RAGADA REVIEW

Film: Ragada
Rating: 3/5
Banner: Sri Kamakshi Enterprises
Cast: Nagarjuna, Anushka, Priyamani, Brahmanandam, Pradeep Rawath,
Kota, Dev Gill, Dharmavarapu, Raghu Babu, Tanikella, Supreeth,
Sreelatha, Sana, Master Bharat, Charmee (spl appearance)
Music: Thaman
Editing: Marthand K Venkatesh
Cinematography: Sarvesh Murari
Story, screenplay, dialogues, direction: Veeru Potla
Producer: D Sivaprasad Reddy
Release date: 24/12/2010

Nagarjuna has been trying hard to score a hit since ‘Mass’ and now he arrived with another commercial treat. This is the last of the biggies for 2010.

Story:
Set on the backdrop of Hyderabad, the story begins with GK (Dev Gill) who is keen on taking power from Peddanna (Pradeep Rawath) and waits for the right chance. He finds a possibility with the arrival of Satya (Nagarjuna) who is brave, strong and intelligent. Satya wins GK’s confidence and in this process, even GK’s love interest Sirisha (Anushka) also falls for Satya. Meanwhile, Satya gives asylum to Ashtalakshmi (Priyamani) who has few issues.

However, no one knows who Satya is, from where he came and why he came. All this forms the rest of the story.

Performances:
Nagarjuna looks smashing as ever and he has shouldered the film very well. His looks are outstanding and as usual, he rocks with his screen presence.

Anushka has filled the glamour quotient with her voluptuous appeal and she will be a visual treat to the masses. Performance wise, she did her bit as required.

Priyamani was effective and though she cannot match Anushka in terms of looks or glamour, she made her presence felt in her own way.

Brahmanandam takes off in an interesting manner and gives few laughs. However, his role becomes weak during the second half.

The bunch of villains like Kota, Pradeep Rawath, Dev Gill, Supreeth, Shravan didn’t have much except screaming their lungs out and taking the bashings from the hero. There is no strength in their characterization.

Charmee looks sizzling hot and her moves are sensuous.

Dharmavarapu, Master Bharat were brief and brought few smiles, Sana was standard, Sreelatha was okay, Satya Prakash was standard, the rest did their bit upto the mark.

Highlights:

• Nagarjuna’s style and looks
• Glamour quotient of the leading ladies
• Opening fight sequence of Nag
• Rich presentation of songs

Drawbacks:

• Second half slows down and there is a drag
• Unwanted inclusion of songs
• Abrupt jerks in editing
• No depth in the character etching of villains

Analysis:
Overall, the film runs on pure formula of few fights, glamorous songs, a comedy track and one sentimental attachment to the plot.

Primarily, the makers tried to cash in on the star power of Nagarjuna and he has not let them down. While the dialogues at few places were effective, the screenplay was having few hiccups.

Though there were few unexpected twists in the second half, the director was not able to give it that punch. Developing the comedy track would have helped. However, this is a film for Nag fans, B and C centers. The content is weak but it is the presentation which was packed with the right ingredients for a mass masala entertainer.

Bottomline: Pure commercial formula entertainer

NAAGAVALLI REVIEW

Film: Nagavalli
Rating: 3.25/5
Banner: Sri Sai Ganesh Productions Pvt Ltd
Cast: Venkatesh, Anushka, Richa, Kamalini, Shraddha Das, Poonam Kaur, Brahmi, Dharmavarapu, Sarath Babu, Prabha, Raksha, Avinash, Suja, M S Narayana, Sameer etc
Dialogues: Paruchuri Brothers
Music: Guru Kiran
Editing: Marthand K Venkatesh
Cinematography: Sam K Naidu
Screenplay, Direction: P Vasu
Producer: Bellamkonda Suresh
Release date: 16/12/2010
 
Venkatesh played enough of family man roles in soft humor treatment till now. After a long gap he tried something different. He came up with remake film ‘Nagavalli’ packed with huge technical elements. Let us see how the movie faired in first impression.
 Story:
Ever since the portrait of Chandramukhi (Anushka) comes to a big house, strange things begin to happen to the owners (Sarath Babu, Prabha) and their family comprising of four daughters.

They suspect the presence of a large snake and things get more complicated with the death of a snake charmer (M S).

Then, the family approaches Rajeshwar Siddanthi (Avinash) and he tells them that all this is happening due to the presence of Chandramukhi in their house. He suspects one of the daughters is possessed by Chandramukhi and decides that only one man can resolve this.

He is Dr Vijay (Venkatesh) and as soon as he arrives, he starts doing his investigations. What happens to his enquiries? Who is Chandramukhi? Who is Nagavalli? What exactly is happening in that home? All this forms the rest of the story.

Performances:
Venkatesh rocked with this film in double role. He is good in the shoes of a psychologist as well as in the clad of Maharaja Naga Bhairava. This is the first time Venkatesh played negative role as Naga Bhairava. His debut as villain is marvelous.

