Prabhas Ek Niranjan Movie review

 Film: Ek Niranjan

Cast: Prabhas, Kangana Ranaut, Sonu Sood, Mukul Dev, Tanikella Bharani,

Bramanandam, Ali, Posani Krishna Murali, Sunil, Venu Madhav, Brahmaji

Music: Mani Sharma

Editing: M.R.Varma

Art: Chinna

Cinematography: Shaam K.Naidu

Action: Stun Shiva, Peter Heins

Producer : Aditya Ram

Banner : Adityaram Movies

Story, Screenplay and directed by: PuriJagannadh

Release Date: October 29, 2009

CBFC Rating: A

What’s it about!

Chotu (Prabhas) is estranged from his parents at a very young age. He grows up to become a bounty hunter - by handing over criminals to the police and earning money from it. His continues search for finding his real parents (played by Tanikella and Sangeeta) but in vain. He happens to meet a guitar teacher Sameera (Kangana) and love ensues between them. On other hand, a local dada Johnny Bhai (Sonu Sood) hires a killer to shoot off a minister. What is the link between Chotu and Johnny Bhai and how Chotu tries to find his parents is told in rest of the film.

Analysis

If you have seen Puri Jagannadh’s films, you would know his style of presentation and how his heroes behave. By now, we can identify his brand of ‘narration’. Ek Niranjan is simply an excessive fest of clichés - from Puri’s past films. Puri Jagan tries to hold the audiences interest by super dialogues rather than the super script and narration. First half is racy but it suffers heavily in the second half with unnecessary comedy track and lack of driving points in the script. Sonu Sood’s character entirely drives the film. Also the film has resemblance to Chiranjeevi’s Kodama Simham (like Chiru trying to find the whereabouts of his parents; Sudi Gaali character here is played by Deshpande) and also has traces of Bujjigaadu’s plot line. In Bujjigaadu, Bujji’s sole aim is to find his childhood lover. In Ek Niranjan is goal is to search for his parents.

Script wise the movie is nothing but run-of-the mill fare. Only some lighter moments and good songs hold the film’s interest. On the whole it is just any okay movie.

Performances

Prabhas looks stylish and he exudes energy throughout the flick. He has done justice to the role. Kangana who makes her debut in Tollywood with this film does a very glamorous role and her unconventional looks might not go well with the Telugu audiences. But you cannot fault her performance. Sonu Sood steals the show as perverted villain. His characterization itself is novel and Sonu Sood’s performance provides enough laughter in the second half. Brahmaji does equally good with him. Comedy track by Brahmanandam, Ali and Abhinaya Sri is totally waste. Rest of the cast is okay.

Manisharma’s songs are good to hear but they are not that effective on screen. Shaam K Naidu’s cinematography looks richer. Editing by M.R.Verma is not upto standard. Puri Jaganandh once again scores as dialogue writer than director. But it is the time that he should re-check at his selection of scripts. After Pokiri, he has not come up with film that can make him proud or make audiences feel satisfied.

Bottom-line

Ek Niranjan is just an okay film. It can be time pass film.

Shankam - Movie Review

Film: Shankam
Cast: Gopichand, Trisha, Satya Raj, Kota Srinivas Rao, Chandramohan, Ali, Venumadhav, Krishna Baghavan, Srinivas Reddy, Supreet and others
Dialogues: Anil Ravipudi
Music: Taman S
Cinematography: Vetri
Editing: Gowtham Raju
Art: A M Vivek
Fights: Vijay and Ram-Lakshman
Produced by: J Baghavan and J Pullarao
Story, screenplay and directed by: Shiva
Release Date: Sep 11, 2009
CBFC Rating: U/A

What’s it about!
Chandu (Gopichand) leads happy life in Australia and stays with his uncle (Chandramohan). He falls in love with local Telugu girl Mahalakshmi (Trisha) at first sight. She runs an Indian restaurant there. Initially, she avoids his advances and love proposals but relents in after a couple of song and dance numbers. When she about to accept his love, she is taken away to India by her aunt to marry off her son. Now, hero lands in Cuddapah where Mahalakshmi’s father (Kota) waging war with his neighboring village lord Shivaiah (Satya Raj). On the insistence of Mahalakshmi’s father, Chandu takes on Shivaiah’s men and then he learns that Shivaiah is estranged father. Rest of the movie is all about father-son sentiment drama with a revenge angle in the end.

