Ala Modalaindi - Angine Thudangi

2011 by Nandini Reddy - Telugu, dubbed in Malayalam

The number of Telugu movies dubbed and released in Kerala seems to be increasing with every passing year. First it was just some Allu Arjun movies, then some pure action and college romance flicks came in and now it looks like almost all big producer has an eye on the Kerala market. On the very first day of its release itself, I was told by some friends near to the theatre that, not that good, dont watch etc.. But I couldnt resist myself from one poster which showed Nithya Menon with a big smile and I promptly ended up at Shenoys.

A girl and boy meets and become good friends. Before they fall for each other, there is a turn every time keeping them away and the number of such turns keep coming like in a bumpy road ride. 

A typical romantic comedy from Telugu movies. The meeting of the girl and boy and the umpteen number of turns are quite normal and different too, but finally the end product is the same. Typical of such movies, there are moments when the viewers are taken for granted and when we too look down at the movie makers. But..

There are some really funny moments in this movie and the time was worth for those moments. It is more like a silly ride, clumsy at times, with some young lovers, with some really good comic moments in between. An Ok entertainer. With a better script and if the director was more serious, it could have ended up as a better entertainer, though.

Nithya doesn't have much to act, but her charm is quite there, really gorgeous and quite tempting. The hero, Nani, looks like a next door boy, and was quite natural with his performance in many scenes. He was the real surprise of the movie.

In between there was a good message too, aimed at the youngsters. The heroine tells her father, who is looking disappointed after a fight with his wife, why he doesn't go for a divorce? And the father replies - when you face a problem, my child, what do you do? go away from the problem, escaping the problem or face the problem and live with it? he very briefly explains it and somebody in the audience even gave an applause there, which was quite befitting the way this scene was told. The best moment in the movie for me, by a debutant lady director. 

100% Love

2011 by Sukumar - Telugu dubbed in Malayalam

The first Telugu movie I watched was Shankarabharanam. As a child I really did not understand the strong emotional background in that story except for enjoying the great songs. But from the terrific crowds, this movie was a super duper hit in Kerala in the beginning of 80's even in the village theatres, I knew then that the movie was special. Then, when Doordarshan came in, occassionally there were good Telugu movies in their mattinee spot on Sundays. Except for the face of one prominent actor who was there in all these art house movies, I don't remember anything at all from those movies. After a long, Arya was dubbed and released in Kerala, marking the advent of Allu Arjun movies and I really found it a nice entertainer. Since then I have seen more than a few Telugu movies, with 50% turning really bad entertainers, a 40% turning out as average entertainers and the rest turning out as exceptional entertainers, like Pokkiri, Bommarallu, Magadheera, Leader etc. So when you know that there is a new Telugu movie from the director of Arya, it sounds interesting.

A really stupid love story between 2 cousins.

I am not sure, if I must put this movie into the above 50 or 40% category. It definitely does not fit into the 40% category of average entertainers. Because there are many moments when we find it really absurd and difficult to bear. At the same time, there are some real good fun here and there which doesnt make it a cent percent poor entertainer. It is just above a poor entertainer for bits and a poor entertainer for most parts. The acting of the lead pair is really terrible.

Nagarjuna impressed Kerala with 2 flicks towards the end of 80's. One was Geetanjali, with Maniratnam and the other was Shiva,with Ram Gopal Varma, which was about a hero rising out of a college, which had some excellent action. And recently, he was very good in Payanam. Whatever, he is an established and adored super star in Andhra Pradesh. So when his son is casted as a love hero, there will be expectations and honestly, I was quite disappointed. Naga Chaitanya doesn't seem to have any charm and I think most people in the theatre didn't like him too.

A movie to forget. 

