Movie Review : Namo Venkatesa

Trailer: Venky+Sreenu Vytla – one of the best combinations which has ample scope for giving the best entertainer, as Venky is known for his comedy timing & emotions and Sreenu Vytla’s strength is comedy/entertainment in all his films so far. These two joined their hands for the first time, where as this is Trisha’s second film with Venky after AMAV & with Sreenu Vytla after King.

Title: Interesting, Catchy & Good but not properly utilized, also the Caption/Tagline.

My Title: Pichhi Yenkanna Caption/Tagline: A foolish love story of an innocent fool.

My Justification for my title: {Venky's character name is "Venkata Ramana" in this movie & many call him "venkanna/yenkanna" also.}. In the poster publicity Sreenu Vytla said, “She (Trisha) is Hot, He (Venky) is Cool, Madhyalo Fool (Bemmi)” But in Movie “Venky’s character is a FOOL till the Climax but not Bemmi”. Also Trisha is not Hot anywhere & Venky is not Cool throughout the film.

Story: (Gopi Mohan): Too wafer thin, with so many loopholes and similarities from many other movies like AMAV, Ready, Maleswari.

Screenplay: (Sreenu Vytla): Stories like this need good, tight and interesting/fresh screenplay which is totally missing in this film.

Direction: (Sreenu Vytla): Is strictly average to below average. I consider this as one of Sreenu’s bad works.

Dialogues: (Chinthapally Ramana): Weak on the whole, except for very few comedy punches, hardly in single digit.

Songs: Lyrics: (Ramajogaiah Sastry)are good in parts. “Nee Kallalo” & “Non Stop” are good on repeated listening. Picturization is not impressive, with no sync between lead-to-song, location/set, costumes & choreography.

Music: (Devi Sri Prasad): Rehash of all his old works, with average quality. BGM made no good impact to the video on screen.

Cinematography: (Prasad Murella): Is passable, captured some nice exotic locations in songs, but work for action sequences is not satisfactory.

Editing: (M.R.Verma): Not satisfactory. Felt, some odd/uneven cuts in between scenes. Irritating in a song & action sequences.

Choreography: (Missed in Titles/Don’t remember): Not impressive. It is strongly helping for creating an impression “may be venky lost energy for dance movements, that is why they have selected this kind of stand-walk choreography”

Action/Fights: (Vijay): Not good, illogical, & silly with substandard graphics.

Art: (A.S.Prakash): Is OK.

Production Values: (Ram Achanta, Gopichand Achanta & Anil Sunkara) are OK to Good, but should have taken good care of graphics involved.

Performances:

Venky: He did this kind of character “n” no.of.times, there is nothing new/fresh. He does his job well as the character designed is a cakewalk for him. But sad part is he is been totally misused/underutilized by Director. His characterization is silly at times & sick other times. He needs to take good care of his costumes & also looks, managed in songs using big glasses/specs for 80-90%.

Trisha: She has nothing to do much, except to speak little words here & there and shake legs in songs without any good backup from the characterization. Also she is not so good in makeup/costumes used.

Brahmanandam: Is wasted badly/maximum, he is been properly utilized in hardly few scenes.

M.S.Narayana: Provided good laughs in a blink & miss role.

Dharmavarapu Subramaniam, Mukesh Rushi, Jaya Prakash Reddy are Routine. Ali, Raghu Babu, Sreenivas Reddy, Master Bharath, Subba Raju got totally wasted. Chandra Mohan, Kota, Telangana Shakunthala, Jeeva, Dilli Rajeswari, Akash, Kasi Viswanath has nothing to do / worth mentioning.

Publicity: Is huge, but not in a right manner, relating to the actual theme/content of the film. [About “Fool” in posters]

USP: Image/combination of Venky & Sreenu Vytla involved with Bemmi, till you enter the hall, after that ??? [one has to search for it]

+ Points:

Venky & Bemmi [Just Presence though no freshness in characterization]

Some laughs here & there.

--Points:

(Many to mention)

No Good Story

No fresh/gripping/interesting screenplay.

Unimpressive / improper characterizations.

Average Picturization of Average Songs.

Not so appealing Action sequences.