Analysis

At the very beginning of the film, one can notice that Shankam is just another formulaic faction drama. 30 minutes into the movie, you become restless as the mediocre and run-of-the mill scenes begin to unfold one after the other. There is no conflict in the flick to make the viewers glued to the screen, nor has it any interesting drama to sit and enjoy. With no good story to hold on, the writer-director Shiva drags on by focusing on masala scenes between Trisha and Gopichand. Much of the romance between the lead pair is filled with double meaning dialogues and gestures. Although first half is okay with some comedy by Ali, post interval the movie drags on and on.

The biggest flaw is that there is no strong villain for a hero to fight with and also the conflict in the story is lackluster. Shiva who directed Showryam with Gopichand earlier has faltered with this wafer-thin storyline.

Performances

Gopichand has tried hard to make the movie watchable with comedy but his characterization in the movie is not interesting. He is just okay. Trisha has done glam role comparatively her earlier movies in Telugu and there is lot of lewd dialogues involving her. Satyaraj as noble rayalaseema landlord has brought dignity to the character. The scene-stealer, of course, is Ali with his perfect comic timing. Also Venumadhav provides some good laughs. Kota Srinivas Rao is repeating the same histrionics that he has been doing for a long time. Rest of the cast is okay.

Music by Taman is its biggest drawback. Not a single song is hummable. His Background score is also substandard. Cinematography by Vetri is neat. Unlike in Gopichand’s films, the film has not much action stunts. Some of the dialouges by newcomer Anil are good.

Bottom-line!

Shankam is very formulaic. Second half is unbearable. With wafer-thin storyline, director drags on the movie for more than two and half hours. First half is the only saving grace.

Mallanna - Movie Review

Film: Mallanna Cast: Vikram, Superstar Krishna, Shriya, Prabhu, Ashish Vidyarthi, Mukesh Tiwari, Mumait Khan, Brahmanandam and others
Dialogues: Sahiti
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Cinematography: N K Ekambaram
Art: Thota Tharani
Produced by: Kalaipuli S Thanu
Story, screenplay and directed by: Susi Ganeshan
Release Date: August 21, 2009
CBFC Rating: U/A

What’s it about!

Mallanna (Vikram) is a CBI Officer working under economic offences investigation department. He steals some of the money that he caught during the raides and distributes to the needy and poor. He comes in disguise of god Mallanna to the helpful who petition at the temple of Mallanna. Once CBI raids on powerful rich person PPP (Ashish Vidyardhi) under the guidance of Mallanna and after that PPP vows to finish him off. His daughter Subbalakahsmi (Shriya) swears revenge and pretends to fall in love with him. Mallanna is protected by CBI Joint director (Krishna) in his Robin Hood activities. The rest of the movie is how Subbalakshmi realizes her fault, and Mallanna achieves his mission.

Analysis

Mallanna is typical Robin Hood story but the director has failed to present it effectively; he has resorted to the camera gimmickry and editing effects. Director Susi Ganeshan seems to have inspired by director Shankar as he has followed the same terrain. The film is shot extravagantly in various exotic locations and action stunts are superb but it doesn’t have soul and substance. By and large, it is kichidi of various flicks like Shivaji (Black Money, Economical Offences), Tagore (Hero and his friends acting like a gang), Shahenhha (Robin Hood kind of generosity), Aparichitudu (Getups), etc.

Grand locations, extravagant budget and some of the episodes are the best part of the film and rest is pretty ordinary. Theme and story is interesting but the treatment is lethargic. The film could have been better had the director concentrated more on screenplay rather than his self-indulgence (he acts in the film too).

