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Game Changer - Movie Review

Legendary film maker Shankar is not in his prime in recent times, with “I” and “Bharateeyudu 2”. For the first time he is teaming up with a Telugu hero, Ram Charan, a rare combo pulled off by Adil Raju for his 50th film “Game Changer”. However, the shoot got delayed a lot and finally released.

Story :- Ram Nandan (Charan), a newly appointed district collector for Visakhapatnam while dealing with the goons of city, locks horns with Bobbili Mopi Devi (S J Surya), CM’s son and aspiring CM. The tug of war between them starts. CM Satyamurty (Srikant) is haunted by his past grave sins and he wants to reform his party. His past is linked to Ram Nandan parents Appanna (Ram Charan) and Parvathy (Anjali). What happened in the past and did Mopi Devi become CM forms rest of the story.

Technicians :- IAS vs Politicians is a new premise for us, but story and narrative are a bit outdated. In terms of execution, the film offers nothing new or exciting. It’s a proper routine commercial potboiler, which is not expected from Shankar. It’s not in the range of Oke Okkadu, but definitely better than I and Bharateeyudu 2. Cinematography by Thiru is terrific, with multiple angle shots for almost all the scenes, creating better effect. Background score by Thaman is great. 3 songs are visually wonderful and are eye feasting. Action by Anbariv is okay, climax fight felt dragged. Dance choreography for almost all the songs is superb, Charan aced the steps with ease, especially in Koparap bit song.

Performances :-

Ram Charan is fabulous as Appanna in flashback. He didn’t underplay or overplay, he just delivered what’s required. It’s going to be a memorable role in his filmography. As Ram Nandan, both in college and IAS, he is smart, effective and decent. Kiara has a limited role and almost comes just before the songs. She did well. SJ Surya once again excelled the role of a baddy. His dubbing is flawless and perfect timing. This story had 3-4 good author backed roles, which were beautifully portrayed by Srikanth, Anjali, Rajeev Kanakala and Samutrakani. Especially, Srikanth & Anjali killed it with their performances and make up. Jayaram, Sunil tried to generate laughs here and there.

Positives :-

Ram Charan performance as Appanna

Racy screenplay

Good songs

Interval block

Negatives :-

No emotionally high moments

Formulaic commercial story line

Dragged climax

Summary :- Game Changer is neither boring nor a blockbuster. It lies in between. It has all the ingredients of a pakka commercial film, but the story line is outdated and how far audience lap it up depends on performance of other Sankranti releases.

Rating :- 2.75/5 (An above average film, one time watch)

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Pushpa 2 - Movie Review

The 1st instalment of Pushpa, The rise, was a blockbuster Pan India and increased the craze of Allu Arjun multifold. Everyone was waiting for the 2nd part, The Rule, to see the clash of Pushpa Raj and Shekawat. After 3 years, the 2nd part has released.

Story :- Continuing the character arc established in 1st part, Pushpa maintains his attitude, mannerisms and aspirations. Sri Valli asks Pushpa to take a photo with CM during his meeting and His ego gets offended when CM denies to take a photo with him, a smuggler, which gives wrong projection to media and public. He vows to make Siddappa (Rao Ramesh) as CM and to do the same he agrees to arrange all the funds required through red sandalwood smuggling. He ties up with an international dealer, for a huge ransom and arranges for the consignment. Shekawat challenges that he would stop it at any cost. Was Pushpa successful in doing so, forms rest of the story.

Technicians :- DSP is a big letdown, Background score is pale. There are only a couple of elevation scenes and even for that the BG score is poor. Songs are good to some extent, choreography in Peelings and Kissik is not upto the mark of Allu Arjun capability. Costumes were maintained to match the premise and characters. Runtime is big minus, considering 3 h 20 mins length, editing should have been crispier. Cinematography by Miroslaw is nice, Especially night scenes and fights.

This doesn't feel like a film by Sukumar at all. Personally, this is Sukumar''s poorest film till date. The story, characterization, world building and elevations in Part 1 are completely missing here. Part 1 looked more natural compared to the artificial elevations and forced action sequences in part 2. You really think is it the same Sukumar who made Arya, 1 Nenokkadine, Ranasthalam.

Performances :- Allu Arjun did terrific job as Pushpa Raj, however, it's not as engaging and interesting as in Part 1. His acting in Jatara episode is raw and rustic, tried to replicate Kantara. Felt Rashmika has overplayed the role and felt too much in some scenes. Fahad Faasil should not have agreed to do this movie. It's a blot in his exhaustive profile. The strong antagonist character built in fag end of 1st part, is made a joker/puppet in this one. Very disappointing with his role. Rao Ramesh has got a lengthier role and he did a good job.

