs Up:

• Nagarjuna
• Samantha
• Climax

Thumbs Down:

• First half
• Poor comedy

Analysis:

People who watched Rajugari Gadhi will be puzzled after watching this film. It is no way related to Raju Gari Gadhi. It is an emotional horror drama with less focus on comedy and horror elements. The comedy and gags that have worked wonders in RGG are totally absent here. There is an attempt at humor but that hardly clicks.

Things start to get interesting after the entry of Nagarjuna’s character. A decent interval episode sets right mood for second half. However, second half doesn’t turn out as expected as there is no horror at all. Movie turns into a mystery affair with Nagarjuna searching for the identity of Samantha.

What happened to Samantha is the core of the story. That is explained in pre climax and climax portions, which stands the major asset of the film. Samantha’s performance during climax will strike a chord with female audience. Basic story and screenplay are taken from Malayalam film Pretham. Main characters are presented in our style.

Although Raju Gari Gadhi doesn’t impress horror or comedy lovers, it turns out to be a watchable fare because of Nagarjuna and Samantha’s performances. Care should have been taken on the first half where there isn’t any flow in the screenplay. Too many jumps and disjointed scenes make it a tedious watch.

Nagarjuna’s entry after fifty minutes gives it the necessary kick and the second half is told in an interesting way to sustain the audiences interest till the end. The film’s content is very average, but the star cast and RGG branding should help it to post decent numbers in its opening weekend.

Verdict: Nag and Sam are the pillars.

Maruthi who has successfully made a hilarious entertainer like Bhale Bhale Magadivoi with a protagonist suffering from ‘forgetfulness’, came up with another typical characterization in Mahanubhavudu. Here the protagonist suffers from OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), which puts his love to the ultimate test.

Story :

Anand (Sharwanand) is a software engineer who has OCD. He wants everything to be perfect and clean. He will not eat something made by his mother if she is suffering from illness. Anand falls in love with Meghana (Mehreen), who is okay with his obsession. But things get problematic as Anand’s obsession comes in the way of their love. He is thrown into a situation where he has to overcome his obsession to succeed in love.

Performances:

Sharwanand’s comedy timing is getting better with each film. He is at ease in a typical character that gives ample scope for comedy. He is the right choice for the lead character and did complete justice to it. Mehreen Kaur is alright as the female lead. Her performance is not up to the mark in key scenes. Nasser is decent as the heroine’s father. Vennela Kishore offers few laughs as the hero’s sidekick.

Technicalities:

Maruthi who has messed it up in his previous outing Babu Bangaram made sure to get the characterization and situations right this time. The film’s treatment is similar to that of his previous blockbuster Bhale Bhale Magadivoi. His way of creating subtle humor using the character’s obsession is laudable. Also he is good at creating emotional scenes without going away from the concept. He did a fairly decent job in making it a ‘clean’ entertainer.

Thaman’s music is good. A couple of songs are very good on screen. Background score also is impressive. Cinematography and the production design made it look like a costly project. Editing could have been better in second half. Production values are neat.

Thumbs Up:

• Comedy
• Concept
• Sharwanand

Thumbs Down:

• Predictable Ending
• Drag in second half

Analysis:

There are a handful films in various languages about OCD. None of our filmmakers made a film with the protagonist suffering from this disorder. Maruthi likes to create humor with unusual characterizations. He is a fine storyteller who has a firm grip over commercial elements. Like Bhale Bhale Magadivoi, the protagonist in Mahanubhavudu faces problems with his disorder that comes as the greatest obstacle for his love.

Director took his time to establish the lead character’s obsession with cleanliness. He goes overboard at times, but the free flowing comedy keeps the viewers entertained. Later the love story also is dealt in a decent way. The conflict comes at the intermission point where the heroine realizes that it is absolutely impossible to lead a happy life with the OCD guy. The conflict point is predictable and later on it takes the predictable route where the hero goes to the heroine’s village to win her back.

Despite being predictable, the situations in the village are hilarious. Maruthi used the OCD concept very well in making this part an enjoyable one. Every scene in the beginning of the village episode is extremely hilarious. However, things get too predictable as the story moves towards the climax. Electing the village Sarpanch by conducting wrestling match is so nineteen eighties kind of stuff. Climax of the film is not up to the mark. Maruthi should have taken care of the ending that is very much cliched and predictable.

Mahanubhavudu has its share of flaws and weaknesses, but also has ample entertainment to keep the viewers entertained for most part. It is a clean entertainer that can be enjoyed with the families during this festive season. With weak opposition, this film should make the most of festive advantage at the box office. On a whole, Mahanubhavudu is a satisfactory comedy that offers a few genuine laughs. You may watch it.

Verdict: Clean Fun.

Arjun Reddy has created a superb buzz for itself from the past few days. The younger generation is going crazy about the film which has hit the screens today. Let’s see whether it lives up to its expectations or not.

Story:-

Arjun Reddy(Vijay Devarakonda) is a short tempered medical college student who falls in love with his junior Preeti(Shalini). The couple shares a very close relationship for years but later break up as Preeti’s dad gets her married to a boy in her caste.
This leaves a very strong and brutal impression on Arjun Reddy who becomes an alcoholic and drug addict. Rest of the story showcases the journey of Arjun Reddy as to how he regains his senses and gets back to normal.

Plus Points:-

As the director said in many of his interviews, Arjun Reddy is surely a celebration of sadness. The breakup story of the hero is showcased in such a dark manner that it has never been touched in Telugu films before. In other words, you can say that the film is the story of a modern Devdas which is shown in a contemporary manner.