Performances

Vikram dons various getup including women’s. He is good as lanky CBI officer but his getups are also good but they lack fizz. It is nice to hear Vikram’s own voice in Telugu. Shriya has done most glamorous role in her career. She has indulged in skin show heavily and also done a lip-lip kiss scene. But the romantic scenes between Vikram and Shriya irritate the audiences after sometime as they spoil the main story. Brahamanamdam’s comedy (in some theatres it was chopped off) is also irritating. Superstar Krishna in the role of a senior CBI officer is good although he has not much to do. Prabhu as investigating officer is okay, it is just an extension of Prakash Raj’s character in Tagore. Mumait Khan appears in an item song. Ashish Vidyardhi is okay. Mukesh Tiwari as richest person in AP does good job.

Devi Sri Prasad’s music is the core strength of the film. Excuse Me Mallanna and Mambo songs are the best from the lot. Technically the film is chic with slick production values. Cinematographer Ekambaram makes the film visually stunning but the color grading looks hotchpotch. The biggest villain in the film is editing part. Run time of the movie is heavy (with 3 hours 10 minutes) and ridiculous-editing effects have put strain on eyes. Producer Kalaipuli Thanu has pumped lot of money and the expenses are visible on the screen but looks like director has taken him for a ride.

Bottom-line

The problem with the film is that you get a feeling of déjà vu as most of the action sequences and Vikram’s getups have been showing in trailers on TV channels. You don’t feel get thrilled when you actually see them on silver screen. Mallanna is kichidi of Shivaji, Tagore, Shahensha and Aparichitudu. Shot extravagantly but has no substance.

TC Rating: 2.75/5

Movie Review Anjaneyulu

Film: Anjaneyulu

Cast: Ravi Teja, Nayanatara, Sonu Sood, Kota Srinivas Rao, Nasser, Brahmaji, Brahmanandam, Srinivas Reddy and others

Music: S Thaman

Cinematography: K Ravindra Babu

Editing: Marthand K Venkatesh

Art: Chinna

Fights: Ram Lakshman

Produced by: Ganesh Babu

Story, screenplay, dialogues and directed by: Parusaram

Release date: August 12, 2009

What’s it about!

Anjaneyulu works as a journalist in a TV channel and leads life carelessly. He is more attached to his father Murthy (Nasser) and shares everything with him. One day, a girl Anjali (Nayanatara) and asks him to rescue her from rowdies. He saves her and also falls in love with her at first sight. On the other hand, a minister seeks help of a mafia leader Bada (Sonu Sood) to kill an officer who has prepared a report of all the illegal activities of the minister. Bada hatches a plan to kill the officer and plants a bomb in a bus in which he is traveling. On the same bus, Anjaneyulu parents are leaving to their hometown after making visit to Hyderabad and they get killed in the blast. Rest of the movie is how Anjaneyulu takes revenge.

Analysis

As Ravi Teja’s recent films like Krishna and Kick became big hits for their entertainment value, it has now become a routine for directors to throw some comedy scenes to run a Ravi Teja film rather than having a sound script. Director Parasuram who made his debut with Yuvata seems to have taken this for granted and made a film without a proper script. He has just thrown some comedy scenes in the first half and tried to run the film. Sorry, it hasn’t worked out. Till the first half, it is okay and bearable but after that he totally misses the bus.

Director seems to have no knowledge of how a journalist behaves or works or how a news channel runs. What Ravi Teja has been doing in every other film does the same here except that he has tag of journalist here. Parasuram’s dialogues and his characterization of the protaganist is almost similar to Puri Jagannadh. There is no novelty in the movie except some gags here and there. And that too the dialogues and gestures are laced with full of double entendres.

Anjaneyulu has nothing new to offer nor has full entertainment. It is just a run of the mill story.