Summary :- After watching the movie, felt majority of the reviews are paid reviews, as no way this film vane be rated 3.25/5. Forced elevatu, soulless emotions, too loud and too much action make this a boring watch in majority of the parts.

Rating :- 2/5 (Poortiga Boyapati la marina Sukumar ni chudochu)

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Kalki 2898 AD - Movie Review

India's highest budget movie till date, Kalki 2898 AD has released today. Nag Ashwin, who is just 2 films old (Evade Subramanyam & Mahanati), helming this magnum opus of science fiction interlinked with mythology, is itself a gutsy attempt. Roping in stalwarts like Amitabh and Kamal Haasan, while having "The Prabhas" and Deepika is taking it to next level. Did he live upto the expectations? Let's see.

Story :- It's 2898 AD, where there are only 3 worlds shown. Complex, Kashi and Shambala. Complex controls Kashi and all other worlds with it's dominance under the guidance of Yaskin (Kamal Haasan). They trace fertile women and use them for making Project K a success, which gives super power to Yaskin. Kashi is deprived of all resources and exploited by Complex. Shambala is a rebel group who want to bring down Complex at any cost. Sumathi (Deepika) is pregnant and crucial for Project K to become success, however she escapes from Complex to save her baby. Bhairava (Prabhas) a bounty hunter, who is desperate to shift to Complex from Kashi, wants to catch Sumathi and handover to complex. Ashwathama (Amitabh) is alive just to protect Sumathi's baby. Bhairava and Ashwathama face off each other in this process. Who wins over whom? Was Sumathi protected? Forms the rest of the story.

Performances :- Entire story revolves around Deepika. She was very good in the given scope and interval block stands out. Amitabh Bachchan has most creamy role, be it the elevations, action sequences or back story. He is outstanding in it. This could be termed as the best mass role for Amitabh in ages. Prabhas is the life of the film. What could be otherwise an serious emotional film with slow pace, was made lively with his comedy timing. His camaraderie with Bujji, one liners during action sequences, sequences with Bhramandam or other cameos, makes the movie enjoyable. His get up in the last scene bring goosebumps to fans. Kamal Haasan has limited scope and he excels in it. Despite having prosthetic and graphics, his intensity in acting arrests you. Bengali actor Saswata Chatterjee has a meatier role as commander of Complex and he was great. Shobhana, Pasupathy, Rajendra Prasad, Disha Patani, Anna Ben were fine in their roles. Lot of cameos are there throughout the movie, which surprise us occassionally.

Technicians :- Graphics of the movie is of the highest standard and on par with any Hollywood movie. The team should be applauded for the quality. Art work comes next in line for the accolades, setting up 3 worlds with contrasting premises. Action sequences were very well designed and executed, using the graphics to the maximum extent possible. Santosh Narayanan background score is excellent. Songs could have been better though. Nag Ashwin deserves a bow for the way he has conceived this story and executed it. Perfect blend of Indian mythology in a science fiction film is a very rare phenomenon, which he has aced. No one would believe that the director of Mahanati and Kalki are one and the same. Such is the contrast of these films genre are. He has a Rajamouli and a Bapu in him. Costumes & Make up have complimented the proceedings of the film.

Positives :-

Everything

Negatives :-

Lags in 1st half

Few songs

Summary :- Great story, terrific performances, top notch graphics make it must watch. It should be seen as a story based movie rather than a Prabhas movie, to enjoy it fully. Kudos to Nag Ashwin for pulling it off.

Rating :- 4.5/5 (Kalki is India's Avengers)

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Guntur Kaaram - Movie Review

Long awaited combo of Mahesh & Thrivikram has materialised in the form of Guntur Kaaram. Athadu and Khaleja though get terrific viewership when aired on TV, during their release, both were not commercial successes. Thrivikram is back after Ala Vaikuntapuramlo, which was a non-SSR industry hit then. Mahesh is on a success streak, though receiving backlash from fans & common audience for doing only message oriented movies. This time it’s a mass masala film to break those shackles.

Story :- Vasundhara (Ramya Krishna) leaves her 10 yr old son Ramana and husband Satyam (Jayaram) after a fight in the house. Her father cum politician Venakatswamy (Prakash Raj) gets her married to Narayana (Rao Ramesh) and they have a son. With time, Vasundhara grows in politics and is about to get law ministry, when Venkataswamy’s rival in party Kata Madhu (Ravi Shankar) threatens that he will reveal to the world about how she left her 1st son like an orphan and remarried. To counter attack the same, Venkataswamy ask his lawyer Pani (Murli Sharma) is assigned the task of taking a signature from Ramana that he is not heir of Vasundhara and is not expecting anything from the family. Ramana (Mahesh Babu) who is taking after the mirchi yard in Guntur after his father is a rough and rough guy and doesn’t succumb to any pressure or power. Though he misses his mother, never tried to go and see her or meet her. But with Venkataswamy’s approach, he turns rebel and doesn’t sign the documents in whichever way they try. Why Vasundhara left her son and never came back? Did Ramana sign the documents? Form the rest of the story.

