Telugu Movie review - Ek Niranjan

TELUGU MOVIE EK NIRANJAN

Punchline: -
Genre: Action/Family Drama
Type: Straight
Banner: Adityaram Movies

Cast: Prabhas, Kangana Raunat, Sonu Sood, Makrand Deshpande, Mukul Dev, Brahmanandam, Ali, Venu Madhav, Brahmaji, Tanikella Bharani, Satya Prakash, Chalapati Rao, Posani Krishna Murali, Sangeeta etc.

Music: Mani Sharma
Cinematography: Shyam K Naidu
Editing: MR Varma
Art: Chinna
Fights: Stun Siva
Story - screenplay - dialogues - direction: Puri jagan
Producer: Aditya Ram
Release date: 29 October 2009

Story

Chotu (Prabhas) is born to poor parents. A beggars mafia guy steals Chotu to make him a beggar. Chotu grows up as an informer to the cops. And he calls himself as 'bounty hunter'. His duty is to catch the criminals on behalf of police and earn some money from the cops for doing their duty. He falls in love with a guitar music teacher Sameera (Kangana Raunat) and her brother happens to be a mafia guy whom Chotu is entrusted to nab. Johnny (Sonu Sood) is a mafia kingpin in the city. The rest of the story is all about what happens when Johnny encounters Chotu and when Chotu has multiple responsibility of apprehending and saving the same guy.

Artists Performance

Prabhas's characterization in this movie is an extention of his character in Puri Jagan's Bujjigadu - made in Chennai. Prabhas is adorable with his mass language with godavari dialect. He is charming with his carefree demeanor. Kangana Raunat who looked fabulous in Hindi flicks like Gangster and Fashion seemed out of place in this Telugu film. She is just average. Sonu Sood walks away with honors, thanks to terrific characterization by Puri Jagan. He played the role of a sadistic villain and entertains us with funny dialogues. Brahmaji did another terrific character in this movie after his cameo in Athadu film. The pair of Sonu Sood and Brahmaji is hilarious. Brahmanandam's comedy in not upto the mark. Ali is wasted as a magician in 'Jack Sparrow' get-up. Venu Madhav and Sunil characters are partly entertaining. Posani Krishna Murali provides humor as a cunning politician. Mukul Dev and Tanikella Bharani are adequate. The kid who did the mimicry is good. Makrand Deshpande suited the role well and he adds value to the movie. Half of his dialogues are in written in Hindi for his convenience.

Technical departments

Story - screenplay - directon: Story of the movie is about a son in search of his parents. The characterization of Prabhas is extended from their last movie Bujjigadu and you can see some shades of Pokiri in this movie too. Direction by Puri Jagan is good. But the screenplay should have been better in the second half. The characterizations of villain and hero are good. And there is nice confrontation scenes between them. Puri Jagan who has shown promise in the first half of the movie couldn't carry the same element of interest in the second half. The last twenty minutes of the movie is a downer. I liked the point at which he closed the movie instead of showing some routine and dramatic reunion in the end.

Other departments

Music by Mani Sharma is very good. All songs are canned well on the screen. The title song Ek Niranjan is excellent. Evaru Lerani song is very good. There is a tribute to Michael Jackson in the last song of the movie. This song is nicely edited with some rare footage of MJ. Dialogues by Puri Jagan deserves a special appreciation. The dialogues penned for Prabhas and Sonu Sood are excellent. The dialogues before 'evaru lerani' song (heroine proposal scene) are really good. Puri Jagan has made it a habit to make heroine call hero 'naa kodaka' in his recent movies. Cinematography by Shyam K Naidu is nice. Editing by Varma is adequate. Fights are good. The climax fight should have been impact-making.

Analysis

First half of the movie is entertaining. Second half is also adequate but for the last twenty minutes. The graph of the movie goes down from the time the story shifts to Bangkok. The plus points are Prabhas, dialogues and music. On the flip side the second half should have been better and the violence should have been toned down. On a whole, Ek Niranjan is a not a bad film. We have to wait and see how the masses receive it.

