Wednesday, 6 May, 2009

"MITRUDU" Movie Review

Balakrishna's road shows are far more tolerable than films like this. Mitrudu that released today has Mahadev trying hard to recreate the magic of Balakrishna but comes a cropper. The film has a story line that has been oft repeated and the sudden change of role for the mass hero as a mellowed man disappoints viewers. Even the action scenes are stripped of spirit and energy. It's time many contemporary actors choose roles that suit them rather than hanging onto a set image causing loss to the industry exchequer.

No hype and hoopla for Mitrudu but it has a weak story line that takes nearly an hour and a half to establish itself leaving the audiences cueless of certain happenings. If that is premeditated, the unraveling of the suspense hardly raises one's brow. Mitrudu is a film that can be conveniently added to the series of flops delivered by Balakrishna. It has a story that will find difficulty winning even the most hard core of Balakrishna fans. Though one thought the absence of fights and heavy dialogues will attract women folk, it boomeranged as the director came up with a flippant screenplay. He designs a character for the hero that is specifically designed to grate one's nerves. Tired visage, false hair and scripts that have been rehashed countless times leaves the viewer with a feeling that a serial on the small tube is far more pleasing.

Balakrishna & Priyamani Dialogues from Brahmanandam like, "I'm not an outer, I am a shooter", sounded silly and Krishna Baghwan's presence is not credible. Coming to the story, Priyamani, daughter of a rich industrialist and an MBA student on an astrologer's advice marries Balakrishna as his horoscope predicts his death on the 30th day after his marriage. She is told that the person she weds next will live a long and a prosperous life. As the lady is already in love with a physically challenged youth Deepak, she uses Balakrishna as a pawn.

Balakrishna is illtreated at his father-in-law's home and the bad men who are eyeing Priyamani's property join hands to eliminate him. Balakrishna's background, Priyamani's change of heart, twists and turns, the nemesis of the rivals all takes place post interval while the first half of the film is trivial. The actor wears a forlorn and detached look, lacks energy and sprit in many important scenes. Priyamani doesn't have a meaningful role and as usual is running around trees.

BalakrishnaThe opening episode has him drinking and precariously balancing on the balcony railing, sometimes he reads Ayn Rand while the heroine tries hard to get his attention and he at times looks endlessly for the shooting star in the sky to let luck and love into his life. The soft role doesn't gel and to make matters worse the double entendre by the heroine and her friend is a test of one's patience. The last half an hour has low brow humour and a fight. Music is okay. Rama Rajamouli's work does not stand out. The film is not a serious competition for the next numerous films releasing this month.

End Credits :

Starring : Balakrishna, Priyamani, Brahmanandam, Ranganath, Pradeep Rawath, Chandramohan, Deepak, Krishna Bhagawan, Balaiah, Hema, Chalapathi Rao etc..
Music: Mani Sharma.
Cinematography: Balamurugan.
Editing: Kola Bhaskar.
Art: Anand Sai.
Story: Vijayendra Prasad.
Dialogues: M Ratnam.
Styling: Rama Rajamouli.
Producer: Sivalenka Krishna Prasad.
Direction: Mahadev.
Banner: Vaishnavi Cinema.
Fights: Ram-Laxman.
Release Date: 1-May-2009

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"BANGARU BABU" Movie Review


Jagapati Babu is on a stronger turf when he has a story that revolves around familial ties and sentiment. His father Murali Mohan dies leaving behind a secret – a second family in debts, unmarried sister and a son Hari (Shashank) who is addicted to drugs. Jagapati takes on the responsibility to make a wastrel into a responsible person and when he is nearing his goal, the truth that Jagapati and Shashank are brothers is revealed and the latter is on a revenge-seeking trip.

That's not the end of the story. There is Meera (Meera Jasmine), a florist who falls in love with Jagapathi but their relationship is estranged as Jagapathi gives more importance to Shashank than her. Shashank's journey towards acceptance is not free of noble lessons and real people. Shayaji Shinde completes the picture, he lends a touch of villany and action to the family drama by using Shashank to score over his rival Jagapati, then alls well that ends well.

