Rating: 3.5/5
Cast: Mahesh Babu, Kajal, Prakash Raj and others
Music: SS Thaman
Lyrics: Bhaskarabhatla Ravi Kumar
Cinematography: Sam K Naidu
Editing: SR Shekhar
Producer: RR Venkat
Story, Screenplay, Dialogue, Direction: Puri Jagannath
Theatrical Release: 13 January 2012

The most awaited film of the year has arrived. This is the mass hysteria that seldom covers entire state. While Mahesh Babu is on the apex of stardom with the industry super hit Dookudu on one hand, Puri Jagannath is on top gaining national reputation after directing ‘Bbuddah Hoga Tera Baap’. Despite his last Telugu film, Nenu Na Rakshasi’ couldn’t do well, the expectations of audience on the combination of Puri and Mahesh (reminding Pokiri) are always on high. Let us see how this film that released in maximum number of theatres entertains the audience. 

Story:
Mumbai city commissioner Ajay Bharadwaj (Nasser) announces in a Pressmeet that mafia dons are wiped out from the map of Mumbai. He also states that he would break the leg if any don steps in Mumbai.

Instantly Surya (Mahesh Babu) steps in Mumbai. His friend  (Brahmaji) takes him to his room in slum. Surya asks him to quit job and join him as an assistant to do his proposed crime business. He also says that he is in Mumbai to make it piss.

How he emerges as a don falls rest of the story. He uses his brain and brawn to grow big in Mumbai. He plays with system and preys on politicians to grow his business.

On parallel line he loves Chitra (Kajal), the daughter of commissioner.

Story wise, it’s simple but the narration beauty is ample and dialogues tremble the senses of audience. Rest should be watched on screen.

Performances:
Mahesh Babu is all over the film. He charms with his style, scares with his intensity and strikes with his looks. His dialogue delivery is another high asset to the film.

Kajal Agarwal does her bit as required. She provides glamour where required and sheds tears when wanted. As such, her characterisation is not that strong but she provides some visual relief.

Prakash Raj was not used to his potential. In fact, his arrival comes rather late in the film and before he can pick up he is packed up. But those little moments he was there he made his presence felt.

Nasser was natural. His scenes with Mahesh Babu were effective and both shared a good chemistry. It is inspiring to see Nasser maintaining strong biceps even at this age.

Sayaji Shinde was standard. Brahmaji was usual. Dharmavarapu was contained. The girl doing the role of Kajal’s friend was funny. Shweta Bharadwaj sizzled in her item song. The others didn’t have much scope.

Finally Subba Raju made his presence but the scope and span of his character is limited.

Last but not least Puri Jagannadh appears as a taxi driver in a scene.

Highlights:

• Mahesh Babu
• Dialogues
• Songs

Drawbacks:

• Routine Story
• Overdose of preaching
• Lack of villain
• Climax fight

Analysis: 
In one line, the story is about the emergence of a don by a common man. However, there is a fine line between narrating a story with conviction and clubbing it with cinematic liberties.

The liberties taken were too high and this led to an artificial feel among the audience. Films like ‘Nayakudu’ ‘Dhalapathi’ ‘Saamrajyam’ were classier in portraying such tales. Secondly, Mahesh is seen giving few lines on how one should be selfish.

Well, the audience may like what he is speaking because it is the hard truth but acceptance levels will differ. Moreover, for someone like Mahesh and his charisma, such lines are quite conflicting to his image. The entire film runs purely on two things- Mahesh Babu’s performance and Puri’s dialogue power.

Here are few quotes from Puri’s pen which are the highlight of his career:

• Dabbu shaaswatham kaadu, manushule shaashwatham antoo untaaru. Kaanee manushulu chachchipothunnaaru, dabbu maathram chaavatledu.
• Discovery channel lo puli jinkani veta aadatam chusthoo jinka bathakaalani prardhana chestaam. Jinka tappinchukogaane TV kattesi manam maatram velli kodini kosi biryani vanduku thinesthaam. Manaki jinka meeda prema kaadu. Puli meeda kopam. Daanini emi peekaleka adi odipote choodaalanukuntaam.
• Manushulu chepalni udakapetti, vepi rakarakaalugaa thinesthaaru. Ade oka shark chepa manishini korikite prapamchamlo anni news channels lonu choopistaaru. Em manushulavenaa praanaalu, chepalavi kaada?
• Nenu elago alaa bathikeyadaaniki raaledu. Mumbai ni uchcha poyinchadaaniki vachchaanu.
• Chuttu round up chesi confuse cheyoddu. Confusion lo ekkuva kottesthaanu.

Coming to the songs, Saar osthaara…was well canned and Kajal looked her sultry best, same with Chao Pilla.

The other song ‘Chandamama….’ is well canned wherein the much talked about lip kiss between Mahesh and Kajal is seen. That was shot aesthetically. As for the item song featuring Shweta Bharadwaj, it was disappointing to see many areas getting blurred due to censor objections. The other songs were alright.

Overall, this is a film that will strike a strong chord with fans of Mahesh Babu and to those who love to hear some punch packed dialogues. But apart from that, the film takes a hiccup on lack of entertainment quotient, comedy, strong characterization of villain.

Despite profanity, the charisma of Mahesh Babu pulls female crowds to theaters. The film deserves good commendation for not making in the typical hero-villain-comedian concept. It’s a big risk but the director attempted it so efficiently. Entire film was shouldered only on Mahesh Babu and finally the output is not boring but hooking.

Nothing haunts other than Mahesh Babu’s dialogues from the film after coming out from theater.

Bottomline: Watch it for Mahesh and dialogues!!

(Karthiksri can be reached at  Karthiksri@cinemirchi.com)

Ravi Teja-Siva’s movie has been titled as Daruvu.

