అఖిల్ - సిసింద్రీ సినిమా పేలలేదు

సిసింద్రీ సినిమా తో అరంగేట్రం చేసిన నాగార్జున చిన్న కొడుకు అఖిల్, "నాన్న నేను క్రికెట్ ఆడుతాను" అంటే ఆస్ట్రేలియా పంపి ఆట నేర్పించిన  తండ్రి, కొడుకు సిసిఎల్ దాటి రాణించక పోయే సరికి, చివరాకరికి ఆంధ్ర ప్రేక్షకుల పై వదిలిన రెండవ బాణం. 

మొదటి బాణమే ఇంకా సరిగ్గా పనిచేయట్లేదు అంటే, రెండవదైనా పనిచెయదా అని ఒక నమ్మకం (ఇటువంటిది  ఇంతకముందు కూడా జరిగింది రమేష్ బాబు, మహేష్ బాబు విషయంలో). కొత్త నిర్మాత, ప్రముఖ దర్శకుడు (ఈ మధ్య కాలంలో చాలా వరకు సినిమాలు దెబ్బ తిని వున్నాయి) వెరసి ఒక సోషియో ఫాంటసి చిత్రం. 

మన దర్శకులు సైంటిఫిక్/ సైకాలజీ  కధలు సినిమాలుగా మలిచేటప్పుడు, వీటిని ప్రేక్షకులకు ఎలా దగ్గరకు చేర్చాలి అన్నది ముందు నేర్చుకోవాలి (నేనొక్కడినే, 7 సెన్స్ , బ్రదర్స్ మొ॥) ఈ విషయంలో సింగీతం శ్రీనివాసరావు (పుష్పక విమానం, ఆదిత్య 369 మొ॥ ) గారి దగ్గర పాఠాలు నేర్చుకున్నా తప్పులేదు. 

ఇంగ్లీష్ సినిమా రీతిలో కధ, ఆఫ్రికా నేపద్యం, చెడగొట్టబడిన ఒక పెళ్లి, ప్రేమ, చాలా ఫైట్స్ , ఇంకా ఎన్నో పాటలు ఇవన్ని కలసి దానిలో కామెడీ రంగరించి తీయబడ్డ ఒక చిత్రం 'అఖిల్'. 

వి వి వినాయక్ సినిమాని త్వరగా ముగించాడు (110 ని), అయన పడ్డ కష్టం కధలో, కామెడి లో తప్ప నటన పై పెద్దగా శ్రద్ధ పెట్టిన దాఖలా అయితే లేదు. 

అఖిల్ కొత్త హీరో, ఇద్దరు నటులకు పుట్టిన ముద్దు బిడ్డ, అతని అన్న కు ఉన్న డైలాగు డెలివరి ఏ కోశానా ఇతనిలో కనపడదు (లిప్ సింక్ కూడా జాగ్రత్త పడలేదు), స్తేప్పులైతే  వేసాడు గాని, వాటి లో వెరైటి కనపడదు (నృత్య దర్శకుడి లోపమా?), ఫైట్స్ బాగున్నాయి, నటన చాలావరకు సూపర్ఫిషియల్ (ఇంకా చాలా శ్రద్ధ చూపించాలి, ఈ విషయంలో)

సాయెశా సైగల్ అందంగా, ఉండి చక్కగా నటించింది, కాస్ట్యూమ్స్ పై పెద్దగా దృష్టి పెట్టి నట్టు లేదు దర్శకుడు. హీరో కోసం తీసిన చిత్రం కాబట్టి, నటన కు స్కోప్ అంతంత మాత్రమే. డాన్స్ విషయంలో కొంత కష్ట పడాలి. 

మహేష్ మంజ్రేకర్, రాజేంద్రప్రసాద్, మేము ఉన్నాము అనిపించారు. హేమ బాగా లావెక్కి ఉన్నది. 

బ్రహ్మానందం, వెన్నెల కిషోర్ జత కామెడి ని పండించారు, తనకున్న పరిధి లో జయప్రకాశ్ రెడ్డి కూడా మనల్ని నవ్విస్తాడు. 

పాటల చిత్రీకరణ స్పెయిన్ దేశం లో బాగా చేసారు. పాటలు వినసొంపుగా ఉన్నాయి, అక్కినేని నేనెక్కడుంటే పాట లో చాలా కష్టపడ్డాడు హీరో.  