Telugu Movie review - Jayeebhava

TELUGU MOVIE JAYEEBHAVA

Punchline: uniting fathers
Genre: Family Drama
Type: Straight
Banner: Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Arts

Cast: Kalyan Ram Nandamuri, Hansika Motwani, Mukesh Rushi, Asish Vidyardhi, Jaya Prakash Reddy, Chalapati Rao, Ali, Brahmanandam, Rahubabu, Raghu Karumanchi, Sudha, Hema etc

Story - dialogues: BVS Ravi
Music: SS Thaman
Cinematography: Dasaradhi Sivendra
Editing: Gowtamraju
Art: Rajiv Nair
Written and directed by: Naren Kondepati
Presents: Sourya Ram Nandamuri
Producer: Kalyan Ram Nandamuri
Release date: 23 October 2009

Story

Bhavani Shankar (Mukesh Rushi) and Narasimha (Jaya Prakash Reddy) are two warring leaders in that town. Ram (Kalyanram Nandamuri) is the son of Bhavani Shankar. He falls in love with Anjali (Hansika Motwani) when he is in abroad. After coming back to the town, they realise that they belong to two warring groups. The rest of the story is all about how Ram and Anjali play a game to unite their fathers.

Artists Performance

Kalyan Ram Nandamuri is pretty good as Ram. His dialogue delivery improved a lot and he is looking good in casual and comedy scenes compared to his earlier movies. He underplayed his character well. Hansika Motwani offers loads of glamor in the movie without being sexy. Asish Vidyardhi is alright in a limited role. Jaya Prakash Reddy is good in certain scenes. Mukesh Rushi and Chalapati Rao are adequate. Raghubabu's comedy in this movie is good. Ali is also good. Brahmanandam has a cameo towards the end.

Technical departments

Story - screenplay - directon: Story of the movie is adequate. Screenplay should have been better. Direction is decent in the second half. But the director couldn't articulate story in a clear manner in the first half. The movie gets better in the latter part of the second half where there is family orientation and comedy. The characterization of hero is good. But the characterizations of Jaya Prakash Reddy and Mukesh Rushi should have been more logical and consistent to convince the audiences to believe in the proceedings of the second half.

Other departments

Music by SS Thaman is alright. The picturization of songs is good. The second song with graphics backdrop is nicely done. All songs are picturized with lot of care. Dialogues by BVS Ravi are adequate. Art direction is good. Cinematography by Dasaradhi Sivendra is neat. Editing should have been crisp as there is lag in the movie (runtime is more). Production values by NTR Arts are good.

Analysis

First half of the move is inarticulate and uninteresting. However the movie gets better in the second half where the hero and heroine swap their houses. The comedy and entertainment is good in the last half an hour of the movie. The plus points in this movie are Kalyan Ram, Hansika and last half-an hour. On the flip side, a better screenplay and an articulated first half would have helped the film immensely. We have to wait and see how Jayeebhava works at the box office

Telugu Movie review - Bendu Appa Rao

TELUGU MOVIE BENDU APPA RAO

Punchline: vintage EVV comedy
Genre: Comedy
Type: Straight
Banner: Suresh Productions

Cast: Allari Naresh, Kamna Jetmalani, Meghana Raj, Ahuti Prasad, Raghubabu, Dharmavarapu Subramanyam, Suman Setty, LB Sriram, Krishna Bhagawan, Telangana Shakuntala, Srinivas Reddy, AVS, Chalapati Rao, Kondavalasa, Uttej, Subhashinietc

Dialogues: Veligonda Srinivas
Music: Koti
Cinematography: V Jayaram
Editing: Gowtamraju
Screenplay - direction: EVV Satyanarayana
Producer: D Rama Naidu
Release date: 16 October 2009

Story

Bendu Appa Rao (Allari Naresh) is a RMP doctor in a village. He is known for funny ways of curing people and earning more money than what he deserves. He dupes people to earn money so that he could send that money to his sister who is tortured by her cruel husband for money. He falls in love with a rich girl Padma (Kamna Jetmalani). At one point of time, a dieing person gives Appa Rao gives his earnings of 15 lacs and asks him to pass it on to his family. But Appa Rao couldn't locate that family. The rest of the story is all about what happens when he finds the family at a later point of time.

Artists Performance

Bendu Appa Rao character is like a cakewalk for Allari Naresh. Allari Naresh has invented his own style of comedy and this movie perfectly complement his strengths. Kamna Jetmalani seems to have got some cosmetic work done to her nose and she is looking very glamorous in this movie. She did well in acting department. Meghana Raj is adequate. Srinivas Reddy and Uttej did the roles of hero's friends and they generated comedy. The characters of Suman Setty, Raghubabu, Dharmavarapu, Kondavalasa, Krishna Bhagawan and Ali are good. Ahuti Prasad steals the show again as heroine's father who is excessively fond of being a great host. Telangana Sakuntala is adequate.