Vijay Devarakonda stuns you with his performance which is surely award winning. The way he brings the pathos and pain in his character is something else and drives the film completely. His dialogue delivery, the aggression he shows and the emotional manner in which he showcases his love is superb. With this film, his star status will surely go to the next level.

Debutante Shalini is also impressive and does her role perfectly. Special mention should go to Rahul Ramakrishna who plays the hero’s close friend. He is a good find and emotes superbly. The way his character generates comedy and also supports Vijay in every aspect is shown in a very moving manner. Kamal Kamaraju gets a decent role and so did yesteryear actress Kanchana.
The first half is quite aggressive and showcases the love story in a very interesting manner. The medical college scenes and the way Vijay behaves post his break up have been written well.

Minus Points:-

The film needs serious editing of at least 20 minutes. Too many smooches are shown which looks a bit unnecessary. The film is undoubtedly slow and one needs to have a lot of patience to sit through the proceedings.
Heroine’s character lacks a bit of clarity. The way she falls for the hero is not shown properly. Also, during the second half, too much of alcohol and drug abuse is showcased which could have been reduced to an extent. The film is clearly aimed at A centers and only a section of people will end up connecting to it.

Technical Aspects:-

The film is high on technical aspects and has some superb production values. Camera work is neat as it showcases the pain and depth in the proceedings in a gripping manner. Background score by Radan is awesome and elevates the proceedings in a good way. Dialogues are impressive and so was the screenplay.

Coming to the director Sandeep, he makes a rocking debut with Arjun Reddy. His writing is slick and the way he showcased Vijay’s role is just awesome. His detailing is very good as he makes the film intense and quite raw. He has a long way to go in Tollywood and will be a talent to watch out for. Had he trimmed the film, even more, the output would have been even better.

Verdict:-

On the whole, Arjun Reddy is a new age Telugu cinema which has never been attempted before. It is intense, hard-hitting and quite adulterated with its intent. This is not a family film and the masses might disown it. But the film may do well at A centers. All those who like different films and can bear three hours of run time, this film ends up a one time watch this weekend

Ajith Kumar took a long break after Vedhalam to prepare himself for Vivekam. Ajith has worked on his physique to play the role of an international agent. Siva’s latest film in his V-trilogy (Veeram, Vedhalam, Vivekam) is a stylized action entertainer with loads of action and racy thrills. Let’s see whether it live up to the expectations or not?

Story :

AK (Ajith), Aryan (Vivek) and their team are after Natasha (Akshara Hassan), a hacker who has the codes to launch nuclear weapons. AK finally gets hold of her, but gets betrayed by Aryan and his team. AK comes back from the dead to avenge. How does AK put an end to Aryan and how AK does save his wife Hasini (Kajal) from his enemies and ultimately save the world from nuclear destruction forms rest of the story.

Performances:

Ajith Kumar’s screen presence and his style is the main asset of the film. Director Siva knows how to use Ajith’s screen presence to full effect. Although this is the third film in their combination, Siva has presented Ajith entirely different from his previous two films. Kajal Agarwal is competent as Ajith’s wife. Vivek Oberoi’s portrayal of the antagonist character is unconvincing. He couldn’t match the charisma of Ajith. Akshara Hassan has a small but important character. She fails to make an impact with a bad performance. Bharath Reddy, Sharath Saxena and others didn’t get impactful roles.

Technicalities:

Director Siva moves out of his comfort zone and tries his hand at slick action thriller. His efforts to make an action thriller on par with Hollywood actions are commendable. However, care should have been taken about the design and execution. Also the script is very weak to hold audiences interest despite the high octane action.

Anirudh’s background score stands out. His songs are ordinary though. Cinematographer’s shaky camera work will not please everyone. Editing also is too flashy. Production design doesn’t give the desired output on screen. Production values are good.

Thumbs Up:

• Ajith Kumar
• Production values

Thumbs Down:

• Script
• Direction
• Camera work

Analysis:

Vivekam is an attempt to make an action thriller with Hollywood standards. Most of the Hollywood action thrillers are illogical but they are too exciting and thrilling enough to make us ignore the logical errors. Siva took a cue from Hollywood action films and threw the logic out of the window.

However, the action part in Vivekam is too cartoonish and clumsy that we couldn’t ignore the logical flaws. A high budget chase sequence on the European roads looks like it is straight out of a video game. Visual effects and camera work are very poor that Vivekam never rises above the mediocre levels.

There are a few exciting moments here and there, but Siva couldn’t hold the audiences interest at least for five minutes at a stretch. Ajith and his team’s plan to catch the hacker Akshara Hassan are interesting, but things go downhill once the job is done.

First half of the film is bearable to an extent. Second half turns out to be a bore fest as it turns into a revenge thriller. The game between Ajith and Vivek is very boring as it is totally one-sided with Ajith having the upper hand all the time. We can only realize that the protagonist has done something brilliant after the antagonist acknowledges it by saying ‘brilliant move’.

The film was supposed to be a slick action film. However, it ends up being a clumsy, confusing and jarring action saga that goes on and on. Vivekam seems pointless after a point as it becomes impossible for the villains to throw a challenge to the protagonist. It could have been a thrilling ride if the director had a proper script on hands rather than relying upon unexciting action episodes. It will be a challenge to sit through this film unless you are an Ajith fan.

Verdict: Fast Paced Bore Fest.

 Review – 3/5

Boyapati has joined the list of top directors in Tollywood after series of hits and his movies generally strike a chord with the mass audiences.

