Dookudu Review

Is there a point to explaining the hype behind Mahesh Babu? Not really. Regardless of the film, the director, the music, the heroine or even the comedian that will be on screen for less than 1/5 of the film screen time, the title of Mahesh Babu in lead male role is enough to sky rocket the hype for any film. Whether the film delivers or not is taken as separate. In some ways, this is good for the actor Mahesh with appreciation flowing from all corners. In others, its a shame for such a versatile actor to be boxed into a bad script/film. Dookudu isn't all bad. But it definitely isn't the best either. Read on.

So here's how it goes. Ajay Kumar [Mahesh Babu] is gutsy Mumbai cop that has an equally sharp mind. His current target is Nayak [Sonu Sood], a mafia don that dwells overseas and deals in the usual criminal activities. Ajay wants he brought to justice. But his investigation shows that his ties to Nayak are deeper that he realises. Enter Shankar Anna [Prakashraj]. Father to a young Ajay, he met with an accident went into a coma although his town folk think he is dead. After his accident, Ajay was shifted to Mumbai by his remaining his family and has since never returned. That is till now. Shankar Anna is out of coma and has no idea of what has happened since. Ajay now, needs to replicate as much as possible including being his heir to the MLA posting Shankar held. Between his professional battle and personal trials, Ajay learns more about his father's accident with all of it leading back to Nayak. To get him, Ajay will bring in a host of characters to play, each getting him a step closer to his revenge. How? Watch in to find out. No, seriously! You have to watch it since it is way too hard to explain.

If Khaleja saw Mahesh strip his apprehensions and even become the butt of jokes on screen, Dookudu continues from where it left off and proceeds with a sentimental angle as well. His modulations, his expression and his attempt at a different slang are true treat for fans and non fans alike. He comes alive and is electric in every scene. Even his malasafied "Poleeess!" is a magnet for attention. Yet, he too slips behind when the spotlights zeros in on Brahmamandam and MS Narayana. The two veterans have a ball and it shows as they erase whatever past achievements and set new standards for themselves. As his father, Prakashraj is no doubt superbly fitted for the role but with the slight restriction of his "cinematic" condition, he does not get the meat to perform as well as we know he can. Samantha is cute as Prashanthi but besides her clothes, make up and dancing skill, she doesn't really get a chance to do much acting. A shame since Samantha has shown she can deliver. Please take note that the love angle of this film is at a minimal and is simply a starting point. Clearly the focus isn't the lovebirds so no comments on the chemistry as there wasn't enough time to develop it. Sonu Sood goes for a little older look with some painted grey hair but that cant take away from his 2D character losing much of its steam quite early in the piece. After Kandireega, I must say this is a little dissappointing. Nassar has definitely proved he has amazing comic timing several times before and it is great to see him show it off a little. Added bonus being that he dubs for himself [FINALLY!]. Kota Srinivasa Rao, Supreet, Subbaraju and Venugopal dont do anything different from what we have seen before. Adithya's hair is unfortunately, longer than his role. The rest are just there to fill up space.

So how do you describe Srinu Vaitla's brand of comedy? There really isn't one word. He's bankable to put it simply, on having the lead characters involved in the comedy, a drunkard/drinking scene and some crazy ideas that simply flow on screen. The man repeats his magic combo with Brahmam darling like nobodys business and if that wasn't enough, he has MSN in a role you make have seen before but not like this. This is one of those films that you can turn off your brain for but the question remains as to whether it will switch on by itself as some may find. And of course, it has some amazing visuals by KV Guhan and Prasad Murella with Mahesh and Samantha for the eye candy but its not just all visual treats. The film makes no bones in stating that you just need to sit back and let the comedy sweep you over, the action blow your mind and the witty dialogue surprise you. 

Now to the less glamorous side of the film. The negatives. In all honesty, it all boils down to only a few things and even if intentions are commendable, its these things that hinder the experience. Firstly the length. The action alone takes up a considerable amount of screen time. For action lovers it might be ok and yes it's exhilarating at times but it drag massively. If it isn't the action length, its the melodramatic dialogue. Ok, so we love our drama, but please. Inducing a heartache with a few words of someone's return is a bit much. at the same time, a father need not have done amazing things for you to want to keep him happy and safe. He gave you life as Mahesh says. Next the songs. A lot more was expected from Thaman.S after Vandhaan Vendraan[Telugulo Vachadu Gelichadu]. Without looking at previous combinations, there is a spark that is missing from the soundtrack. A note to Thaman, the louder the song doesn't equal to the bigger the hit. Really, the sheer volume of the tracks are only just bearable. Guruvaram is probably the saving grace on a very robust soundtrack but even that has its moments. The picturisation also seemed a little down-sized for two decent dancers but the background dancers attempt to lipsync and their enthusiasm make it passable. Just. While making mention of the loopholes in the script is warranted, its seems to this writer logic very rarely gets the importance it deserves in commercial films, let alone TFI.