Performances :- Mahesh did a terrific job as Ramana and his Guntur accent needs special mention. He was at ease in the mass avatar and he carried the movie on his shoulders. Emotion, Comedy, Fights, Dances, he gave his best in all departments. Special mention for his dances in the movie, he had put lot of efforts and dedication. Though have less screen presence Ramyakrishna and Jayaram did decent job whenever on screen. Prakash Raj was monotonous as we have seen such roles and performances from him before. Sree Leela was there for dances and glamour and she gave her best. Eshwari Rao is superb as aunt, with her action and Guntur diction. Vennela Kishore brings the comic relief. Murli Sharma is good.

Technicians :- Simple story and screenplay, but with good dialogues and performances makes Guntur Kaaram a watchable masala entertainer. It may not look like a proper Thrivikram film or Mahesh’s film, but it looks fresh with both their names tagged to it. Satirical Dialogues of Mahesh were good. Emotional scenes in the climax click well with proper justification to all that happened from start of the movie. Action episodes are not great, just okayish. Songs and background score should have been better.

Positives :-

Mahesh

Dialogues

Climax

Negatives :-

Action parts

Not crispier runtime

Summary :- Guntur Kaaram has all the ingredients in right proportions which are required to make a perfect mass masala commercial film. No vulgarity, no violence, no adult content.

Rating :- 3/5 (It’s a family entertainer)

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Salaar - Movie Review

Prashant Neel after the successful blockbuster KGF series joined hands with Prabhas for the much anticipated Salaar. Prabhas hasn’t tasted success after Bahubali franchise, major part due to teaming up with inexperienced and non-mass movie directors. This is his 1st proper combination after Rajamouli.

Story :- Vardha (Prithviraj), son of Raja Mannar (Jagapathi Babu) and Deva (Prabhas) are good friends who live in Khansar. Deva is very protective about Vardha and is ready to do anything for his safety. Once Deva and his mother were attacked and Vardha saves them and helps them leave Khansaar. Owing to the same, Deva assures whenever Vardha needs him, he will be there. After few years, Vardha needs the help of Deva and he calls him back to Khansar. Did Deva protect Vardha? What did he do in Khansar? Why did Deva lives in exile after that instance? Forms rest of the story.

Performances :- Prabhas steals the show in action blocks. He’s macho, fierce and calm at the same time. First half he’s controlled by his mother and second half by his friend. But in both cases, once he’s unleashed, there’s no stopping. Prithviraj as his best friend looks apt. We can feel his helplessness, pain and aspiration. He gets to show his action prowess in the last fight and he shines well. Eswari Rao as Prabhas mother has a lengthy role. Though the character pain is understandable, it feels monotonous and lag at few instances. Shruthi Haasan is okay in 1st half. Her role in 2nd half is just like Malavikain KGF, just to narrate/listen to the story. Jagapathi Babu, Bobby Simha, Shriya Reddy, Jhansi, etc have limited scope and they are fine.

Technicians :- Ravi Basrur didn’t live up to the expectations of KGF both in terms of music and background score. Scenes would have been elevated to next level, had the BG was in the range of Dheera Dheera. Movie’s strength is its action episodes. Anbariv did a terrific job with the fights and gave some of the best heroic moments. Prashant Neel used similar screenplay as done for KGF. Arriving at one scene from multiple dimensions and characters. In Salaar, he narrates the story completely backwards, revealing the after effects upfront and showing the reasons that caused it in later part. We may find many similarities between KGF and Salaar, mother sentiment, multiple villains (similar get ups), a tribe of oppressed, etc. Though the action part and elevation scenes work well, the drama is a bit let down with not so emotionally connecting scenes and repetitive actions. Few noteworthy moments are engine ignition sounds when Prabhas controls his anger in 1st half, Prithviraj looking at Prabhas shadow and seeing whether he is in control or about to freak out in action episode of 2nd half. Prashant has created a big canvas with a long history, a place in the map, multiple tribes and their generations, internal rift, power games, etc and amidst all this a warrior on lose who can go to any extent for his friend. He has lot of scope for the 2nd part to play with and the climax sets up the platform perfectly for 2nd part.

Positives :-

Action episodes

Story and set up

Prabhas

Negatives :-

Slow drama

Underwhelming background score and songs

Summary :- Worth watching for the action episodes and elevation scenes. Not on par with KGF 1, but far better than all Prabhas movies after Bahubali.

Rating :- 3/5 (Keep expectations in check, you will like it)