After smashing hit “Sarrainodu”, Boyapati teaming up with an upcoming star like Bellamkonda Srinivas for “Jaya Janaki Nayaka” has raised curiosity. Boyapati also claimed that he has made love story after a long time.Let’s find out its merits and demerits.

Story:

Gagan (Bellamkonda Srinivas) is son of an industrialist called Chakravarthy (Sharath Kumar). Gagan, his father and his brother (Nandu) behave as if they are thick friends and hangout with drinks.

One day, Gagan rescues a girl from rowdy gang in the college and the college student Sweety (Rakul) starts liking him.She comes to know his family and she changes the habits of his family – drinking alcohol and getting in fights. Soon Gagan also starts liking her.

On the other hand, a businessman Varma (Jagapathi Babu) bids for a highway project but a liquor don wants this project to come to him at any cost.

When the Chief of National Highways Authority (JP) hands over the project to Varma, the liquor don is on mission to kill all of them. The officer happens to be  Sweety’s father and he marries her off to Varma’s son much against her wishes.

In the marriage mandapam, the groom is killed by liquor don and Sweety turns widow. In a turn of incidents, Gagan comes into the picture and saves the family of Varma.How Gagan takes on liquor don and weds widowed Sweety is the story.

Artistes’ Performances:

Bellamkonda Srinivas as Gagan has built up muscles and body. He has looked more like macho man than a student. He impresses in action stunts and final sequences.

Rakul Preet Singh looks beautiful in the beginning but she turns weepy post interval.Jagapathi Babu gets another interesting role as an industrialist who does anything for ‘pride’ (paruvu).Sharat Kumar and Nandu as father and brother of Bellamkonda are neat.

Pragya appears as Vizag girl in few scenes and songs. There are plenty of actors but all of them act in loud manner. Vani Vishwanath appears as Jagapathi Babu’s sister.

Technical Excellence:
The one thing that is striking in the movie is cinematography by Rishi Punjabi. He has made every frame look rich. It is for his camera work that the movie looks bright despite routine scenes.

Editing is okay. Action stunts are terrific, the Hamsala Deevi episode is done in a terrific way. Dialogues by Ratnam might appeal to mass audiences.

Highlights:

• Boyapati mark of mass elements
• Love scenes
• Pre-climax scenes
• Hamsala Deevi Action Episode

Drawback:

• Predictable story
• Routine screenplay

Analysis:

Director Boyapati Srinu’s heroes and villains are predictable. His villains behave as if there is no law or no law enforcement officers in the country. His heroes fight with villains as if they are trained in all kind of fight sequences despite they coming from rich families and posh backgrounds.

In “Simha”, the hero is a rich doctor. In “Sarrainodu”, the protagonist is the son of chief secretary of a state. Here in “Jaya Janaki Nayaka”, the hero is a student and son of a rich businessman. But that doesn’t stop Boyapati’s heroes taking up swords, doing stunts.

If you forget these aspects, you will enjoy Boyapati’s movies. His core strength is evoking emotions in action stunts.

In “Jaya Janaki Nayaka” too, he gets them right. The film begins with the love story between Rakul and Bellamonda, but it soon turns into an action-revenge drama.

The only difference here is that the heroine gets married to another guy and becomes a widow and then the hero decides to risk everything for her. But it gets into serious mode and also turns a bit emotional after the interval.

The entire episode from Vani Vishwanath asking Jagapathi Babu to do homam in Hamsala Deevi to the “Nee Valle Nee Valle” song is quite riveting. The “Hamsala Deevi” action episode is one of the best shot sequences in Telugu.

The movie slackens a bit but it holds interest again in the final sequences. The highlights of the movie are its action stunts and hero going to any length to win back the love of his lover who is now a widow.

Although the movie holds interest in the second half, it has predictability factor throughout. This is director Boyapati’s mark film but it also has ample mass moments that will appeal to his targeted audiences.

On the whole, “Jaya Janaki Nayaka” is typical Boyapati’s mass-action drama that has some good fights and interesting scenes here and there. It may work in B and C centers but it is unlikely to appeal to class audiences and overseas audiences.

Bottom-line: Typical Boyapati Movie

3/5

Starting from Nithin’s macho look to intriguing posters to interesting promos, Lie has been getting due attention from the film buffs. It is one of the most anticipated movies of the season for a reason. Director Hanu proved that he thinks out of the box and makes innovative cinema. 14 Reels Entertainment has spent a fortune on bringing Hanu’s vision on to the screen. Did Lie live up to the buzz around it?

Story :

Satyam (Nithin) goes to Vegas in search of his fortune. He takes the help of a girl named Chaitra (Megha) to get there. Meanwhile there is a Central Intelligence mission to find the ‘master of disguise’ magician Padmanabham (Arjun). Central Intelligence follows a suit that is ordered by Padmanabham to track him down. As the plot thickens we are in for many twists and turns.

Performances:

Nithin is superb in the lead role. His careless body language and powerful demeanor shows us the unseen side of the actor. His styling is spot on. This will be remembered as one of Nithin’s best performances for sure. Megha Akash is bubbly and cute. Arjun takes the cake with his sensational performance as the antagonist. His characterization drives the film and he is the soul of the movie. Confrontation scenes between Nithin and Arjun stands major highlight of the movie. Sriram and Ravi Kishan are good in supporting roles. Madhu got a meaty role as the main comedian.