Technical departments

Story - screenplay - directon: The basic story of the movie is old-fashioned, but balances comedy and sentiment well. Screenplay of the film is neatly woven. You can see vintage EVV in this movie in terms of comedy and entrtainment value. The comedy timing is very good. Most of the comedy is village-based. All the characters are written well to serve the entertainment purpose. However the entire story is predictable.

Other departments

Dialogues in the movie deserves an applause for the comedy quotient. Music by Koti resembles his music for EVV movies in 90's. Cinematography is adequate. Production values by Suresh Productions banner are decent.

Analysis

EVV seem to have found his vintage comic timing in this movie. He could able to generate comedy well in this movie, though he had done innumerable comedy flicks of this nature in 1990's. Offlate, he lost touch with the pulse of audiences. With Bendu Appa Rao, EVV proves that he is still in the race. The plus points of the movie are Allari Naresh and comedy. On the flip side, the entire movie is like an old-fashioned one. On a whole, Allari Naresh comes up with another decent comedy flick after his last hit Blade Babji. This movie has enough potential to make money at box office for it's entertainment value. You may watch it for entertainment.

Telugu Movie review - Mahatma

TELUGU MOVIE MAHATMA

Punchline: Mahatma for masses
Genre: Social Drama
Type: Straight
Banner: Golden Lion Films

Cast: Srikanth, Bhavana, Jaya prakash Reddy, Uttej, Ram Jagan, Pellam Voorelithe Jyothy, Paruchuri Gopala Krishna, Charmme (SA), Duvvasi Mohan, Brahmanandam etc

Music: Vijay Anthony
Cinematography: Sharat
Art: Srinivasa Raju
Dialogues: Paruchuri Brothers
Story - screenplay - direction: Krishna Vamsi
Producer: CR Manohar
Release date: 9 October 2009

Story

Das (Srikanth) is a small time goon who stays in a labor colony which the present government intend to convert into SEZ. Dada (Jaya Prakash Reddy) is the local sitting MLA who thrives on dividing his own party for selfish reasons. Das joins Dada as an assistant and becomes loyal over a period of time. In the process, Das gets interested in the Gandhi statue situated in his colony. He also falls out with Dada due to certain differences. The rest of story is all about Das's tryst with the ideology of Gandhiji.

Artists Performance

This is Srikanth's 100th film and he excels as an actor. He seemed to imitate Chiranjeevi in certain mass episodes (especially drinking scenes). He is very good in emotional sequences towards the climax. Bhavana is adequate as the leading lady and her character has an important role to play in the transformation of Das character. Jaya Prakash Reddy is delight to watch. Ram Jagan plays a street-artist role and he donned different get-ups of leading Telugu legends. He suited the get-up of Gandhi very well. Uttej is perfect as Rehman. MS Chowdary is impressive as a villain. Pellam Voorelithe Jyothy is pretty good as evil politician. Paruchuri Gopala Krishna is adequate. Duvvasi Mohan entertains in a small role. Brahmanandam is wasted in the movie.

Technical departments

Story - screenplay - directon: Story of the film is about the reformation of a petty goon into Mahatma's follower. Attempting such a story line is highly risky in Telugu films. Hence, director Krishna Vamsi indulged in lots of masala to drive his point. Direction of the movie is very good in some scenes. But his distinct signature is missing in the movie because of B and C centers orientation. Screenplay of the movie is commercial during the interval episode and pre-climax scenes. The movie lovers of Telugu cinema get tempted to watch this movie, because it is Krishna Vamsi's movie, not because it is 100th movie of Srikanth. Instead of playing to his strengths of impact-making and hard-hitting narration, Krishna Vamsi diluted it and mixed masala to appeal to the masses. These kind of Telugu political movies (though Gandhism wasn't explored earlier) are being made by directors like Kodi Rama Krishna and Posani Krishna Murali in the past (with B and C center orientation). Krishna Vamsi also tried to narrate in their style instead of banking on his strength

The following scenes are entertaining and impact making

1. Telugu tejalu song titles and Indiramma Inti Peru are impressive. The way the background behind Mahatma Gandhi statue is used as a screen to narrate Sirivennela lyrics is good.
2. The interval episode is very good and it sets the right stage.
3. The entire scene of Duvvasi Mohan explaining the ways of entering into movies (Krishna Vamsi's mark satire on film industry is found in it again after Khadgam).
4. Das giving reply to Bhajrangdal activists who try to marry off couples of valentine's day.
4. The crucial scene between Das and Rehman
5. It is suicidal to do a mass movie where hero can't afford to beat anybody in the climax. But Krishna Vamsi devised a way to solve that problem.
6. The last scene in which they explain why Gandhi never asked for positions is the clincher.