So where does that leave us with the Dookudu? A decent film that could have been awesome, I say. Oh and it has Mahesh Babu in it. :)

Rating: 2/5

Ragada Review

Commercial masala flicks have somewhat of an "easy-to-do" tag to it. A macho looking hero, a sassy leading lady, a villain everyone hates, a comedian that gets beaten, 5 songs, one of which is an item number, 4 fights, a twist and then the "The End" card. Yes, Ragada is of the same genre but I'd like to think that there is more to any cinema than that. And this is the same. Veeru Potla saw success with Bindaas, Nagarjuna needs one since Kedi didn't fare too well, Anushka and Priyamani are finding success in other states but still need to hold their spot in TFI. Add in some tap worthy tunes by Thaman.S and the chemical reaction is sure to create Ragada!

Ragada begins in true mass form with an intro in the form of a fight sequence. A fight that is between GK [Dev Gill] and Bagawanth [Satya Prakash]. Enter Satya. Hailing from Kadapa, he's street smart and fierce but that smile of his is just as deceiving as it is casual. Having intercepted and saved him in the brawl between the two rivalling gangs who work for one man, Peddanna [Pradeep Rawat], GK takes him under his wing but is more in awe of him than others. While things seem to go according to plan for GK with Satya aka Kadapodu around, problems arise in the form of not one but 2 women. First is Sirisha [Anushka]. Classy and intelligent, she is to marry GK but clearly has no intention as she flirts with Satya nonchalantly in front of Brahmam [Brahmanandam], an ex-con wannabe Don and also uncle to GK. The other is Ashtalakshmi who stumbles into Satya while being chased by goons. From here the movie will take you on a double-horsed ride as Satya falls for Ashtalakshmi and flirts with Sirisha while on the other side, the small friction caused by Satya for Peddanna becomes an all out war as Satya targets his men and last goes for him. The reasoning for all this? Is it really Satya's greed for money? All is not as it seems and the only way to find out is by watching the film.

I know I usually start with the male leads in the film but given my newly renewed admiration for Priyamani and existing one for Anushka, I think I'll start with the ladies this time. First one you will see is Charmy. No she isn't a heroine; she is the item girl in this. Haven't seen her in a while and she is back with a total glam look as she busts a move with Nagarjuna in his intro track. Welcome back, Charmy. Next is Anushka. Fashionable, sexy and cool yet has nothing much to do. I must say her pairing with Nag isn't new but not boring either. Boring would be here acting or lack of. She is capable of so much more and yet, the maximum emotion you will see on her face is during the songs. Regardless, she looks stunning. Priyamani is pretty much in the same boat as her but has more animated character, giving her a better chance to be remembered character-wise. Special note to Priya. Please, oh please, fire your stylist/costume designer. Clearly maximum exposure was the only thing on their agenda and it would have been ok if not for the fact in some circumstances, it makes the viewer uncomfortable [N.B. I wasn't the only one]. Now to the main man. Nagarjuna is the kind of actor that can pull off any character. His charm and personality on and off screen makes him lovable to all ages. As Satya/Kadapodu, he is an out-and-out rustic ruffian and plays it with ease. A special mention must be made for the accent. Brahmi darling, you are the shizzle! One thing about Brahmi sir I love is that no matter who the hero is, he can form chemistry with them so easily. And when it comes to Nagarjuna, there is no need for explanation, just watch the magic. However, both Dharmavarapu Srinivas and Master Bharath put up some stiff competition in the comedy department. Watch their on stage sequence as Dharma speaks in English and Bharath in Telugu. 

Although Pradeep Rawat is the main "baddie" in the film, he is hardly unique in characterisation and is annoyingly loud [dubbing artist needs a break or 10]. How one wishes we could see the silent, sophisticated and matured acting he displayed in Homam or even his comic side from Oy! Kota Srinivasa Rao and Supreet play typical goonda father and son, while Dev Gill was funnier than he was scary. This may have been unintentional but was amusing anyway. Tanikella Bharani was wasted in a tiny role but shines in the 5 minutes he is there. The rest of the cast is easily forgettable which is sad since Venniradai Nirmala and Latha are supposed to integral characters. 