పాట సెట్టింగ్ పై నిర్మాత ఖర్చు కి వెంకాదినట్లు లేదు, ఈ పాటలో కొద్ది సెకండ్స్ నాగార్జున దర్శనమిస్తాడు .

కధ టూకీగా: సూర్య గ్రహణ అనతరం వచ్చే మొదటి కిరణాల వేడి ని తట్టుకొనేందుకు, మన పూర్వీకులు తాయారు చేసిన ఒక ఖనిజ మిశ్రమాన్ని, భూమధ్య రేఖ లో ఉన్న ఒక ఆఫ్రికా దేశ తెగ సంరక్షణలో ఉంచుతారు. వారు దాన్ని 'జువా' అని పిలుస్తారు. దాన్ని కోన్ని శతాబ్దాలుగా కాపాడిన అ తెగ పై కొన్ని దుష్ట శక్తులు దాడి చేసి అది సంగ్రహించాలని చూస్తాయి. ఈ

సందర్భంగా తన పెళ్లి ఆగిన కారణంగా విదేశాల్లో ఉన్న హీరోయిన్ కిడ్నాప్ కాబడుతుంది, ఆమెను రక్షించబోయిన హీరో పడే ఇబ్బందులు, ఆ  'జువా' ని హీరో ఎలా కాపాడాడు అనేది మిగతా కధ

ఈ చిత్రానికి 2 నక్షత్రాలు ఇవ్వవచ్చు  

Subrahmanyam for sale - is it worth buying ***

Well known producer Dil Raju and mixed luck Director Harish Shankar present an entertainer with many twists and turns. This Sai Dharam Tej movie is very patchy when it comes to family drama in spite of strong star cast.

Movie story is predominantly narrated in the USA, Music by Mickey J Meyer is not bad. Telugamte sounds good in spite of a loud picturisation.

Director Harish Shankar tried to establish his Hero in many occasion, by introducing many unnecessary fight sequences. Villains almost tuning out to be comic, kind of dilutes the Hero's portrayal. While he had an array of artists he hardly used them, probably a waste of producers money. Family drama, was too loud but lacked in substance, probably it is not Harish's strength, but taking pot shots at a very popular and successful family drama 'Brindavanam' was not necessary.

This story revolves around one, two or three, no four marriages, so we are expected to keep track of who is marrying whom or why they are not marrying. So be prepared for this. We have most of the songs being shot in US background. Guvva Gorinka song with Grand Canyon background gets diluted with the Hero aping his maternal uncle Megastar Chiranjeevi.

Sai Dharam Tej the Supreme Star, seems to think only way he will have acceptability, is, if he copies his uncles Mega Star & Power Star. It is high time he changes this if he wants to succeed in cinemas, with so much competition from the Mega family. I suppose it is necessary to believe that i am just a starter and have to be humble, not act like the 'Supreme Star'. Some stylist will have to work on his face, probably people will never get to see his original face if he continues to sport the bearded look. He is getting good chances it is up to him to ensure he gets to be known as a star unto himself, just like a Nani.

Regina Cassandra looked good, acted well, could improve her dances. She made the best of the weak story and excelled in scenes where she was seen crying. For Adah Sharma after Heart Attack, it looks like a come down and had made her look like a vamp.

Bramhanandam, looked much slimmer, did make best out of the chance he had, dominated where he could. With big heroes avoiding him like plague, it looks like he needs to settle down with the next gen heroes. Naga Babu

as NRI Rajasekar over acted with his 'Bangaram' line. Wonder why this name cropped up, unless this is a pet name for the hero at home. Suman, Ajay, Pradeep Sakthi (After a long gap) Naresh, Jhansi n others had done their job, but felt Suman was wasted.

Songs picturisation, with romantic songs being shot without any Jr artists and the foreign locales could have been done better.

Entertaining in patches, too many fights, lack of family drama etc hamper the movies success, could get a rating of ***

Kick II – Is it better?

Director SurendarReddy had a tough task of making a sequel and retain the interest like the first movie. In Hindi some of the movie's have had a successful run of sequels like Krrish, Dhoom, Dabangg, Munnabhai etc. However Telugu had not been so. Shankar Dada it self couldn't repeat it's success. In the case of Arya 2, Director took a different tune from the original.