Jagapathi Babu Bangaru Babu just doesn't remind one of Rajashekar's Raja Babu, it has a theme that has been retold several times and the director dramatizes it with nothing to add except a certain wallowing in the existence of human depravity. A grandmother who doesn't want to give a share of the property to the step grand son, a mother who is resigned to her fate but wants to make peace with her husband's second family.

Amidst all this there is Shashank's love interest Gowri Munjal, who doesn't suit the role at all, wants to see him as a changed person and Sonu Sood, Jagapati's brother who plays spoilsport. The film's fine emotional core comes from Shashank and if it's anyone who gains from the film it's him. However his intense performance doesn't elevate the family drama into high cinema as the.story itself suffers from a stale plot, rudimentary visuals, screenplay and complacent auditory palette. Dasari's production house has the potential for something wonderful and inspiring to emerge always but his technicians regressing into clichéd filmmaking comes as a disappointment.

End Credits :

Starring : Jagapathi Babu, Meera Jasmine, Shashank, Gowri Munjal, Shayaji Shinde, Murali Mohan, Sonu Sood and Others.
Music: M.M. Srilekha.
Director: Jonnalagadda Srinivas.
Producer: K.Ramakrishna Prasad.
Written by: Narayana Rao Dasari.
Banner : Swobhagya Media Limited.
Presents : Dasari Padma.
Release Date: 1-May-2009

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Tuesday, 5 May, 2009

"VEEDOKKADE"Movie Revew


Suriya chases the villains to rescue his friend who betrays him and while he climbs a wall, he notices a group of men slitting his friend's tummy, tearing it open and pulling out a whole lot of cocaine capsules while the, man bleeds to death. This is one of the scene in Veedokkade which is searing and off putting. While this is just one of the element that shocks you, there are others that keep your interest sustained throughout the film despite negligible comedy. Even the action scenes make it a cool watch. Suriya impresses in every frame with his looks, energy and natural performance. This film which released in tamil is said to have done well and the movie has been dubbed to retain it's authenticity. The filmmakers have been vindicated on this account.

Aakashdeep Saigal is one popular TV artist who had made his mark in Kyonki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and his role in the film is a mere extension of his small tube characters. He however doesn't look challenging despite his mean looks and long hair and wears his role with kid gloves. The crisp narration of the film covers all loopholes and makes it one helluva entertainer. The scenes shot in Africa lend authenticity to the movie but sometimes the tamil twang to the telugu dialogues becomes very evident.

About the story, Deva (Suriya) a post graduate in computer science is shown from the beginning as using his skill to smuggle diamonds, gold & artefacts into India and being loyal to his boss Deva (Prabhu). Deva's business rival, the long haired Kamlesh (Akashdeep Saigal) is jealous and wants to have a one-upmanship in the dangerous game. The film glorifies smuggling as a profession but since the hero has to be elevated and has profession has to be given a semblance of dignity, one is told that they will bring in anything into the country except the dreaded white powder and other narcotics.

While a mind game is on constantly to outsmart each other, Deva is in for a shock when he realizes that his companion and best friend Chitti (Jagan) is a decoy and is actually on the pay roll of Kamlesh. To make matters worse, Deva and Chitti's sister Yamuna (Tamanna & Suryah) have developed a fondness for each other and Chitti is killed. His death scene is macabre and disgusting, looks like a group of cannibals tearing Chitti's stomach open for the hidden cocaine.

What happens next is a saga of misunderstanding and revenge. Since the film completely focuses on Surya's exploits, the romance between the lead pair, however cute it is, gets overshadowed. Also there is no coherence and explanation as to why a computer savvy person would take up a full time criminal activity and still sport a guilt less look.

Tamanna & Suryah is not just a pretty doll, gets a couple of interesting scenes to enact but Prabhu looks listless, there's detachment in his role and does not exactly light up the screen. His raison d'etre is never outlined. There is nothing novel about the film but the tight and taut screenplay, the engrossing script and racy narration makes it a cool action film in recent times that connects well despite being dubbed. The film boasts a decent climax and in-your face camerawork gives the drama a distinct touch. Music is passable, direction commendable.

End Credits :

Starring :Surya, Prabhu, Tamanna and Others.
Music: Harris Jayaraj.
Producer: M. Saravanan, M.S. Guhan, Aruna Guhan & Aparna Guhan.
Direction: Anand K.V.
Banner: AVM Productions.

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