Performances

Ravi Teja has taken the onus to carry the movie on his shoulders, as there is no solid script. He has done it effortlessly. Nayanatara looks tired and has lost charm. Brahmanandam’s comedy (a satire on ETV Prabhakar?) evokes laughter in the beginning but after some point it becomes repetitive. There is no substance to her role. Sonu Sood is okay. Nasser plays the affection father role very well. Kota and others are also okay.

Music is big minus. None of the songs are catchy. Cinematography by Ravindra Babu is okay. Director Parasuram has flair for comedy but he is letdown by his own story and screenplay.

Bottom-line

The film is okay till the interval but after it loses the steam as nothing happens in the second half except that Ravi Teja goes into villain gang like Mahesh did in Pokiri. How many times you wanna see the same routine? Anjaneyulu is formulaic film with no logic - First Half Anjaneyulu, Second Half Engine Oil. The film is okay for its comedy and everything else is bad.

Nenu Devudini Telugu Movie Review

Film: Nenu Devudni
Cast: Arya, Pooja, and others
Dialogues: Sri Ramakrishna
Music: Ilayaraaja
Lyrics: Vanamali and Bharat Acharya
Cinematography: Arthur Wilson
Editing: Suresh Urs
Art: Krishna Murthy
Stunts: Kanal Kannan, Super Subbarayan
Produced by: KS Srinivasan
Story and directed by: Bala
CBFC Rating: U/A
Release Date: Feb 6, 2009

What’s it about?
Rudra (Arya) is left in Kasi by his father as astrologers suggested not to see the father and son each other. Rudra is raised as kala bhairav in Kasi and lead life as devout sadhu. 14 years later, his father comes in search of his son and is shocked to see him as Aghora. Rudra’s guru tells him to go with his father and come back after severing all the ties. But he doesn’t stay at his home and instead lives with other local sadhus on a temple mountain. A local mafia leader who controls beggars tries to sell off a blind beggar (Pooja). Rudra kills the mafia leader.

Analysis

Tamil director Bala is one of the finest directors we have in India. His films Sethu and Shiva Putrudu (Pitamagan) ushered in new trends and inspired many directors in South India in portraying realism on screen. Hence, his latest offering, Nenu Devudni, created a curiosity among Telugu audiences too. Sadly, Nenu Devudni leaves all of us (including fanatic off-beat movie lovers like this reviewer) in a big disappointment. The story has no purpose and at the end of climax, the question remains on everyone’s mind - as to what the director has tried to say. It certainly not about ‘aghoras’ or ‘life of Kala Bhairava’s. The life of ‘aghora's part in Kasi is hardly 10 minutes, which, no doubt, is riveting. The film more delves on how beggars are treated by cunning local mafia leaders and how they are exploitated.

We don’t get any straightforward answers to the intention of the movie. Is the movie about the pretence of idol worship in Hinduism? Or about how ‘Dharma Bikshatana’ losing its meaning and has become a racket now? Or about a disgruntled son taking revenge on their parents? No clarity in the movie.

Climax sequence makes farce of the whole exercise of the director’s whatever intention. Rudra’s Guru asks him to come back after severing ‘bhava bandhalu’ and Rudra returns to Kasi after granting ‘maranam’ to the heroine with whom he doesn’t have any attachment in the first place. She is not his lover nor she related to him nor does they develop a bond or friendship. Then how does he got disheartened to return to Kasi? What is purpose in coming to his village – just to grant ‘maranam’ to a blind girl? If the girl wants to end life she could easily do on her own and why would she seek it from Rudra?

In one word there is no purpose to the script. As a director, Bala is undoubtedly a great technician but he disappointed us this time with his hollow plotline.

Performances

Aarya should be commended for his hard work and dedication. He looks menacing and maintains the same look through out the movie. Pooja as the blind girl gives award-winning performance. The glamorous girl has gone for complete de-glamorized role and she does it with honesty. Especially in the climax scene her make-up and acting is terrific. The look of the Guru of Kala Bhairav is good. Rest of the actors who acted as beggars and other roles have done neat job.

