GODFATHER – IS IT A BEGINNING OF NEW CHAPTER IN CHIRANJEEVI CAREER?

Traditionally in Telugu States Dusshera is welcomed by release of movies of big stars and this year it is the turn of Chirajeevi’s Godfather and Nagarjuna’s Ghost.  

The much awaited movie of Mega Star’s Godfather has released in Telugu and Hindi with huge expectations after a very disappointed and rare disaster `Acharya’ with his son Ram Charan.    Godfather is refreshing in many ways and looked like a new chapter in Charanjeevi career may be keeping in view his advancing age.  There are many firsts in his entire career of over 154 movies – no heroin no songs and dance numbers for him in the entire movie except the dance number with Salman with end credits.   He did not go in for over-the-top costumes (sticking to Dhoti and shirt like in Malayalam original), and dialogue baaji.  He has relied very effectively on his expressive eyes and controlled emotions.   Most importantly he liberally shared screen space with other actors like Satyadev, Nayanatara, Murali sharma though it is more than the Original Malayalm version.  

 

For some strange reasons Chiranjeevi has once again gone for a remake, this time Mohanlal hit Malayalam movie `Lucifer’ which was dubbed and released in both Telugu states.    Godfather is a very interesting and intriguing political drama with twists and turns where Hero resorts to more of mind games than settling scores with fist blows.   Few modifications have been done to original Lucifer story adding more of brother-sister sentiments, extending jail episode etc., to go with mega image of Chirajeevi.  

As always Chirajeevi carried the entire movie on his broad and experienced shoulders, mostly under-performing with limited dialogues.   Director Mohana Raja has succeeded in elevating almost all critical scenes by Chiru’s magnetic presence, fiery eyes, expressive face and good but loud back ground score by Taman.   He is very ably supported by Satyadev, Murali sharma and always reliable Nayanatara.   After almost 2 decades we had a Telugu speaking villain in Satyadev.   Telugu movie industry has been served by legendary villains right from R Nageswara Rao, Rajanala (who stood tough and tall against NTR), Nagabhushanam, Satyanarayana, Rao Gopal Rao and Kota Srinivas.    But the misfortune is that for over last two decades, very small time Bollywood under employed villains like Sharad Saxena, Shinde and Mukesh Rishi and host of others were preferred over highly talented Telugu speaking actors.    Satyadev has more than justified the confidence reposed on him to pit him against Telugu top star Chiru.   He was not overawed by his presence and presented himself well in all shades of villainary.   Nayanatara did a great job and gave a matured performance.   Murali sharma, who has came back to his Telugu roots after working for few years in Bollywood, was excellent though one could find shades of his famous role in `Ala Vaikhutapuramlo’.   He has mastered in giving very precise expressions with right kind of body language.   Prakash Raj loss, due to his difference of opinion with many Telugu producers, turned out to be the gain of Murali Sharma.   Sunil is irritating with his limited expressions and still struggling to overcome his image as comedian.   Veteran Director Puri Jaganath had a very decent debut as an actor.  

Salman Debut in Telugu movies:  Telugu/South Indian movies are in such a roll that every Bollywood actor, big or small want to be part of it and for South indian movies it works well in boosting their presence in Hindi belt.    After Amitabh, Akshay, Ajay Devgan and Sanjay Dutt, Salman makes his debut in south with Godfather.   But I must say it has been very disappointing, the roles is too short, does not have any significance, not written well at all and he too made very casual appearance almost making one wonder why on the earth he accepted such insignificant role all of 10 minutes.    He looked so worn out both in action scene and dance number.   It looked as if they are using graphics for making him look young.  When Telugu producers have such deep pockets, why they don’t  get a nice and meaty role written for such super stars from Bollywood even if it is short.   It seemed he spent more time promoting the movie rather than in shooting.    The dance number with Chiru directed by the highly overrated Prabhu Deva has turned to be a dud.  Dance directors Lawrance or Shekar would have done far better job, Chiru is more agile and graceful in his dance movements even at this age.    Even the action scene of Salman and Chiru is very poorly conceived and executed looking like the climax scene of Suryavamsi.  

Overall should be enjoyable for Telugu Audience specially die hard Chiru fans. Not much to recommend for Hindi audience.  Hardly any publicity was done in Hindi belt for Chiru’s return to Bollywood after 3 decades after successful outing with Pratibhand and Aaaj Ka Gunda Raj, and may be producers will take whatever comes from Hindi version as bonus.  