Other departments

Dialogues by Paruchuri Brothers are good. Music by Vijay Anthony is good for three songs (Indiramma, Telugu Tejam and Jajjanaka). After a long gap, we have got good lyrics in a Telugu movie that are excellently sung by SPB. Cinematography suits the mood of the movie. Editing is neat. The outdoor set having the replica of a fort and cyber towers is decent.

Analysis

First half of the movie is adequate. Interval bang is nice. Second half encapsulates the transformation of a rowdy into Mahatma's follower. It is too slow and too heavy in emotions. The plus points of the movie are Gandhiji orientation and selective scenes. On the flip side, there is too much of mass orientation to the movie. Krishna Vamsi is known for treading the forbidden areas of typical commercial cinema. Selecting the subject of Gandhi also explains his noble intentions. But I personally would have liked Krishna Vamsi to make a film of class orientation like Lage Raho Munna Bhai. With an intention to reach B and C centers, Krishna Vamsi diluted his making standards. We have to wait and see how the masses receive it.

Telugu Movie review - Ninnu Kalisaka

TELUGU MOVIE NINNU KALISAKA

Punchline: Good story - bad execution
Genre: Romance
Type: Straight
Banner: Usha Kiron Movies

Cast: Santosh Samrat, Chaitanya Krishna, Dipa Shah, Piaa Bajpai, Krishnudu, Siva Nageswara Rao, MS Narayana, Master Bharat & Jagapati Babu (Spl appearance)

Music: Sunil Kashyap
Cinematography: BL Sanjay
Art: Vivek
Editing: Gowtam Raju
Story: Jai Kiran
Screenplay - direction: Siva Nageswara Rao
Producer: Ramoji Rao
Release date: 2 October 2009

Story

Abhiram (Santosh Samrat) and Deepti (Deepa Shah) are love. Bindu (Pia Bajpai) and Chandu (Chaitanya Krishna) are another pair in love. Ambiram and Bindu are sent to USA for an on-site project. They meet for the first time in the flight. Being the colleagues in USA project, they become friends. And their intimacy leads to the feelings of love, but they don't express to each other. Meanwhile, Deepti and Chandu become good friends and they enjoy each other's company. The rest of the story is all about if Abhiram and Bindu express their love to each other or not.

Artists Performance

This film sports four new actors in the lead roles. All of them are decent. Abhiram suited the role. Deepa Shah is adequate. Chaitanya Krishna is energetic and expressive. Pia Bajpai's character has depth and she justified the role and she is glamorous too. Jagapati Babu has done a guest role as himself and he is very good. Krishnudu is wasted in this movie and he didn't suit that characterization at all. Siva Nageswara Rao did a cameo as Prem Baba. Though his dialogue delivery is good, he looked little camera conscious. MS Narayana and Master Bharath did a comedy track and both of them are unappealing. Most of the other characters are done by new artists.

Technical departments

Story - screenplay - directon: The story idea is nice. But the screenplay is uninteresting. The director could able to handle the climax adequately well, but didn't do justice to the rest of the movie. Youth subjects with interweaving story lines need intelligent screenplay and fresh taking. Director tried to imitate Anand and Happy Days by casting new character artists and making them speak in Telugu which they aren't familiar. The comedy threads of wannabe music director and bald guy who want to grow hair by rubbing nails fail to generate the required effect.

Other departments

Music by Sunil Kashyap is an asset. All the songs are scored and rendered excellently. The background music is also interesting. If he gets a right project, Sunil will shine well commercially. Cinematography by BL Sanjay is neat. Art direction is nice. Editing is slack. This movie is an example of the excellent production and post-production facilities Ramoji Film City possess.

Analysis

The basic story idea is good and execution of the movie is bad. The plus points are music, cinematography and reasonable climax. The negative points are slack narration and uninteresting screenplay. On a whole, Ninnu Kalisaka disappoints.