The film is progressing at a rapid pace in Badami and Burugupalli Shivaramakrishna is producing the movie. Ravi Teja will yet again romance the Delhi girl Tapsee in the film. Daruvu is being made under Sri Venkateswara Entertainments banner.

Vijay Anthony will score the tunes for Daruvu and Vetri is taking charge of the camera. The cinematographer turned director Siva has also proved his mettle in Kollywood with Vikramarkudu remake Siruthai with Karthi and Tamanna in the leads.

Venkatesh, Trisha starrer Bodyguard movie has confirmed its release on January 14. Though the movie was earlier slated for a release on January 12 in India and on Jan 9 in oversea, it is now hitting the screens on January 14 on Saturday.

Bodyguard is directed by Gopichand Malineni and produced by Bellamkonda Suresh on Sri Sai Ganesh Productions banner. Saloni, Prakash Raj played the vital roles and Ali has done a hilarious role in the film. Venkatesh will be seen as a Bodyguard to Trisha whose father is Praksh Raj while Saloni is her friend in the movie. Though she initially dislikes the Bodyguard and tries her ways to get rid of him, the rich lady later falls in love with her Bodyguard. Will she win his love forms the crux of the story.

Bodyguard is a family entertainer and has loads of emotional scenes. SS Thaman composed the tunes.

Allu Sirish is all set to make his entry in films. Unlike his brother Allu Arjun, Sirish is debuting with a Tamil film. It’s confirmed that Sirish will step into the shoes of Prabhas for the Tamil remake of Mr.Perfect movie.

Mr.Perfect turned out to be a hit film in 2011 that has Prabhas, Kajal Agarwal and Tapsee in the lead roles. The details of the heroines are yet to be known and there is a buzz that a new lady will be roped in for Kajal’s role. Allu Sirish is currently in Mumbai undergoing training in the acting.

So, get set for yet another hero’s entry from the Mega Camp…

Super Star Mahesh Babu’s Businessman is set for a release on January 13 and the film is witnessing a record release in all the territories in AP along with other states. Businessman will release in highest number of record theatres ever in overseas.

Dookudu was released in maximum number of theaters which was immediately surpassed by Jr.NTR’s Oosaravelli and now Businessman is set to create new records again. RR Movie Makers are planning to cash on Mahesh’s image by releasing it big. In Hyderabad alone, the movie is said to be releasing in nearly 100 theaters.

With the festival season on, and Dookudu mania still existing, Businessman is sure to create the record openings at the Box-Office.

The hot and happening music director of Tollywood Thaman has bagged another big budget film. Thaman is all set to compose tunes for Mega Power Star Ram Charan Tej’s film in the direction of VV Vinayak.

This is the first time Thaman is scoring the music for a Ram Charan film. Thaman will commence recording for this yet-to-be titled film from January. Kajal Agarwal is playing the leading lady in this mass action entertainer being produced by DVV Danayya under Universal media banner. The other interesting news is Ram Charan will be playing the dual role for the first time in the movie.

In the meantime, Ram Charan will wrap up Sampath Nandi directed Racha movie shooting.

Super Star Mahesh Babu starrer Businessman is gearing up for a release on January 11. In this regard, the film has wrapped up the re-recording phases of the movie. Thaman has worked at a rapid pace for the film as the deadline has been arriving.

Kajal Agarwal played Mahesh Babu’s love interest in the movie. Businessman is directed by Puri Jagannadh and produced by Venkat R under the banner of RR Movie Makers. Thaman’s musical scores have already become chartbusters.

With a tagline ‘Guns don’t need agreements’, major part of Businessman was shot in Mumbai. The film has cinematography by Shyam K. Naidu and editing by SR Sekhar. Businessman also casts Prakash Raj, Raza Murad, Bharath Reddy, Dharmavarapu Subrahmanyam, Brahmaji, Sayaji Shinde, Shwetha Bharadwaj

Young Tiger Jr.NTR’s forthcoming film with director Srinu Vytla has been titled as Action and ‘With Entertainment’ is the tagline. The film will have loads of entertainment in Srinu Vytla’s style. The news has been confirmed by Roopa Vytla who is quite happy with their recent success Dookudu that has wrapped up 100 days.

Kajal Agarwal is zeroed in to play Jr.NTR’s love interest in the movie while rest of the crew member who worked for Dookudu will be working for Action too. Action will hit the floors in March and the pre-production works will begin shortly.

Ganesh Babu will produce the Action under Parameswara Arts banner and Thaman will score the tunes.

Power Star Pawan Kalyan and Trivikram Srinivas had earlier teamed up for Jalsa that turned out to be a hit at the Box-Office. The duo seems to be teaming up yet again for a new movie tentatively titled as Saradaa.

Way2movies has earlier reported that Pawan Kalyan has promised to make another film for Panjaa producers and the latest buzz says Panjaa will be produced by Neelima Thirmulashetty and Nagesh Muntha on Sanghamitra Arts. Saradaa is touted as a full-fledged entertainer.

Well, let’s wait for the official announcement from the filmmakers…

Naga Chaitanya’s 100% Love produced by Geetha Arts banner turned out to be a super hit of 2011. Now, the latest we hear is Naga Chaitanya’s new film will also be produced under the same banner. Bunny Vaas will produce the movie

Ravi Kumar Chowdhary will wield the megaphone for the film who has earlier directed Yagnam and Bala Krishna’s Veerabhadra. Ravi Kumar Chowdary managed to convince Naga Chaitanya with a good storyline.

As of now, Naga Chaitanya is busy with the shoot of Autonagar Surya in Deva Katta direction with Samantha as heroine. Next to this, the actor also had a film titled Gouravam in Radha Mohan direction.