No proper emotional quotient.

Weak romantic thread.

Public Talk: Mixed Reaction. Family Audience chudagaluguthunnaru.

My Feel: I tried to enjoy the movie with my utmost sincere efforts, but Sreenu Vytla did not give me any good chance, except for 2-3laughs here & there. A badly made film, not expected this kind of kichidi at least in the combination of Venky & Sreenu Vytla.

Post-Mortem : ADHURS

I personally believe in “For a Movie - 1^st title should give a hint/clue & then audio should speak about the movie”. For this movie word “ADHURS” is kept as a title, which is not relevant to the movie, but this kind of titles give some pre-release positive buzz, also the after effects are equally bad if the movie shapes out bad. Here in this case the movie has fair chances to fall in to 2^nd category with this title.

My Title a simple, yet suitable one “SHIVASHAMBHO” or “DOUBLES” or “CHARI”

“oka character peru “SHIVAnanda Satry/Chary” inko character peru “SHAMBHU Prasad” ani pettukuni… Title: “SHIVASHAMBHO” ani pettukunte – daniki related oka Song, also alanti bits/vocals BGM lo vadukovochhu, apudu oka meaning vuntundi. Cinemaki sambandham lekunda oka songlo… cinema starting titleslo… cinema madhyalo.. “shambhoshivashambho” ani aravatam enthavaraku samanjasam… worst caselo chary character shiva bhakthudu kooda kadu.

When the basic idea of the story is not fresh or already seen, there needs a good hard work on characterizations & screenplay to engage the audience throughout grippingly. Here some good care taken for Chari’s character/role, but Narasimha’s characterization is just like an extension to KANTRI’s Kranti, which happens to be the recent last film of Jr.N.T.R. This created a bad feel from the behind, though Chari successfully accomplished task of entertaining the audience with his best efforts.

The usage of Jerkins to Narasimha’s character portrayal also helped the audience to think about Kranti from Kantri. In the 2^nd half where Chari steps in to Narasimha’s shoes & when both the brothers appear together they both appear in jerkins.

The introduction scene of Narasimha role is too bad [jumping out of a blasting container] in fact so silly/substandard among all the mass roles donned by Jr.N.T.R, which I have seen till date. When one want to use graphics part in a movie, needs special attention on the screenplay – here in the hero introduction fight when car slides on the road upside down in water & stops a foot in front of him, it is shown like water spills on him, but we find him completely in dry clothes, not even a single wet sign on him!!!

I liked the way Narasimha’s introduction scene starts & the 1^st fight is shown as part of “Shiyaji Shinde’ imagination & explanation to his sub-ordinate” in case investigation.

I did not understand why “kallu – eyes” word is being censored in a dialogue uttered by Brahmanandam “noru mantralu chadiveppudu , kallu kaaligne vuntavi kadara”. It looked funny, because though the word is cut, the expression fills the blank right again! So what is the gain?

Didn’t the Censor board find “nakesaru” word & mannerisms which comes for 3-4 times? Btw, the scenes involving Chari uttering this word, received tremendous response in theatre.

I liked the hint given by the writer/director, about Shiyaji Shinde’s character when he says “Narsi, ee deal chala peddhha deal, nuvu chala jagrathaga cheyali, idi nenu netho chesthunna/cheyisthunna last deal.

Jr.N.T.R & Nayanatara – pair looked odd! Nayanatara has to look after her makeup styles!

One of the main logics in the movie “villain cannot kill major until the weapon is ready & is handed over”. Even we catch this, but not our poor hero, Narasimha role, unless a comedian (Raghu Babu) reveals, that is why I say, the characterization given to this role is not good/strong. Though comedy is generated it mars heroism when comes to mass hero films. We can have an alternate scene/option there like … hero himself in front of villain & Raghu babu can say this logic with a dialogue like … “mee sthavaram telusukovatanike inthasepu silentga vundi, metho ikkadivaraku vachhanura… malli kaludhamu” & runaway

Not just in this film, about I felt this in many of our telugu films, please take care of scenes/shots when someone hits a glass/mirror, though graphics are used, make sure an appropriate blood stain is kept on that part. Here hero in a chase scene hits many window/door glasses, but I found no blood stains.