Technicalities:

Mani Sharma’s music is impressive. Two out of four songs are very good. Bombhat song is well shot too. Background score of the legendary music composer elevates the drama to a whole new level. Editing is crisp although the second half needs a bit of trimming here and there. Cinematography is excellent. Every frame is rich and striking. Art department did a fine job is getting the locations right. Production values are top notch.

Hanu Raghavapudi’s earlier movies are made on a low budget. It is his first expensive film and he does a commendable job in making it a visual feast. He extracted fine performances from the lead cast and the film is technically slick. Mind games between the hero and villain are done well. Hanu does his best to offer novel treatment with a routine plot of a spy thriller.

Thumbs Up:

• Nithin
• Arjun
• Twists

Thumbs Down:

• Lengthy
• Confusing at times

Analysis:

Lie is a typical spy thriller where the police are tracing down an international terrorist. Hanu plays an intelligent game with the introduction of his characters. He uses mythological characters like Indra and Narada to set up the plot. There are numerous references to Hindu mythology and the epics in the narrative.

The director has summed up whole premise of the film into the title Love Intelligence and Enmity. The film starts off as a love story and later moves forward with the intelligent game between the hero and villain. Finally there is a stereotypical reveal towards the end which tells us the enmity between them.

Although it is a typical revenge plot with spy thriller kind of setup, director Hanu plays an intelligent game with the screenplay thus offering many thrills and fun. The story is narrated in an entertaining fashion despite the serious elements like international terrorism and central intelligence. Director used the villain character very well to keep us engaged and guessing.

People who love to watch intelligent spy thrillers will like Lie a lot. On the downside it gets a bit confusing for the common audience, which may limit the film’s reach in B and C centers. It is a bit stretched towards the end and gets on your nerves at times, but there are enough twists to keep the audience engaged. However the love story is too cinematic and unreal. Director should have taken care of it.

On a whole, Lie is not a super entertainer, but it will not entirely disappoint either.On the commercial front it must do well in A centers and overseas.

Verdict: Intelligent Show.

3/5

Following the back-to-back successes of Ghazi and Baahubali 2, expectations are quite high on Rana’s Nene Raju Nene Mantri. Teja, who is eagerly waiting to bounce back with a solid hit, has directed NRNM. Kajal pairs up with Rana for the first time in this movie which has hit the screens today after a huge round of promotions. Let’s see how it fared.

Story :-

NRNM’s story is set in Uravakonda village in Rayalaseema. Jogendra (Rana) is a good-natured financier. He loves his wife Radha (Kajal) so much that he rechristens his name as Radha Jogendra.

An unfortunate incident involving the village Sarpanch (Pradeep Rawat) and his wife results in Radha’s miscarriage. Jogendra avenges the injustice by becoming the Sarpanch. A series of dramatic events motivate Rana to become an MLA and then a minister before he sets his eyes on the Chief Minister’s chair eventually.

Can Jogendra overcome the impending powers that come in his way? Does his love for Radha remain the same in his lust for power and fight for survival? You need to watch the movie to experience the high-voltage drama.

Plus Points :-

Performances and a dramatic narrative are the major highlights in NRNM. Rana surprises with his menacing performance as Jogendra. He effortlessly transforms from being a kind-hearted village man to a dreaded politician who lusts for power. His performance in emotional scenes shows his maturity as an actor.

Kajal looks gracious in traditional saris. Her chemistry with Rana in romantic scenes and her emotional performance in a few confrontational scenes with Rana and the pre-climax scene is a treat for her fans. Catherine Tresa as an egoistic media baron, Devika Rani, who falls in love with Jogendra is quite impressive. Navdeep as Rana’s trusted lieutenant has a substantial role and he plays his part with elan.

Seasoned actors like Ashutosh Rana, Posani, Sivaji Raja, Ajay, Tanikella Bharani and others bring in high-voltage drama to the narrative with their commendable performances.

After a long time, director Teja has come up with a racy and riveting story that is filled with intense drama right from the word go. Certain scenes that elevate Jogendra’s heroism bring back glimpses of the vintage Teja we have been missing all these years. The way he sticks to an unconventional ending laced with a strong social message is praiseworthy.

Minus Points :-

Rana takes a while to get into the skin of his character. While he is at ease playing the power thirsty Jogendra, his performance as the village financier is not entirely convincing as his expressions and body language is too sophisticated.

Can a simple village man become the state’s Chief Minister in 5 years? While the storyline sounds too superficial, Teja makes his narrative even more unconvincing at times as he takes too many cinematic liberties while showcasing Rana’s rise as a politician.

Even the climax scenes where Rana kills more than 200 MLAs and then the Supreme Court ordering a re-enquiry into Rana’s death sentence just moments before his execution defy logic.

Technical Aspects :-

Songs in NRNM are situational and serve the purpose of carrying the story forward. Anup’s background score elevates the mood and adds intensity to the proceedings, especially in the pre-climax and climax scenes. Dialogues by Lakshmi Bhupal are functional. He penned several punch dialogues that play to the galleries.

The film is shot realistically in natural locales. Venkat C Dileep explores the barren lands and the gigantic canyons in Kurnool quite well. Editing it’s adequate as it complements the movie’s flow. Production values are quite impressive.

Verdict :-

On the whole, Nene Raju Nene Mantri is a conflict between love and power. What happens when a common man seeks vengeance and takes on those in power and how his ego destroys his life forms the main story. You will surely enjoy this hard-hitting drama if you leave the logics aside. The film offers a bit of everything to a wide range of audiences and its box-office range depends on how well the movie lovers accept the intensity of the story.