Cinematography by Arthur Wilson is excellent. Krishna Murthy’s artwork and Kanal Kannan and Super Subbarayan’s fights are realistic. Director Bala has shown his ‘master’ touch many scenes but he is disappointed by his own weak script.

Praise worthy points

1. The first and foremost re-recording by maestro Ilayaraaja is outstanding. His music is haunting and sometimes very spiritiual. Best part of the movie is definitely Ilayaraaja’s musical score. In our country, he is god of re-recording.
2. Performances by the lead actors – simply superb.
3. The dedication shown by the filmmakers and realistic (really hard to absorb some visuals) portrayal of beggars and their life (like in Slumdog Millionaire)

Bottom-line

Nenu Devudni is disappointment from director Bala. Except for the first 15 minutes, rest of the movie is hard to diges. It has very disturbing visuals and the movie is too dark than Bala's previous movies. Its script is weak and the movie has no purpose.

Chintakayala Ravi - Movie Review

 Film: Chintakayala Ravi

Cast: Venkatesh, Anushka, Mamta Mohandas, Venu, Lakshmi, Chandramohan, Nikita, Ali, Brahmanandam, Sunil, Venumadhav, and others

Story: Kona Venkat

Music: Vishal - Sekhar

Background score: Manisharma

Lyrics: Chandrabose

Cinematography: K Ravindra Babu

Editing: Srikara Prasad

Choreography: Raju Sundaram

Banner: Lakshmi Narasinha Productions

Produced by: Nallamalupu Srinivas (Bujji)

Screenplay and directed by: Yogesh

Release date: October 2, 2008

CBFC Rating: U

Seshamamba (Lakshmi) is in belief that his son Chintakayala Ravi (Venkatesh) is working as software engineer in USA and she boasts it in her village but actually Ravi is works in a local bar there. His mother arranges a match for him with a rich village belle Lavanya (Mamata Mohandas) who okays the alliance as Ravi is software engineer. Meanwhile, Lavanya asks her New York buddy Sunita (Anushka) to find out the conduct of Chintakayala Ravi. Sunita and Ravi accidentally meet once and she gets bad impression on him for his mischievous acts. She also finds that he is actually bartender and informs her friend that causes rift between Ravi and Lavanya’s families. The rest of the movie is triangle drama between Ravi, Lavanya and Sunita.

Analysis

Like all recent Venkatesh’s films, Chintakayala Ravi has high on entertainment but low on content. Story of the flick is kitchidi of various Hindi movies (mostly Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon and Hum Tum) but the backdrop of USA, Venkatesh’s performance, and comedy makes the film watchable. Adding mother sentiment to the predictable storyline made the movie more interesting, otherwise, it could have been very dull. Kona Venkat’s dialogues also are major asset. Other than that the movie treads on predictable pattern. First half of the movie is smooth and interesting but post the interval the narration is too slow and lengthy too. On the whole, the movie is just an okay.

Performances

Venkatesh gives good performance and shows his panache in comedy and sentiment scenes. After Venky, it is senior actress Lakshmi whose work is better. Her restrained performance adds strength to the sentiment scenes. Anushka’s performance is okay. Finally, Mamata Mohandass has got good role in Tollywood and also she comes with convincing act. Of the comedy gang, Sunil shines while Ali’s act as Nachami (an extension of his role in Chiruta), other toilet humor and some suggestive double meaning dialogues by Venky are in bad taste. Venu is apt for his brief role. So is Nikita. NTR’s guest appearance in the song 'Shava Shava' has no link and logic to the main storyline. Prakash Raj’s narrates the film with his voice over but it also can be done away with.

Of the technical cast, Kona Venkat (dialogues are good), Vishal- Sekhar (two songs – Bagunde..Bagunde and Enduko..Enduko are lilting) and cinematographer Ravindra Babu have come up with better work. Manisharma has just ‘copied’ the tunes from some of Yash Raj movies to provide background score. Chandrabose has penned all the songs and the lyrics in Enduko..Enduko are fantastic. He is giving best lyrics thesedays.