 

S. Prabhakar

6.10.2022

 

THE `SHOCK’ OF THE FIRST LOOK OF `ADIPURUSH’

The first look of Prabha’s Adipurush turned out to be a shocker.   Leaving aside how gaga Prabhas’ fans are going about his first looks, it is the Saif’s get up as Ravan and also few vanar-sena which has created ripples and social media is going frenzy condemning it.   I do not touch on the subject of hurting Hindu sentiments but i strongly feel that the producers directors and other creative team are absolutely out of their mind to conceive such get up for Ravan which is looking more like a Moghul Invader or a black magician.    Many times in my postings I did mention that none of the mainstream Bollywood actors/stars right from Dilip Kumar, Amitabh to all the khans lack versatility to carry mythological or janapad/folklore characters.   But till now they were wise enough not to do any misadventure of trying mythological films and whenever a few such movies were made in Hindi they have gone  for unknown actors including in the famous TV serials Mahabharat and Ramayan though made by top Bollywood producers BR Chopra and Ramanad Sagar respectively.

Volumes have been written on how NTR used to reprise the mythological characters not only the roles of Lord Rama, Krishna, Shiv, Vishnu etc., but negative characters of Ravana and Duryodhana etc.   The body language, costumes, ornaments and most importantly the dialogue delivery and diction (for which he used to get special tutorials from Sanskrit scholars) all left such an indelible impression for all times to come.   All the producers, directors, fellow actors used to swear by the dedication of NTR during the entire schedules of shooting as if he was possessed and used to go into a trance which used to infuse great sense of discipline in all other artists and technicians and that may be the reason that all his mythological movies were super hits and remained landmark movies.    He essayed the role of Ravana in two Telugu movies Sita Rama Kalyanam and Bhukailash, both of them are landmark movies.    The roles were so well researched and presented Ravana in an entirely new dimension without glorifying his misdeeds.   How I wish we had PAN India concept/releases in those days so that all the movie goes have enjoyed the glory of NTR in mythological roles.  

(219) SEETA RAMA KALYANAM PART - 4 - YouTube

Compared to this what a funny get up Saif appeared as a Ravan.   Which version of Ramayan has had a mention of Ravan being that way.   Going by this looks you may find Saif saying waav waav too.   Movie makers may take artistic liberties but not to the extent of rewriting Ramayan and Mahabharat including the general perception about the principal characters.   Till now there is a Boycott Bollywood trend but the way the producers are mocking I will not be surprised if there are violent protests and screenings of Adipurush are stopped.     Not a good news for Prabhas fans. 

Bollywood will be better served if they stay away from Mythological movies.

Adipurush (Official Teaser) Hindi | Prabhas | Saif Ali Khan | Kriti Sanon | Om Raut | Bhushan Kumar - YouTube

 

S. Prabhakar

4.10.2022

SITA RAMAM – INFUSES A FRESH BREEZE IN TELUGU FILM INDUSTRY

                                                           

 

In the midst all hype about mega budget movies from Telugu and Tamil Industry, last month two small budget Telugu movies `Kartikeya 2’ and `Sita Ramam’ have released simultaneously and both turned out to be huge hits, Kartikeya-2 (starring a very small star Nikhil) making around Rs. 120 crores (including over 25 crores in Hindi) and Sita Ramam close to Rs. 100 crores.

Sita Ramam starring Malayali superstar Dulqer Salman in a straight Telugu movie and ably supported by  Mrunal Thakur and Rashmika Mandana may turn out to be a path breaker.    It’s a simple love story in a very complex back drop of India Pakistan hostility, infiltration of terrorists in Kashmir to destabilise India, treatment of prisoners of war and the supreme sacrifice made by soldiers going on secret mission with a full knowledge of their details being erased from records, being disowned by the country when caught by enemy country, living rest of life in Pakistan Prisons for rest of the life and dying a silent death without honour, award, rewards and recognition.  