Nakshatram Movie Review – 2/5

Krishna Vamsi who has been out of form from many years has come up with Nakshatram, a film with police backdrop. Notable star cast and Krishna Vamsi’s past record raised hopes on Nakshatram, but it turned out to be a very loud insensible film.

Story :

Rama Rao (Sundeep) comes from a family of police men. His only aim is to become a sub inspector. He overcomes all the hurdles to live his dream, but disaster strikes in the form of Rahul (Tanish) and Ramarao’s dreams are shattered. Ramarao decides to do the police work without being appointed and nabs a weapon smuggler. Ramarao happens to wear missing IPS officer Alexander’s (Sai Dharam Tej) uniform that puzzles the police department. Why did Alexander go missing and what happens to Ramarao’s dream of turning a cop?

Performances:

Sundeep Kishan is sincere in playing his part. Despite the eccentricity associated with his character, Sundeep comes up with a decent performance altogether. Sai Dharam Tej’s screen presence is good, but his character is poorly written. He doesn’t make any impact with his cameo. Regina oozes oomph and Pragya is fine as a badass police woman. Prakash Raj and Shivaji Raja are their usual self. Tanish is adequate as the drug addict. Tulasi is over the top. There is nothing much to write home about others including JD Chakravarthy.

Technicalities:

Krishna Vamsi’s intentions are good but the execution goes haywire. Everything about the film is over the top and unbearably loud. Even the making style of the film is stuck in nineties. It is pretty evident that Krishna Vamsi is totally out of form.

Music is unimpressive. The soundtrack lacks appeal and the background score is too loud. Editing is clumsy and cinematography is a disaster. It looks like a low quality product. Production values are very poor.

Thumbs Up:

• Nothing much

Thumbs Down:

• Bad script
• Over the top performances
• Terrible second half

Analysis:

Krishna Vamsi films are usually loud and people who have watched his earlier films are well aware of it. But Nakshatram is on a whole new level in terms of loudness. It is louder even for Krishna Vamsi’s standards. The plot of the film itself sounds silly and unrealistic. The first half of the film is barely passable.

One would expect the second half to be better as Sai Dharam Tej’s cameo is in the offing. However, second half turns utterly terrible and even Tej’s special appearance couldn’t save it. His character is poorly etched and it hardly makes any impact due to badly conceived scenes. Climax is a slog. The film is an exhausting experience to its viewers as it never rises above the mediocrity at any point.

Adding to the poor script and pointless direction, artistes performances are alarmingly over the top that the film endlessly puts the audience patience to test. There is not a single point that makes Nakshatram sparkle for a bit. If first half is bad, the second half is terrible and there are no words to describe the pathetic climax. One would keep wondering what happened to the ‘creative director’ that have created some cinematic gems in the past.

On a whole, Nakshatram is the kind of a film that makes you regret for choosing to watch it over all other options. Watch it at your own risk!

Verdict: Fading Star.

Four actors teamed up for Sriram Adittya’s crime comedy Shamanthakamani that is based on a car theft. It has an interesting plot, but fails to engage the viewers with interesting screenplay. It offers occasional laughs, but disappoints on a whole.

Story :

Shamantakamani, an expensive Rolls Royce car worth Rs. 5 crore is stolen at a party. Krishna (Sudheer Babu) files a complaint with the police and CI Ranjith (Rohit) is assigned with the job of finding the missing car. In his investigation Ranjith finds three people as the prime suspects. A jobless, uneducated youth Shiva (Sundeep Kishan), a carefree guy Karthik (Aadi) and a mechanic (Rajendra Prasad) all are somehow connected to the car, but claim innocent. How does Ranjith solve the crime and who is behind the car theft?

Performances:

Nara Rohith is his usual self in the police character. He has done many cop characters in his career and is at ease as a corrupt police. Sudheer Babu’s character is emotional and he is good. Sundeep Kishan did well and leaves a mark despite less screen time. Aadi is also fine as the frustrated lover. Rajendra Prasad and Suman are adequate in their roles. Indraja and Chandini are okay in their limited roles.

Technicalities:

Sriram Adittya’s stylish taking makes it look like an expensive film despite the low budget. Director has good grip over technical elements but fails in writing an engaging script. Poorly written screenplay is its biggest drawback.

Mani Sharma’s soundtrack is ordinary but the background score is impressive. Cinematography is also impressive and editing stands out among the technical departments. Production values are decent.

Thumbs Up:

• Four Heroes
• Fairly decent second half
• Climax

Thumbs Down:

• Uninteresting screenplay
• First half

Analysis:

It is easy to grab people’s attention with four actors playing the lead characters. But to write an engaging screenplay by giving equal importance to all the characters is not that easy. Sriram Adittya clearly struggled to come up with an engaging screenplay.

He took so much time to introduce all the characters and establish a motive for them to take up crime. We cannot root for any of the characters including Sudheer’s who has an emotional back story. Director takes his own sweet time to get to the point of crime.

Car is stolen at the intermission point which is a perfect setting for engaging second half. Interrogation process seems interesting but none of the perspective stories of Rajendra Prasad, Sundeep and Aadi makes an impact after knowing them. Only point that hooks is the suspense about who has stolen the car.

Final reveal is cliched sans logic, but the finishing to all the characters is entertaining. Except for the ending Shamanthakamani doesn’t give a satisfactory feeling at any point of time. It is a very lame script with good setting and casting. Films like these have limited appeal and it will be hard to please the genre fans with such lackluster script.

Verdict: Bumpy Ride.

Ninnu Kori is an emotional romantic drama that deals with the life after love. Terrific star cast, mature handling and soulful musical score are its biggest plusses. Nani has once again made the right choice of picking the right script.