The scene where Venkatesh and Anushka act as husband and wife is just copy of Hum Tum (Rani and Saif do the same act in an apartment in Mumbai), like Saif arranges boys for Rani in Hum Tum, Venky does the same here. And in the climax, when Venky and Anushka perform as lovers in a game is Xerox copy of Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon. Indeed, the basic plot of Chintakayala Ravi is similar to Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon minus Abhishek’s role.

One appreciable aspect of the movie is the scenes shot in USA are rich and gives the movie very bright look. Producer Nallamapulu Bujji should be appreciated for this. Director Yogesh handles the movie okay but he has used all the old tricks for narration, not shown any novelty here.

Bottom-line

Chintakayala Ravi is just an okay. Mix of several Bollywood movies, the movie can be watchable for its comedy (in parts), good music and Venky’s performance.

Souryam Telugu Movie Review

Film: Shouryam

Cast: Gopichand, Anushka, Poonam Kaur, Manoj K Jayan, Ajay, Ali, Dharmavarapu, Sudha, Sharat Babu, Krishna Baghavan, Raghu Babu and others

Dialogues: M Rathnam

Music: Manisharma

Cinematography: Vetri

Editing: Marthand K Venkatesh

Art: Vivek

Action: Vijay, Ram-Lakshman, Selva

Executive producer: Anne Ravi

Produced by: V Ananda Prasad

Story, screenplay and directed by: Siva

Release date: September 25, 2008

CBFC Rating: U/A What’s it about!

Vijay (Gopichand) comes to Kolkata in search of his lost sister (Poonam Kaur). He finds his sister but refuses to admit to his identity fearing she would hate him. When his father died, he disowns her deliberately hoping that she would be well off in the Christian orphanage than living with him in penury. That leaves scar on her mind and starts hating her brother. To win her love and save her from some ‘goons’, he comes to Kolkata and there he meets a naughty college student Swetha (Anushka). Soon, romance blossoms between them. On parallel, a don called Shivarama Krishna Gowd (Manoj K Jayan) in Hyderabad is on mission to find Vijay and he sends his men to Kolkata. The link between Gowd and Vijay is told in a flashback.

Analysis

Gopichand has earned an action hero image with films like Yagnam and Lakshyam. After seeing negative result for his experiment movie, Ontari, he comes back to what he does best – masala film with action and sentiment. The best part in Shouryam is comedy that has worked. Ali’s comedy part and Krishna Baghavan – Raghu Babu’s comedy episode are best part in this action sentiment drama. They are more enjoyable. But the story and execution treads similar path of ‘regular mass films’. First half is executed well but second half is lengthy.

On the downside, the film is pretty predictable and music is big letdown. Don't look for freshness. Also, the film has influences of several movies like Pokiri, Samarasinha Reddy, etc. On the whole the movie is okay and serves rightly to its target Mass audiences.

Performances

Gopichand cakewalks through this role of a tough guy fighting against a dreaded don. He dons the role of cop in the movie but he hardly is seen in the Khaki dresses. He exhibits his ‘strength’ once again in dialogue delivery. Anushka is only there to provide skin show and she does it without much hesitation. Manoj K Jayan’s performance in the final in the second half is praiseworthy. Poonam Kaur as sister to Gopichand is cute but has not much role to do. Ali as Gymson and Krishna Baghavan in the role of a doctor steal the show with their hilarious comedy.

Music by Manisharma is big minus. Camerawork is okay. Cinematographer turned director Shiva seems to have good comedy flair. His narration in the first half is appreciable.

Bottom-line

Shouryam runs in typical of Gopichand’s earlier films but this time it has better comedy and some hilarious moments. Despite familiar storyline and treatment, it is watchable. Second half and music should have better, but on the whole it is okay movie.