Hats off to Writer & Director Hanu Raghavapudi, for handling such complex issues without over dramatizing, not indulging in over the top patriotic dramatics and presenting it in the form of a love story flowing so smoothly.   Dulquer always impresses with every outing and he was absolutely brilliant in Sita Ramam.   He was so charming and natural both in romantic scenes and emotional scenes as a war prisoner.   It is because of his brilliant acting one would believe in hero standing for humanity, sense of duty and at the end making ultimate sacrifice.    At the end of this spellbound movie one would come out with a unanimous feeling that no one else could have done justice to this role, and you cannot imagine any other actor in Dulquer place.   The way the movie starts with Rashimi character a Pakistani hating everything about India setting a car on fire coming back to Pakistan to collect 10 lakhs penalty she has to pay to only find her grandfather dying and putting a condition that she goes to India and delivers a letter from Indian war prisoner Ramam to Sita as pre condition to get what her grandfather has bequeathed for her, is such a surprise element and the suspense is maintained throughout the movie to be shocked at the end when she knows the reality and why her grandfather was so keen that the letter should be delivered at any cost.    Sumanth, who is almost forgotten, turned out to be the surprise package in the role of co-prisoner of war who compromises with very sensitive military information to save himself and lives with guilty for rest of his life.

Malayali film industry is known for superb content driven movies and all top stars including their icons of present generation Mohan Lal and Mumutty don’t mind working in movies made on shoe string budgets and pulling super hits.   That has been followed by the next generation super star like Dulquer.   But the surprising thing which comes as a fresh breeze of air in Telugu industry, is Ashwani Dutt, owner of Vyjayanti Movies, who produced some of the biggest budget movies with NTR and at present also producing a multi-starrer PAN India movie `Project K’ with Prabhas, Amitabh and Deepika with over Rs. 500 crores budget has backed such small budget movie of Rs. 30 crores with fantastic content.  

It’s good for film industry in general and Telugu industry in particular that it is not all about Bahubali, RRR and Pushpa and superstars like Mahesh Babu, Jr NTR, Ram Charan, Allu Arjun, but there is a level playing field for Kartikeya-2 and Sita Ramam and small stars like Nikhil and Dulqer (as far as Telugu industry is concerned).

 

You can catch up the movie on Prime in Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam with sub title in English.

 

S. Prabhakar

13.9.22

 

This `BRAHMASTRA’ is an ordinary `Astra' and may back fire

(review of Brahmastra)

 

 

Brahmastra, the first of the trilogy is very high on VFX effects and undoubtedly one of the best in Hindi till date on this account.  Though lot of time, efforts and money has been spent on VFX to make it a visual splendor there is not much of imagination in that too, they are more and more like fire balls, too many and too repetitive and at the end of the show gets on to your nerves and discomfort to eyes.

Unlike Hollywood movies, Indian movies need lot of ingredients apart from VFX viz., good story line, emotions, and bit of comedy and loads of action scenes to keep audience engaged and glued.   That is the reason why movies like Krish series and Bahubali series have clicked.   Brahmastra has a wafer thin story line that too incoherent.   Action and special effects start within 10 minutes into the movie and go on and on till climax.   The dreams which the hero has and flash backs confuse more than revealing any story

Any fantasy movie has to have a `macho hero’ to make us believe convincingly that he has the so called super powers.    Ranbir Kapoor has been a failure on that account though he acted well.   He has a chocolate boy image and the movie does not have a proper romantic track though it features the reel and real life romantic pair Ranbir and Alia.    For most part of the movie he remains confused and tries to find what is happening and what powers he has and why?   Alia looks cute but sounded stupid trying to create some humour moments.

Sharukh is fine in his cameo but both Amitabh and Nagarguna are looking much older to their age and hardly have anything to contribute.   Now a days these stars are paid a bomb to use them in promoting the movie specially the dubbed versions in south Indian languages.   Mouni Roy is biggest let down as a villain, she does not have anything to do except keep on chasing the hero along with her henchmen and unleash special effects.   Such a mega budget movie should have a villain with an authored back role and powerful dialogues and scenes something like Amjad Khan in Sholay, Kulbushan in Shaan, even Vivek Oberioi in Krish3.   

Music has been disaster and back ground score has been very loud.    Not even a single song is hummable.    These days in Hindi movie music has been biggest causality

Ayan had everything at his disposal - a huge budget, huge technical team and star cast.   The only thing he needed was an interesting story, tight screen play and engaging story telling in which he failed somehow.     Though I do not say that it is a total wash out but surely not a `Brahmastra’ but an ordinary Astra which may back fire.    Surely it is not going to put box office on fire and if it recovers its investment Karan and Team may count themselves to be lucky.   I have my doubt if other parts see the light of day.   

If you enjoy watching a movie with over the top VFX effect you may go.   But chose a multiplex, and  preferably IMAX version if available in your city. 

 

S. Prabhakar

9.9.2022