On the technical front, Sarvesh Murari's camerawork deserves a special mention. Whether it’s Jordan, Greece, Bangkok or Begumpet, Sarvesh tackles it all with élan. He also has a special hand in making Nagarjuna look smashing given his age but kudos to the costume designer as well as he is dressed appropriately but remaining casual for the character. Action by Vijay is a treat for action lovers while the rerecording is apt barring a déjà vu feeling you get every now and then. Thaman has already shown that when it comes to upbeat folk songs, he is all over it. Ragada OST is no different however, not wanting to sound too brash and loud all the time, he slides in melodies like Sirisha that  gives the soundtrack a good balance. Besides Sirisha, Ashtalakshmi, Ragada Ragada and Suno Suno are sure to have you bouncing around.

However, Veeru hasn’t quite hit the bullseye on this one. Yes the movie is masala styled therefore no indepth story is expected but the biggest problem is that it gets predictable. The screenplay has twists and turns to keep you invoked but to a degree, we know certain things beforehand so when it drags, and it does on occasion, the audience’s patience gets tested. Also, as mentioned, the large number of villains in the film could have been a major asset. Instead due to poor characterisation, none of them come to mind at the end, barring Dev Gill but this may not be a good thing. Given that this is the same person that made Bindaas which I enjoyed watching and loved the twist at the end, it was disappointing that only the lead actors are in mind once the movie is over. Even then its more of a Nagarjuna movie since glamour is the main factor that is associated with the female leads when they could have scored majorly at least in the comedy sequences. 

So the final word: Leave your brain at home and watch it for what you see on the screen, Nagarjuna spinning his usual masala magic.

Rating: 2.5/5

Nagavalli Review

Considering its the Bean Counters Age, that is an age that intends on milking anything for all its worth, movies are turning out to be much the same. If a film does exceptionally well, there is most certain to be a sequel/another episode. Whether its Speed, Die Hard, Bad Boys or movies like Shrek, Toy Story or Madagascar. In Indian cinema, particular Telugu cinema, the fashion is not as common but it is sure to pick up as remakes have, since they were a taboo subject also. The first part 2/another episode that I witnessed from TFI was Shankar Dada Zindabad. Although I loved Chiranjeevi and Srikanth in it, the female lead Karishma Kothak was not up to par so what could have been an awesome remake of Lage Raho Munnabhai, skimmed by on the camaraderie of Chiranjeevi and Srikanth, and awesome music by Devi Sriprasad. Then came Aarya 2. I loved/love this film to bits. Beyond the story, its presentation, the soundtrack, the performances were simply superb! But wait. What does this have to do Nagavalli? Much like the two, Nagavalli was a film of interest because it is a sequel to the massively successful Chandramukhi. However, in this version, none of the original cast return to reprise roles. How do they fare? Lets jump right in to find out.

Nagavalli begins with the painting that was seen in Chandramukhi of the dancer changing location and becoming a prize for Gayathri[Kamalini Mukherjee] and her husband in a Bharatha Natyam dance competition in the presence of Gayathri's parents [Sarath Babu and Prabha]. Cut to 5 years later, we enter the household of Shankar Rao[Sarath Babu] in Thirupathi. Here he lives with his wife, 2 daughters Geetha[Shraddha Das] and Gowri[Richa Gangopadhyay] and his brother's family. Its a special day as his daughter Gowri has been approached for an alliance and is about to be engaged. But all is not well in the house that the portrait inhabits. The most obvious would be absence of their eldest daughter. Just as the formalities are to begin, the groom who was taking a look around the house, runs down the stairs scared out of his wits and out of the house, screaming "The alliance is off". On the other side of the house, Gowri's friend faints when she sees a 30 foot snake. Having seen the skin of a snake several years ago but unable to convince his family, Shankar Rao is worried but calls for a snake charmer[M.S.Narayan] to find and get rid of it. But just as mysterious as the snake itself, the snake charmer is found dead shortly after going to the top floor. With no other option, they turn to Siddhanti [priest] Ramachandra[Avinash]. Having dealt with Chandramukhi, he instantly recognizes the painting and calls for back up. But his friend Eeshwar[Rajnikanth as a photo] is away in US and cant make it. So Eeshwar sends his assistant Vijay[Venkatesh] to handle the crisis. Although true to his mentor's ways, Vijay has a positive attitude that steers clear of blind faith [mooda nammakam]. Yet, Vijay is not adverse to the supernatural and will have more than one ghost to deal with. In the closets that Shankar Rao and his wife keep hidden lies the secret behind their eldest daughter Gayathri. Mentally unstable, Siddhanti believes it is she who is possessed by Chandramukhi. But the truth is never that easy to find. So as the mysterious attacks on Vijay and Siddhanthi continue, Vijay pursues on to find out who is behind them and is Chandramukhi really back. A journey that will have him go back in the past 100 years ago when Nagavalli[Anushka] lived. When King Nagabhairava Rajasekhara [Venkatesh again] dominated a kingdom. For Vijay, the solution to the present lies in the past but with it,there also lies more than one surprise. 