If it was 'Kick' which was the theme in the first part, it is 'Comfort' in Kick II. Connecting both was done effectively with Shyam and some bit of animation. The story according to the titles says is happening most of the time near Jaisalmer, but all the vehicles at Jaisalmer seems to carry Bihar (BR) number plates. This is either because director forgot what he used in the script, probably due to the long gap between the completion and release.

It is surprising that original producers didn't do the sequel, it is the turn of Kalyanram to produce this sequel. He didn't seem to have worried much about the budget for the movie. He did seem liberal, a delight for any director of a movie.

Coming to casting, wondered why a lot of Hindi actors were chosen for this movie like Rajpal Yadav, Sanjay Mishra etc., in addition to the villain. Of course the Villain trend from Hindi industry is nothing new, but comedians and character actors makes you wonder if this is being planned for a release in Bollywood too.

Director Surendar Reddy did a decent job of using the theme 'Comfort' however it seems to have worked partially when it comes to the viewer response. May not be a very comforting thought to the producers.

Ravi Teja looked good as RobinHood with his new slim look, but almost the same look for his father character, didn't suit. He was at his best with Bramhanandam who played the role of Pandit Ravi Teja.

Rakul Preet Singh looked good in the songs. Dancing was so so. Someone took good care of her costumes. Probably we will have a new series of 'Kick2' Sarees.

Tanikella Bharani did a very good character, playing a caution master all the time and ensuring the climax he had a good role which he delivered with aplomb.

Bramhanandam, seems to be getting stereo typed. The days of very subtle acting have gone and every director wants to use his time to make the best out of it. Movies like Loukyam & Race gurram had taken his short roles to a peak, but here his presence seems to have been not utilised that well. Probably it is a challenge to the directors for creating a unique role for him.

Ravi Kishen the king of Bojpuri, played the role of the villain very well, in some scenes he excelled, his "son of God" cry is quite powerful

Photography was good and overall the movie is not boring but, you don't come out of the theater feeling satisfied like you did for the original.

I would rate this movie 3.2

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Srimanthudu - reiterating a theme

Exactly after one week of its release, went to see the movie Srimanthudu.

After two badly run films, this movie is a big relief for Mahesh n his fans. Theater balcony was full even after 7 days of release in Chennai for a Telugu movie, speaks good for tollywood that to immediately after the success of Bahubali.

Movie didn't have dragging scenes, presence of Ali n Kishore didn't add/ contribute much to the comedy track. After 1-Nenokkadine this is another movie of Mahesh without a huge posse of comedians. Maybe tollywood hero's don't want to surrender the movie success credit to comedians like Bramhanandam.

Jagapati seems to be in a dilemma whether he is still a hero, emoting as a parent or  villain he needs to watch Prakash Raj more often n better himself. Sukanya makeup seems to have done her in, with make-up person being caught in her 'Indian (Bharateeyudu)' style of dumb expressions or a rich man's wife. She could have been made to perform better with less makeup.

Villains only the 'Sashi ' character impressed, Mukesh Rishi was wasted. Climax could it have been better, probably the Hero's dialogue towards the end, sums it up.

Songs, Charuseela song was very well executed, feeling fresh. Rama Rama song, choreography was good, could the director have convinced the hero to remove his shoes for the song picturisation being a song performed near the pandal of the Lord. Even the last song was well pictured with rural murals in the backdrop.

Sruthi Hasan in many scenes looked very weak with her zero size. in the recent times she seems to be getting good amount of footage in comparison with the hero (last being Race gurram). She is able to perform, probably being the child of two very good actors.

Mahesh, the self proclaimed directors hero, did his best. Be it fights (my friend was commenting director Siva or the stunt master seems to be a European football league fan ), dances, standing up to his father etc. Mahesh satisfied his fans.

Director Siva did well to bring some of his favourite themes, family bonding, village development, sacrifice for your mother land to the fore n executed a watchable movie. After Mirchi, he has more or less struck to these, however the treatment was different. Hope he will not be bracketed. He should ensure he is able to extract maximum output from senior stars like Mukesh n Jagapati

 I would rate this movie with 4 stars


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