Nootrenbadhu 180

2011 by Jayendra

There are two multiplex's in Kochi now. The ticket charges are more than double from the regular city cinemas. And when a movie release only in the multiplex, not in the regular cinemas, normally we would expect an out of the ordinary movie, as in India now many low budget, off beat, movies are released only in multiplex's. For me, with my work hours, Sundays are the only possibilities for cinema visits. The advantage with multiplex is that they have late night shows at 2245 and 2255 hrs. If I can manage to leave work some time earlier, then I can watch movies even on regular week days. But it is difficult to leave early and after all the effort, also the longer biking to reach these cinemas, which are all on the highway, spending more money, if the 'off beat' movie turns out disappointing, it is really a bad end to my day. Normally, I would never say I lost my money after watching even a really bad movie. I would rather regret the time lost. But this night, driving back home through the peaceful and empty road, I was wondering about my decision. I could have waited for a week more to see if this movie was going to release in the regular centres, than to hurry and waste this much money.

Ajay, a doctor from US, seems to be on a sabbatical in India, not worried about the past or future, but living the present. Unlike the similar ABCD's or IBCD's, he mingles with the unfortunate on the streets and even work with them and help them. Vidya, a local photo journalist, is drawn to him and Ajai flees when she propose to him.

The beginning of the movie and almos the whole of first half is actually very good. In fact, after 10 or 15 minutes, I felt sad that the theatre was half empty. The way it was picturised was brilliant. In fact, there is a song, which is brilliantly shot. If anyone watch this song in TV, I doubt if they could wait anymore to watch the movie. A wonderful sense of imagination by the director, ably assisted by the cinematographer and editor. And the moments Ajai goes through with his house owners and Vidya all look quite genuine and nice with some simple fun. But as and when Ajai's past, in the US, is flashed in pieces, we know it is just yet another one man two woman triangular tiki - taka. And finally thats what it turns out to be. The only difference is neither does the two woman meet, nor does the man pick. The reason for Ajai's problems is the same old reason which we have seen in hundreds of romantic comedies all over India and Hollywood. And towards the second half, that is exactly what the movie is. And Ajai, doesnt really seem to be doing anything at all about his problems. His characterisation is quite strange. But the whole difference is Ajai's decision at the end, which is really different for this kind of a story. Also the director hasn't gone over board with the emotions, which is a good plus.

Whatever, there are some wonderful performances here. Sidharth plays a role which he has mastered out now through so many Telugu movies. It is the gorgeous Nithya Menon, as Divya, who actually steals the lime light with her natural performance. Her expressions and reactions are mostly quite subtle. A brilliant under play. I cannot think about another actress who can under play so well. Add to that her charm, a kind that can be seen with the like of Scarlet Johanssson. I have never liked and been attracted so much by any actress, ever since I watched Shobana in Kanamarayathu, as an adolescent boy. I hope she continues like this. Priya Anand, as Renuka, I am afraid, cannot really act. She was good in some scenes, but she is just a typical Indian heroine. Veterans, Mouli and Geetha, as the house owners, did an excellent job, inspite of their small roles.

If technical aspects and lovely frames alone would make a beautiful movie, 180 is much above average. In fact, on this side it can match the best from around the world. However, as a movie, but for its different climax, it turns out pretty ordinary.

Leader

2010 by Shekar Kammula

In India, we have seen lot of political movies. In fact, from around the end of 80's Malayalam movies got a procession of movies with political overtones, in which 99% happened to be quite on the same lines with the same kind of stuff. Some of them still were good entertainers. The best definitely was Panchavadippalam, by K G George relased some time in the mid of 80's. That was a sarcastic, but brilliant take on politics on the ground level. Recently Prakash Jha made Raajneeti, which I thought was just average normally, but it was above average stuff compared to the normal ones from Bollywood. So most North Indian media took it as a huge political movie. I just saw Leader, a Telugu movie and I found it miles ahead of Raajneeti, but no one outside the states of South India (barring Kerala) seems to know about it.

A corrupt Chief minister is killed and his young son, who was working in the US, arrives and takes charge. How he evolves into a leader of the masses is caught quite nicely in this excellent movie. 