In “panchekattu” song, if to censor reasons, lyrics are changed – is any proper care taken while inserting new word? Old Lyrics are about “pilaka” & “niluvu bottu” changed to “paatha bike” & “old look” what is this “paatha bike” ? Chari doesn’t own any bike if you observe! If you change lyrics/words at one place i.e in one line, is it enough? There will be related words in other lines right? When it was “pilaka” in 1 line – “cut chesa” will suit as an answer, but did the writers think of how “paatha bike” will suit for “cut chesa” & vice-versa. Also for “niluvu bottu” = “cheripesa” , “old look”=”cheripesa”???

In the same song hero says I like this “French cut”, but I found no such beard style! Btw, he looks good in French , we saw him like that in a blink & miss dance bit in “CHINTHAKAYALA RAVI”.

In a scene, where Narasimha character hides behind a wall & follows Raghu Babu , the BGM shouts as CHARI! What does this mean maker? [Music Director & Director]

In the beginning of the M.S.Narayana’s “Athma” thread, when he gets down from the car and stands in front of Chari & Bemmi, I found shooting team in M.S.Narayana’s glasses/specs.

The same appears repeatedly in Sheela’s & N.T.R’s glasses/specs in “naa kallalo” song.

What is the purpose of a lengthy fight in Kolkata temple scene? It can be short.

Can’t they find any other option like changing positions/locations in the same temple, like sitting, standing, walking etc when bamma reveals the truth that both “Chari & Narasimha are twins”?

In the 1^st meeting itself Chari calls Narasimha as “ra”, “avunra”, “entra” etc, which sounded a bit odd, as it was all of a sudden, in the same single scene.

“Naa kallalo” song is so badly picturized in such a way that, I felt no one from other state, who doesn’t know about Jr.N.T.R already, will believe if I show him this song & say that “this hero is one of the best dancers of Indian cinema”.

In a scene where Chari will be explaining “kavalapillala katha” to Mahesh Manjrekar … Ashish Vidyarthi & Bemmi comes to tell the same … the camera/graphics/DI is soo bad putting this scene out of the movie.

I liked the concept & it’s presentation of two Jr.N.T.Rs dancing together in last song.

Narasimha character Killing Shiyaji Shinde, Sheela’s father with no proper related scene between Father-Daughter, which reveals his nature to Sheela & marrying her … this thread looked improperly etched.

In the Climax, when Chari turns Narasimha and fights with goons, the BGN of “types/kinds of Narasimha avatar” is a big fun!!! Following again Shambho Shiva Shambho … Shiv Shiv Shamho.

What is the purpose & logic for giving no good end to “Athma” thread?

Jr.N.T.R – Needs to take care in costumes department. He is handsome now & this is one of his best looks after Simhadri getup. If he maintains the same, it would be good.

Nayanatara – Think a while, before anyone takes her to the movie, put her conditions of changing her make ups and hairstyles.

Sheela – Needs a good length character, unlike sticking to shaking legs in songs.

Brahmanandam – It would be nice, if he does only selective (good) characters like this for which he is a must & also worth for his career graph, to maintain the legendary reputation.

Vinayak – Seems he is concentrating / depending more on comedy , though it’s good, putting aside all other important aspects of a film is too bad. We have other directors who make only comedy movies.

Movie Review : ADHURS

Trailer:

This is an offering from one of the hottest combinations of Telugu Cinema/Tollywood till date “V.V.Vinayak + Jr.N.T.R”. They are remembered for-ever for “AADI” which gave much needed break, star image to both of them. “SAMBA” though created heat it was little compared to “AADI”. Now they came for the third time for an image/combination image make-over!!!

Title: Not relevant. No Justification!

My Quote: Comedy ADHURS ... overallga cinema koncham BEDHURS!!!

Flavor: Action packed COMEDY family drama.

Story: (Kona Venkat ) : [I do not show personal interest in revealing the story of any film, that too in detail, unless I feel it is necessary or even if I reveal there wouldn’t be much effect for someone who will watch the film after going through my view on that particular movie.] Mixture of Old Wines in New Bottle with a change in taste!!!