Story :

Uma (Nani) and Pallavi (Nivetha) fall in love, but couldn’t be together due to the former’s financial status. Pallavi gets married to a gentleman called Arun (Aadi) and Uma goes into depression and puts his career at stake. Now Pallavi decides to keep Uma happy by showing that she has moved on. Uma comes to her house and stays there for ten days. Does Uma change or Pallavi gets back with him?

Performances:

Nani is a fantastic actor who can play any type of character. He can be easy going happy guy and also play a heartbroken lover character to the perfection. His natural charm and comedic timing will make us fall for Uma. Nivetha is a terrific find. She is a very good performer and does total justice to her character. Aadi is perfect as a loving husband. Murali Sharma and Prudhvi duo provides humor when it is most needed.

Technicalities:

Shiva Nirvana picked a routine plot that was seen many times in Telugu and as well as other languages. However his mature handling and the natural setup of scenes and likeable characterizations makes it special. He has dealt the emotional part of the story like an experienced campaigner.

Any love story isn’t complete without a good soundtrack. Gopi Sunder’s music is the major attraction. Background score is superb which will stay with you for so long after leaving the cinemas. The film would not be such a visually rich experience without Karthik’s cinematography. Kona’s dialogues are impressive and the production values are very good. Editor did a fine job in keeping the runtime short.

Thumbs Up:

• Lead actors
• Feel good factor
• Music

Thumbs Down:

• Predictable story
• Drags at times

Analysis:

Ninnu Kori is a romance-drama high on emotions. It is a simple story that is told in a pleasant manner. The story is very predictable yet the moments are beautifully scripted that you never gets bored. Fine performances from all the three leads made it worth watching in spite of its slow pace.

Director and writer cleverly injected humor into the emotional setup without disturbing the soul and feel of the film. There is a point where it looks like the director has taken the conventional route so that there would be a happy ending. However, things are maturely handled and convincingly portrayed so that the viewers come out satisfied.

Although the film doesn’t bore you, there are a few instances, where we get the feeling that it is being dragged. Emotional climax makes up for such short comings and there is a bit of after story to give us that satisfactory ending. Ninnu Kori would have been a bore fest if the director chose to tell it in an emotional way. However, he has cleverly used humor to keep things subtle.

Nani’s fantastic act as Uma and Nivetha-Aadi’s fine performances are Ninnu Kori’s biggest strengths. Writer, cinematographer and music director have tuned well with the director’s thoughts and as a team they have made it an enjoyable fare. If you like to watch romantic tales, Ninnu Kori serves whatever you would anticipate from them. Nani’s fine form at the box office will be continued with Ninnu Kori as it connects well with the target audience.

Verdict: Breezy Romance.

Watch Duvvada Jagannadham Movie Review

Allu Arjun’s latest entertainer DJ is out in theaters now. It is a routine commercial flick loaded with commercial elements targeted at the masses. Harish Shankar totally banks upon Allu Arjun’s star power and uses entertainment to make it a passable fare.

Story :

Duvvada Jagannadham (Allu Arjun) is a Brahmin youth who does catering for livelihood. He falls in love with Pooja (Pooja Hegde), a rich girl, who rejects him. There is another side to Duvvada Jagannadham. He cannot sit and watch if someone does injustice in front of him. He teams up with a police officer (Murali Sharma) and eliminates all the criminals that come to his notice. Police identifies him with the name DJ. There is a cold blooded criminal Royyala Naidu (Rao Ramesh), a real estate business tycoon that does injustice to thousands of people. DJ loses one of his close one because of Royyala Naidu’s scam. Now, DJ has to find and eliminate Royyala Naidu who is hiding behind without letting the world know about his true colors.

Performances:

Allu Arjun: Stylish star Allu Arjun does a Brahmin character for the first time in his career and his efforts to get into the skin of the character can be seen. He mastered the dialect and perfected the body language. On the other side, he is extremely stylish and handsome as DJ. He excelled in dances and enthralls the masses with his punch lines.

Pooja Hegde and Others: Pooja has a little role to play in the main plot, but she provided the glam quotient and lit up the screen whenever she comes on it. She could be the next big thing in Telugu cinema industry with right opportunities. Rao Ramesh yet again excels with his Godavari dialect and a getup reminiscent of one of his father’s iconic characters ‘Royyala Naidu’. Murali Sharma is good in the supporting role. Vennela Kishore entertains. Tanikella Bharani, Pavitra Lokesh and Chandra Mohan are apt in their respective roles.

Technicalities:

Direction: Harish Shankar doesn’t try too hard for an exceptional script. He simply likes to play to the galleries and bank upon his hero’s strengths. DJ also is a regular commercial script laced with good humor and action. However, a bad second half doesn’t allow it to rise above the average mark.

Music and Others: Devi Sri Prasad once again comes up with foot tapping musical numbers that give ample scope for Allu Arjun to exhibit his dancing skills. His background score also is pretty good. BGM in the interval episode stands out. Ayananka Bose’s cinematography is another asset on the technical front. Editing is fine. Dialogues written by Harish Shankar are not only witty in comedy scenes but also meaningful in emotional scenes. Production values are very impressive.

Thumbs Up:

• Allu Arjun
• Songs
• Pooja’s glamour

Thumbs Down:

• Routine script
• Below average second half

Analysis:

DJ is a typical commercial potboiler that doesn’t rely on a strong script. In fact the story and screenplay are quite ordinary and don’t offer anything fresh from usual stuff. It scores on the entertainment front with Allu Arjun in the driver’s seat.