This is not a very serious movie, it is actually an entertainer, but it is a great entertainer. Its story can be read almost every day in news papers in India, in parts. In fact everything that is happening in this movie is actually happening in India, not just as a single plot though. And it is only at the end, where a leader of the masses evolves, it turns cinematic, but not going over board.

For people worried about India, its corrupt system and politicians and the majority poor this is definitely an excellent movie. For, it is a feel good movie on contemporary politics.

It would be brilliant, if this movie will be released all over India, in Hindi or English, when we are seeing many, good and fake, fighting to find the black money outside India. The movie actually talks about black money which is stuffed in India itself.

The movie still has a few songs, but we may not even really notice how these songs come and go. It just melts down with the movie. Only in the second half, when there is a love angle, does the movie drags a little bit, bit it falls back into the track very soon. Even as an entertainer, I would say the direction was brilliant. It is an excellent movie under the technical categories too. Even the back ground score and songs are nice.

And Rana  Daggupati as the young Chief Minister was excellent. He has a wonderful charm and I am very impressed.

I really wish, this movie is shown all over India. 

Badrinath

2011 by VV Vinayak

I watched Passion of Christ with an American friend. He doubted the real intention behind the release of the movie, the timing of its release especially. He thought the timing was meant to gather a lot of conservative votes in favour of Mr. Bush. I found it quite strange, how could a movie like that help a presidential election. In India I never saw a movie which would help garner more interest in a particular political party or ideology. For the first time I watch a movie and felt, there is something wrong with this movie. It tends to exaggerate a kind of campaign from a section of religious fanatics. May be it is not. But there is something basically wrong and foolish looking in the plot for this Telugu production. May be Allu Arjun wanted to make a movie which would surpass Magadheera in its grandeur. The way the movie was promoted, I thought so and all campaigns seemed to talk about a sure block buster movie. The first ever Telugu movie to be released in Malayalam simultaneously with the original. But..

If there is a competition for the worst movie ever, from South India, I am sure Badrinath can be a serious contender.

Except for Killadi, Allu Arjun never did any kind of semi serious or even different kind of movie. All his movies were simple or hard core entertainers and that is what his fans like him for. But it is unbelievable how he committed, performed and promoted this kind of a horribly stupid and terrible movie. I think once a couple of movies are successful and a film personality gains recognition, it is difficult or nearly impossible for them to stick to their basic common sense or feel or think like a common being. Either they get carried away and believe blindly in their fans or they have lost that thread between a new plot and common sense. I cannot fathom how in the world they thought about this kind of a plot. Even a hard core Hindu fanatic would find this movie stupid.

In spite of all the chaos in the movie house, Allu Arjun still got a lot of applause for some of his dance steps, is the only positive aspect of this movie. 

Magadheera

2009 by  Rajamouli , watching for the third time for my wife

In the 1600's, Udaigarh kingdom is about to be attacked by the invading forces of Sher Khan. Udaigarh is loyally protected by Kaala Bhairava who belongs to a warrior clan in which men are so brave and will not die without killing at least 100 enemy men and mostly they die before 30 years fighting for their homeland. Young princess Mitrananda devi adores Kaala Bhairava, but Ranadeb Billa her cousin is dying to marry her. He forces a competition out for deciding who can marry the princess and inspite of his wickedness it is Kaala Bhairava who emerges winner and Billa has to leave Udaigarh. The King likes Bhairava but is sure that his daughter will be a widow sooner if she marries him and hence request Kaala Bhairava to forget his love, which he sadly accepts. A special prayer is to be offered at an auspicious moment in a sacred Shiva shrine, which itself has a fearsome location, in some part of Udaigarh. Kaala Bhairava escorts princess to the shrine, where she asks him to proclaim his love for her. At this moment Sher Khan's army arrives at the shrine. Billa had turned a traitor and had attacked the palace with Sher Khan, killing the king. Sher Khan had heard a lot about the bravery of Bhairava and challenges him to prove it. Kaala Bhairava single handedly faces about 100 warriors of Sher Khan and kills them all while Sher Khan can only just count the number of dead and towards the end he is in awe of the bravery of Bhairava and proclaims himself a slave to Bhairava as a mark of respect. But Billa interferes, as he was promised help to marry the princess, and fights with Bhairava and is killed, but manages to seriously wound the princess before his death. Mithrananda only wants to know if Bhairava loves him but dies before he speaks out. Bhairava jumps down from the peak after the princess. Four hundred years later Bhairava, princess, Billa and Sher Khan are back in human form as Harsha, Indu, Raghu veer and Solomon. Harsha, when he accidently touches the finger tip of Indu, has a kind of shock which makes him crave for her love. Raghu Veer and Indu are still cousins and Raghu veer desperately needs to marry her. Solomon is a fisherman who is ready to help Harsha in anyways to help him have his love. How Harsha manages to win the love of Indu, how he finally realises their past and how he manages to convey this to Indu and to unite finally, only after the death of Raghu Veer, makes the full movie.