First of all, the movie does start at the end of Chandramukhi and for the minute group of people that haven't seen Chandramukhi, it may be a blessing. Venkatesh has large shoes to step into and he does make an honest attempt. The accusations that he is copying Rajnikanth is rather ridiculous as there will only be so many words that you can use for the common man to understand psychology and furthermore, I have yet to meet a student that does not have any resembling characteristics in working style of their mentor. You the reader can correct if you want on this. Furthermore, there are significant [and insignificant] changes in characters that P.Vasu has introduced so in essence the Nagabhairava Rajasekhara character is of the era but different from that of Rajnikanth's portrayal. Regardless, Venkatesh is stepping out of his norm and tries his best at a supernatural theme with Nagabhairava yet retaining a cool character withVijay which I believe he does best. Coming to the leading ladies, in honesty there maybe 6[Shraddha,Richa, Anushka, Kamalini, Suja and Poonam] but the only ones that were able stand above the rest were Anushka, Kamalini, Richa and Shraddha in that order. Suja played the same role in the Kannada version Aaptha Rakshaka and it baffles me why she did it again. Poonam on the other hand, has gone back a few steps to junior artiste level, after tickiling the funny bone in RRKK and Vinayukudu. With them aside, Anushka by far leads the pack. How one wishes her crash course in Bharatha Natyam had more steps and was more believable as her acting. It may be the post I recently saw by Amaluu but it is blatantly obvious that the actress has little or no clue as what she is doing with her dancing. The actress tries to make up for it and emotes quite well but really misses out on the elegance of dancer because of this. Kamalini makes significant impact in her small but important character and deserves a mention for her more convincing dancer act. Richa is quite brave to do a character like this in her second film and shows that she's not just an NRI pretty face trying her hand at acting to pass time. Watch as the actress transforms on screen and you will know what I mean. She may have won accolades in Hindi for Lahore but Shraddha was brought to the limelight by Telugu Industry. Yet, it is only now she is able to prove her capacity that which you can see in Lahore. Brahmanandam is one of my most favourite comedians in TFI but whether he was imitating Vadivele or trying his own version of it, his comedy falls flat on its face. Even the scenes with Venkatesh could not get enough giggles and the same goes for Dharmavarupu Subrahmanyam. Avinash is somewhat arrogant and irritating in portions. Understandably he has some powers but the way in which he dismisses so many things so easily is in complete contrast to the enlightened soul he plays. The remaining cast is stricty ok.

On the technical side, the film looks good with camera work by Sam K Naidu. The sets used in the flashback sequence [Chinna] are in tune with part one without going on a complete tangent. While the general idea and certain portions keep you interested, repeating the same scenarios with small changes or lines said previously will test your patience. P. Vasu has made some classic hits like Panakkaran, Chinna Thambi, Mannan and of course, Chandramukhi, all of which were remade or dubbed into other languages. But the last time I saw such writing from him, was in the box office dud, Love Birds. Giving each member of the cast a valid stand point is hard and the struggle is evident in his writing. Where he gains brownie points in the way the story progresses forward, it is clear he hasn't given enough importance to validity of the story. Changing the name of characters and introducing new ones is fine but the film lacks the flow that Chandramukhi had. This is mostly due to the fact I've watched Chandramukhi and there was more than one occasion in which I thought Nagavalli takes away from the logics of Chandramukhi. But the film itself, refers back several times and keep in mind, this is supposed to be a continuation, not another episode. The penultimate 25 minutes that is supposed to be the heartbeat of the film, turns into a ridiculous affair with the fight sequences. More fighting, less prancing around please. Gurukiran may have scored with the Kannada versions Aaptha Mithra and Aaptha Rakshaka, but the music for this film is very situational and just about ok. A special note to the choreographers, please rethink your strategy as it could have saved this film [and us].

As you can see with the number of times I've said Chandramukhi in this review, Nagavalli is one film that asks you to leave your logic brain at home to enjoy it and although, you will, please be oblivious to Bharatha Natyam and Chandramukhi as well. If you do so then Venkatesh and the lovely leading ladies will give you a treat to watch.

Rating: 2/5