Harish Shankar never lets the proceedings turn too serious. Duvvada Jagannadham is a character that fights for the society, but it remains grounded and entertains all the while. Even the villain character too is written in such a way that it entertains. Rao Ramesh is an evil minded strategist but also gets into the shoes of a real estate model to offer laughs.

First half of the film is solid with good humor, enjoyable songs, Pooja’s glamour and Allu Arjun in top form. Second half is a complete letdown though. One would expect a splendid confrontation between hero and villain at the intermission point. But the proceedings turn utter predictable as even the comedy takes the back seat until the end.

Director cleverly introduces Subba Raju in the middle of the story and sets it up for a hilarious ending. An unexpected funny twist towards the climax provides scope for comedy so that the viewers can leave the theaters with a smile on their faces. DJ may not offer freshness that a section of audiences look for, but an entertaining first half and Allu Arjun’s performance holds to make it a passable fare on the whole.

Verdict: Sabhya Samajaniki Routine Message.

Naga Chaitanya’s latest film Rarandoi Veduka Chuddam is a romantic family entertainer. Directed by Soggade Chinni Nayana fame Kalyan Krishna, the film treads in the beaten track, but manages to keep the viewers entertained all through.

Story  :

Shiva (Naga Chaitanya) and Bramarambha (Rakul) meets in a marriage. Shiva instantly falls in love with her but Bramarambha sees him as a friend. She couldn’t realize that she is in love with him until they get separated. But by the time Bramarambha realizes her love towards Shiva, a problem arises due to an earlier clash between both their fathers (Sampath Raj and Jagapathi Babu)

Performances:

Naga Chaitanya is strikingly handsome in the film. His wardrobe and styling is perfect. He tried his hand at comedy and did an okay job. He is particularly impressive in the emotional scenes. Rakul Preeth is a revelation as Bramarambha. She got into the skin of the character and lived it every moment. Hands down, it is the best performance of her thus far. Jagapathi Babu is majestic as ever and Sampath Raj did a commendable work as heroine’s father. Kausalya as his wife is pretty impressive. Vennela Kishore once again took care of the comedy department.

Technicalities:

Kalyan Krishna has proved that he is not a one film wonder. Like in his debut film he has once again handled the emotions well without going overboard. It is a very simple plot which should be given special touches by the director to make it work. His direction and subtle way of dealing with emotions makes Rarandoi Veduka Chuddam a delightful watch.

Devi Sri Prasad’s music is on point. A couple of songs are very good on screen and the background score is too good. Dialogues written by Kalyan Krishna are simple yet effective. Cinematographer Visweshwar made it a colorful film with his splendid work. Editing is neat. Production values are very good. Nagarjuna is known for making smart choices and RVC is another example for it.

Thumbs Up:

• Rakul Preeth Singh
• Music
• Emotions in second half

Thumbs Down:

• Routine plot
• Predictable ending

Analysis:

Rarandoi Veduka Chuddam is a regular romantic entertainer with a dash of family emotions. What make it special are the well etched out characters. Female lead character in particular is superbly written and Rakul did a fabulous job as Bramarambha. Male lead and the father characters of both the leads are also well written, which plays a huge role in making the emotions work towards the end.

It is a bit dull at the beginning but gets entertaining as the story moves forward. Good songs, lovable scenes and a likeable lead pair make it a pleasant watch until the intermission despite cliches. Second half also starts on an entertaining note and it gets better as the emotions take the driving seat. Scene between Naga Chaitanya and Rakul on the beach is the best one in the movie which sets right mood for the climax.

Ending is very predictable as we could guess the conflict between Jagapathi Babu and Sampath right at the beginning of the movie. Good thing is, director wrapped up the things quickly without wasting any time. Flashback is very brief and the conflict is resolved quickly. There’s no drag of any sorts. On a whole, youngsters who look for a fresh breeze of romance may get disappointed but family audience and matured folks will like it.

Rarandoi Veduka Chuddam is a perfect commercial film that hits all the right notes at the right times. Impressive female lead character and good music are its USP. With hardly any boring moments and good emotional impact, Rarandoi should click at the box office. Naga Chaitanya has a winner on his hands.

Verdict: Colorful Veduka.

Star filmmaker Sreenu Vaitla’s last two films were duds. At a crucial juncture in his career, Sreenu Vaitla came up with Mister featuring Varun Tej as the lead. Did the star director come out of his shell and delivered the goods? Is Mister worth watching? Let’s find out.

Story :

Chay (Varun Tej) falls in love with Meera (Hebah) but he comes to learn that she is already in love with some other person. When Meera’s love runs into a problem, Chay goes to solve it and unite the lovers. On his way he meets Chandramukhi (Lavanya), a naive girl who doesn’t know anything about the modern society. Little does he know that he could run into a bigger problem because of her. Meanwhile, Chandramukhi falls in love with Chay and also Meera also starts having feelings for him.

Performances:

Varun Tej is growing confident with each film. He has shown that he has a good comic timing. He is extremely handsome and stylish in the character of an NRI. He is particularly impressive in action sequences. With better scripts he does have the potential to join the big league. Lavanya Tripathi is a fine performer and she did a commendable job as Chandramukhi. Hebah also did her bit. Murali Sharma’s character is over the top. Harish Uthaman is alright. Rajesh got a meaty role. Prudhvi is entertaining as usual. There is a huge supporting cast and everyone did their part.