There are many many things that I would like to talk about on this movie, but dont know where to start etc.
A kind of fairy tale story, which we would have loved to hear as a child for all the heroism and thrill it offered, or as a teenager for all the romance. But it has been beautifully penned into a modern day script which effortlessly shuttles us between the 1600's and 2000's. The movie starts in 1600's with the titles, comes back to the life of Harsha and gives us glimpses of his past as he is after Indu and with an accident, takes us back to the 1600's with the whole story and then again completes it in the 2000's. I liked a lot how this has been structured. The movie keeps its excellent pace through out and offers a lot of thrilling moments through out, which has all been beautifully shot. May it be the moment were Harsha recognises his Indu - the scene in which he follows her bus atop a horse, or the scene when Bhairava is saved by his horse , whatever there is a lot of heroism here which I am sure even a staunch feminist would enjoy. All those lighter moments between Harsha and Indu will really make us relax down. And the stunts have been excellent too.

Except for Enthiran, which was a later production and seems to have spend much more money, I havent seen any Indian movie doing this kind of an excellent job with special effects and computer graphics. The difference is we do not worry about the special effects or graphics at all while watching this movie. You are gripped into the story and all what you see are only just part of the story and unless you really care for all such things happening behind and away from camera you will not think about all this special effects at all. There is a particular camera movement, when the camera follows the horse racers entering the kingdom and camera just pans upwards, very fast, by the two towers, I cant describe it, thats simply brilliant. Great great imagination. Technically as well, on all aspects may it be Camera , editing, sound engineering, costumes and sets or whatever this movie is amazing.

Magadheera, for me, is a perfect entertainer. It has every thing we would wish for from an entertainer. A simple and nice story, good thrills, good music, charming actors and wonderful frames. Though it is pretty ordinary for some time in the beginning following Harsh, which I think was important for the box office results, it is wonderfully done. Had the director known that people would accept this movie even without that masala item, I am sure the director would not have compromised for those scenes and couple of other songs. Having said that all those songs are nice to listen to and well shot.

I have to say that Ram charan Teja and Kajal Agarwal has a beautiful charm and they have a movie for their lifetime. So is Rajamouli. This movie could be his hall mark.

Finally, at the end as the credits rolls there is a song which actually introduces all the people behind the camera. Well this is not quite new for Indian cinema now. But in Magadheera this is just very different that the song is picturised with only a few steps and in a very funny way. I cant explain it. I have watched this song alone for more than 20 times. Its really really good.

I was not an admirer of main stream Telugu movies, but Magadheera changed all that. I did watch a few more Telugu movies after my first Magadheera show.

If this movie was made by Hollywood with white actors, I am sure, the movie would have still looked the same but it would have gained universal acclaim. Unfortunately it is from an Indian regional language and its a pity that even many people in South India havent heard about this movie.

One of the best entertainers of all time from India.