Anushka is good as perfectly suited the role in dancer costume. At times, we even recall her most famous role in eth film ‘Arundhati’.

Shradhdha Das is sharp and arrogant. Her mystic performance impresses the audience and she becomes a hook in narration.

Kamalini sucks. Her lean patient-like look is not so impressive in dancer costume. But that suited well for the kind of role she played.

Richa is beautiful and she performed as required. She gets recognition with her role in this film.

Poonam Kour’s role is very short but she made her presence felt with her glamour.

Kannada actress Suja, who appeared in Apta Rakshaka, also appeared here. Her role is also small and not to do much with the main story line.

Sharat Babu and Prabha are ok in their character roles. Brahmanandam’s presence brought only couple of laughs and he was not utilized properly. Dharmavarapu and Raksha are ok.

The best part in the movie is Art Department and Graphics. That has done a fantastic job. Music and background score also functioned very well keeping the adrenaline of the audience on a high through out.

Director P Vasu did well on a whole except Venkatesh’s (with old look) part in 2nd half. 130 year old man doing stunts and dancing in the dilapidated fort on the hill are silly.

Highlights:

• Venkatesh in negative role
• Scenes with Richa
• Story Line
• Screenplay
• Art Direction
• Sound Effects
• Music

Draw Backs:

• Stunt scenes with old Venkatesh in 2nd half are silly
• Make up of 130 year old Venkatesh is not convincing

Analysis:The movie started with slow pace but picked up at the interval. When the music was released, the songs got average response on a whole. But here in the movie they were canned very impressively. Especially King Song and Kabaddi and Vandanalu songs rock in movie.

First half of the movie is ok and second half movie is good. If you like Chandramukhi movie you may surely like this movie.

Venkatesh needs high commendations for his spellbinding performance in the role of Maharaja Naga Bhairava. He apparently proved that he is on par with Mohan Babu in portraying villainy. He stands as right example for all big heroes who can certainly prove their mettle as real actors. He also shows an alternative way for established heroes to try some villainy and break monotony.

The story line of Chandramukhi that is well known for almost all the Telugu audience continues with ‘Nagavalli’. It’s a perfect sequel that way. It’s more thrilling and suspense filled. Although the treatment resembles something on the lines of Krishna’s old film ‘Ave Kallu’, this proves to be interesting and gripping till the end.

If old Venkatesh’s stunt scenes and dancing bits are trimmed, there wouldn’t be any drop in emotional graph from start to end.

Bottom-Line: Watch it

MANASARA REVIEW

Banner : Moving Images
Cast : Vikram, Sree Divya, Bhanuchander, George Vincent, Ramaraju, Annapurna, Usha Sree, Krishnamohan, Anitha, M S Narayana and Others
Music : Sekhar Chandra
Cinematography : N Sudhakar Reddy
Producer: K Prakash Babu
Director: Ravi Babu
Released Date: December 10, 2010
Watched @ Sensation,Hyderabad

Survi Review: 4/10

With back to back successes like “Anasuya” , “Nachchaavule” and “Amaravathi” Director Ravi Babu is rated as new genre director who always come with novel concepts in the movie.Ravi Babu introduces two new faces Vikram and Diya with this film Manasara.
Story:

A routine romantic tale, the story is about Vikram (vikram) who lives in Hyderabad and he is basically a very chicken hearted guy. His family gets transferred to Rajapalayam in Kerala and this is a small place where ancient customs and traditions are followed. The settlement of issues is usually done by a fight of Kalari, the ancient martial art. Vikram sees Anjali (sree divya) and falls in love with her and soon, she also reciprocates. However, Anjali’s aunt harasses her while her ‘bava’ Rajan Pillai (George) has got a lecherous eye on her. Rajan is also a famous Kalari champion.

Presentation:
Vikram was okay with his performance. Sree Divya did justice to her homely role.Vincet  was impeccable mannerisms and impressive dialogue delivery. Bhanuchander and Annapurna were apt to their roles.Direction wise Ravi Babu Showed his technical Brilliance.A better content would have been rocking.Adroit camerawork (Sudhakar Reddy) and a compelling background score (Shekar Chandra) keep the experience on the right side of relish. Movie relatively drab with not enough to keep you Interested, 1st half and climax are a tad too long – but the presentation bails out the experience.

Overall:

Director Ravibabu put his efforts to get back his image through this movie, but not able to reach. Music and Technical team gave some support to the story. Overall Movie is just ‘OK’.

RAJMOULI EEGA STORY

Protagonist (Naani) loves a girl (Samantha). He runs into a fight with a villain (Sudeep). Hero will be killed in a fight by Villian. Now Hero re-borns as a housefly. How this housefly takes the revenge, which doesn’t talk and have strength to kill a man is the story.

ANAGANAGA OKA DHEERUDU TRAILER