Technicalities:

Sreenu Vaitla finally comes out of Ready hangover and doesn’t rely on a hero making villain a bakara’ concept. Mister is a usual family drama that has touches of Sreenu Vaitla’s school of humor. Vaitla who is usually at the top of his game is surely struggling to find form. Many of his attempts at comedy didn’t yield desired results. Mister will go down as another disappointing film from the ace director.

Songs are average. Mickey who usually comes up with soulful melodies failed to live up to expectations. Cinematography is good. There are some breathtaking aerial shots of Spain. Dialogues are good in parts. Editing could have been better especially in the second half. Production values are rich. All credits to the producers, the film is shot in lavish locations and is visually stunning.

Thumbs Up:

• Varun Tej
• Comedy in parts
• Locations

Thumbs Down:

• Boring second half
• Shoddy screenplay

Analysis:

Mister starts off on an entertaining note and looks cool until the first hour. Things go topsy turvy once the protagonist lands in India. It is evident that the director is not at his best, but he managed to keep the audience entertained by introducing new characters at frequent intervals. Despite a few laughs, Mister clearly missed the humorous stamp of Sreenu Vaitla. The attempt of spoofing Oopiri hasn’t clicked.

Although first half is fairly entertaining and passable, the second half turned out to be a total mess. Lavanya’s family background is unbelievably idiotic and those elaborate scenes to establish the cruelness and stupidity of her family never allows the film to bounce back. And the sacrificing saga of heroines towards the climax makes it all the more tedious.

It is evident that Sreenu Vaitla wanted to give a new experience to viewers with the Devaraya’s backdrop in that village of Karnataka, but that never sounded authentic at any point. In fact it looked silly and made the whole movie seem like a bad joke. A regular damsel in distress and the love triangle laced with comedy might have turned out better than this overcomplicated mess.

Second half of the movie is so bad that it almost makes us forget about the positives in its first half. Sreenu Vaitla stretches it a far too much to add sentiment to the proceedings with the introduction of grandfather character towards the end. Mister is a badly written, poorly executed but lavishly shot film that will put the audience’s patience to test. It would need a miracle to stay in theaters until Baahubali arrives.

Verdict: Misfire!

Mani Ratnam’s latest Tamil film Kaatru Veliyidai is released in Telugu as Cheliya. Starring Karthi and Aditi Rao Hydari in the lead roles, Cheliya is a romantic drama set in Kargil war backdrop. The film moves at a snail pace and puts the viewers patience to test. Besides the beautiful visuals and talented lead pair, there is nothing to rave about this boring romance.

Story :

Varun (Karthi) is a fighter pilot in Indian Force. When he meets with a fatal accident, Dr. Leela Abraham (Aditi) treats him. He falls in love with her and she too falls for his charm. Differences crop up between the couple as Varun is short tempered and ill treats her at times. While the romance between them is at stake, Varun goes to Kargil war and gets captured by the Pakistani Army. Now he has to find a way back to India and his girl.

Performances:

Karthi is a very good actor who can fit into any type of character. He is extremely good as Varun in Cheliyaa. His performance in the climax scene is simply superb. Aditi Rao also is a fantastic actress and very beautiful too. The chemistry between Karthi and Aditi keeps the film going. Delhi Ganesh and RJ Balaji are good in their respective roles. Most the of the drama focuses on Karthi and Aditi that rest of the actors don’t get much of screen time.

Technicalities:

Mani Ratnam’s films are technically brilliant and Cheliya isn’t different either. The film is visually stunning and the technical values are topnotch. Mani Ratnam’s mark can be seen here and there, but the director is definitely out of form as he couldn’t make it an interesting romance drama despite the intriguing setup. He clearly falls short of the mark in making a movie that could have been another Roja.

A couple of songs are good on ears and as well as on the screen. Background score is soothing and adds value to the vibrant visuals. Cinematographer Ravi Varma is the hero of this film with his mind-boggling work. Every frame looks like a painting. The movie moves at a very slow pace and the editor couldn’t do much about it. Production values are very good.

Thumbs Up:

• Karthi
• Aditi Rao Hydari
• Cinematography

Thumbs Down:

• Screenplay
• Second half

Analysis:

Mani Ratnam tries to make it an interesting romance drama by setting it in the Kargil war backdrop. However, Kargil war is just used as a tool to separate the couple for a few years. Besides that there isn’t much importance to the war. It is primarily a romance drama between two different personalities. Karthi is a lovable charming guy until Aditi falls for him. After that he keeps on hurting her feelings with his behavior and ideologies.

Mani Ratnam doesn’t focus on the character development and directly jumps into the story. He gives subtle hints of the past of the protagonist through dialogue. He also leaves most part of the drama behind as if he wants us to guess what might have happened. First half is passable to an extent due to the unmistakable chemistry between Karthi and Aditi.

Story moves back and forth as Karthi remembers his past while he is captured in Pakistan. Even that aspect doesn’t infuse any interest due to the poorly written scenes between the lead pair. The romance is never touching nor endearing, does it simply test our patience with confusing conversations and characterizations. It is hard to empathize with the lead role as he is stuck in Pakistan because we cannot develop an emotional connect with him.

Second half is a slog. The story refuses to move forward and Mani Ratnam had a great opportunity to make up for the loss with a thrilling climax. One would expect a thrilling climax as Karthi plans to escape from the Pakistani prison. But all we get is a sloppy action scene that seems like a joke. Everything about Cheliyaa is half baked and underdeveloped. It is just an idea made into a film without putting in efforts on the writing table. The result is a painful, boring and torturous romantic drama that will force you to walk away in the middle.

Verdict: Cheli’yawn’