Screenplay: (V.V.Vinayak ): Is a bit OK in 1^st half. 2^nd half goes haywire. No proper leads for the songs. Not adequate on the whole.

Direction: (V.V.Vinayak): Good in parts, but depending upon unnecessary graphics spoiled the best “half” efforts kept, that too for crazy & illogical scenes especially in the Climax. [You can find a similar line in my SALEEM Movie Review also :) , coz, it happened here again ]

Dialogues: (Kona Venkat) : Very Good those related to comedy.

Lyrics: (Chandra Bose, Ramajogayya Sastry & Kulashekhar ): Good for “pilla navalla kadu” & “nethone” rest are Average.

Music: (Devi Sri Prasad): Nothing neither fresh, nor impressive on initial hearings. Repeated listening will give 2-3 numbers to add in regular play lists. Background music is irrelevant & unimpressive.

Cinematography: (Chota K Naidu ): Is strictly below average. Neither added value to fights nor dances where much effort is kept by the concerned team.

Editing: (Gowtham Raju ): Not satisfactory.

Choreography: (I missed in Titles) : Good in parts. But songs picturization/presentation is not satisfactory on the whole.

Action/Fights: (Stun Shiva & Ram-Laxman): So-So, nothing worth mentioning.

Art: ( Anand Sai ): Not satisfactory.

Production Values: (Vallabhaneni Vamsi Mohan & Kodali Venkateswara Rao (Nani) - Vaishnavi Arts): Money poured is not visible on screen in good quality. Graphics used are too substandard, considered it as a Big Crazy Project.

Performances:

Jr.N.T.R: He is too good & energetic with right timing as Chari. He is just normal as Narasimha.

Nayana Tara: She is just OK & good compared to her appearance in her last film “Anjaneyulu”. But she is not so apt beside Jr.N.T.R. The pair looked odd at times.

Sheela: Is strictly for songs & glamour quotient. Did her part well selecting related costumes.

Brahmanandam: Good as usual and becomes a pillar for this movie in providing entertainment with Jr.N.T.R.

Raghubabu, M.S.Narayana : Did their part well in providing some relief in 2^nd half.

Nazar, Shiyaji Shinde, Mahesh Manjrekar : None of these are properly / aptly utilized.

Others: SERIOUSLY nothing worth to mention about.

Publicity: The current affairs did both positive & negative to this Movie. Positive – helped for best openings in other than Nizam. Negative – impacted openings in Nizam.

USP: Combination craze V.V.Vinayak + Jr.N.T.R [only till you enter the hall] after that it is [Jr.N.T.R as Chari + Brahmanandam]


+ Points:

Energetic Chari
Dependable Brahmanandam

Comedy / Entertainment

N.T.R’s surprise dance movements

--Points:

No Emotional Quotient to make audience involve completely

Screenplay [especially in 2^nd half]
Graphics
Average picturization of Average songs
Climax

Public Talk: So-So, not expected such a mixture from this combination. Half – O.K, Half – ROD.

My Feel: I enjoyed the movie in parts. Got disappointed the way Narasimha’s character is designed [an extension to KANTRI, like Ek Niranjan is to Bujjigadu] songs & action sequences are placed & picturized/conceived.

A time pass flick, worth watching Jr.N.T.R as Chari in combination with Bemmi with a surprise treat-dance movements, keeping aside the FRESHNESS, right mixture of emotions & weak/uninteresting/unimpressive climax.

Stay Tuned for My Post Mortem, where I will pen down my feelings, observations, likes, dislikes with some interesting stuff w.r.t ADHURS.

A Small piece here:

“oka character peru “SHIVAnanda Satry/Chary” inko character peru “SHAMBHU Prasad” ani pettukuni… Title: “SHIVASHAMBHO” ani pettukunte – daniki related oka Song, also alanti bits/vocals BGM lo vadukovochhu, apudu oka meaning vuntundi. Cinemaki sambandham lekunda oka songlo… cinema starting titleslo… cinema madhyalo.. “shambhoshivashambho” ani aravatam enthavaraku samanjasam… worst caselo chary character shiva bhakthudu kooda kadu :)