F2 – Simple & Funny

Release date : January 12, 2018

Starring : Venkatesh, Varun Tej, Tamannaah, Mehreen Kaur, Rajendra Prasad

Director : Anil Ravipudi

Producers : Dil Raju

Music Director : Devi Sri Prasad

Cinematographer : Sameer Reddy

Editor : Bikkina Thammiraju

                                                                                                                                                 F2 has been in the news as it has the crazy combination of Venkatesh and Varun Tej playing main leads. The comedy caper has hit the screens today and let’s see whether it lives up to all its expectations or not.

Story :

Venky(Venkatesh) is a frustrated husband who starts hating his wife(Tamannaah) just after six months of his marriage This is also the time when Varun(Varun Tej) falls in love with Honey(Mehreen) who is Venky’s crazy sister in law. This leads to more problems for the frustrated men.

After a point in the film, the frustration gets to the duo so much that they leave their loved ones and escape to Europe. There, they face a deadly situation and get stuck in even bigger problems featuring their wives. Rest of the story is as to how they come out of their problems and win their love back.

Plus Points :

Venkatesh is back in top form and is hilarious in the film. His facial expressions and the manner in which he evokes the Bakra comedy is quite good. It is nice to see him in a lovable role after a long time which family audience will easily connect to.

Credit to should go to Varun Tej for holding his fort in front of a senior artist like Venky. Varun not only had to get his Telangana slang right but had to also evoke slapstick comedy which he did quite well and gelled with Venky superbly.

It was good to see K R Vijaya and Annapurna in good roles after a long time. Tamannaah looks gorgeous in the film and the surprise package is Mehreen who evoked silly expressions and comedy superbly.

The dog episode is hilarious and will evoke huge cheers in the theater. The first half is filled with a lot of fun moments which are simple and funny. Prakash Raj was good and Vennela Kishore gives his comic touch to the film in the end. Rajendra Prasad is also neat in his role and provides the needed laughs.

Minus Points :

There is no proper story in the film as the plot is water thin. Also, the conflict point with which the heroes separate from their loved ones is not established well.

After a hilarious first half, the tempo of the film drops down and slows the film to an extent. The comedy evoked is just about okay during this time as the logic misses out in many places. A song in the climax disturbs the flow of the film at the crunch situtation.

Technical Aspects :

Music by DSP is just about okay and so was his background score. Dialogues are hilarious and director Anil has used them in right situations. Production values by Dil Raju are top notch as the film looks rich and the Europe visuals have been showcased in a good manner by the camera department. Editing is decent but one song in the second half could have been avoided.

Coming to the director Anil Ravipudi, he has done a good job with the film. He has used Venkatesh’s potential to full use and created good comedy at regular intervals. He knows the audience pulse well and narrated the film is a simple and fun manner. If he would have added some more logic and fun in the second half the output would have been superb.

Verdict :

On the whole, F2 is a happy fun film which can be watched with your entire family. Vintage Venky is back and he makes sure that there is all-round entertainment in the film. There is no proper story or logic in the second half but this a kind of a film which should be enjoyed keeping aside all those minor issues. As the Sankranthi season is on, the film will get a wider reach as it has simple and neat fun which will impress many. Go watch it.

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Petta

Release date : January 10, 2019

Starring : Rajinikanth, Vijay Sethupathi, Simran, Trisha, Megha Akash

Director : Karthik Subbaraj

Producers : Kalanidhi Maran

Music Director : Anirudh Ravichander

Cinematographer : S. Tirru

Editor : Vivek Harshan

        Post the success of 2.0, Rajini is back with a mass entertainer Petta. Also starring Nawazuddin Siddique and Vijay Setupathi, this film has hit the screens today. Let’s see how it is.

Story :

Kaali(Rajinikanth) joins as a hostel warden in a college and helps a young pair with their love story which keeps getting into problems all the time. But there is more than what meets the eye as Kaali is saving the couple with a purpose. Who is this Kaali? What is his flashback? and how are Nawazuddin Siddique, Vijay Setupathi, Trisha and Simran connected to the whole story. To know the answers you need to watch the film on the big screen.

Plus Points :

Superstar Rajini’s performance and aura in the film is in full display. What fans were missing with Rajini films in recent times, director Karthik Subbaraj adds all those thrills and dialogues which will please the fans. Rajini is as usual superb and holds the film with his amazing screen presence.

Though Vijay Sethupati does not get much screen presence in the first half, his role is given a superb twist in the second half and his chemistry with Rajini is very good. Simran is beautiful even in this age and her love track has been showcased gracefully.

Nawazuddin Siddique gets a meaty role and he is decent in his character. The climax of the film is good as the twist showcased is interesting. Special mention goes to Anirudh who gives a terrific background score which elevates the proceedings completely.

Minus Points :

One of the biggest drawbacks is that there is not much story in the film. Off late, all the Rajini films are having the same formulae of showing Rajini as the mature guy with a proper flashback which is getting repetitive now.

There action only starts in the second half and the entire first half an hour of the second half goes for a toss even though key elements in the story are disclosed. These scenes are routine, have nothing new to showcase. It is hard to understand why Trisha accepted the role as she appears only in a few scenes.

Too much of time is taken to showcase key twists in the second half. The story is dragged only to elevate Rajini’s hungama which is a put off for regular audience. Also, the basic emotions in the second half are missing completely between key characters. The film has a 90’s feel and this can be outdated for regular audience.

Technical Aspects :

As said earlier, Anirudh elevates the film with his music and BGM. The camera work is neat as it showcases the college set up in the beautiful locations of Simla. Dialogues are super fun and especially those written for Rajini will please the fans. Editing is disappointing as close to 10 to 12 minutes in the second half can be easily trimmed.

Coming to the director Karthik Subbaraj, he is a massive Rajini fan and showcased the star through the fans point of view. It is perhaps his weakest film in terms of script and narration with only a good twist in the end.

Verdict :

Fans of Rajini had a general complaint that they were missing the trademark Rajni and his fan moments as he was playing mostly mature roles. But director Karthik Subbaraj has showcased all those thrills in high spirits which will please the hardcore fans. Apart from the fan factor, this film does not have the story or gripping narration which will please the regular audience and ends as a below average watch this weekend. Watch it only for Rajni.

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Vinaya Vidheya Rama

Release date : January 11, 2018

Starring : Ram Charan, Vivek Oberoi, Kiara Advani, Prashanth Thiagarajan

Director : Boyapati Srinu

Producers : D. V. V. Danayya

Music Director : Devi Sri Prasad

Cinematographer : Rishi Punjabi

Editor : Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao

Boyapati Sreenu is a commercial cinema specialist and gives star heroes the needed image makeovers. He has now teamed up with Ram Charan for Vinaya Vidheya Rama which has hit the screens today. Let’s see how it is.

Story :

Ram(Charan) is an orphan who grows up with four other brothers who are also orphans. All of them spend some lovely times together and Ram keeps saving his family from evil people. But the twist in the tale arises when one of the brothers(Prashanth) who is an election officer gets into deep problems with a dreaded gangster called Raja Bhai(Vivek Oberoi). Rest of the story is as to how Ram guns down the villain and saves his family.

Plus Points :

This is undoubtedly Ram Charan’s massiest role to date and Boyapati has showcased him in a good manner. Charan’s aggression, six pack body, and dances have been utilized in a decent manner and mega fans will love Charan in the film. The emotions between the family members have been showcased well in the first half.

Tamil hero Prashanth is impressive in his role and brings a depth to the film. Senior actress, Sneha also gets an emotional role and she does justice to her character. Kiara Advani looks beautiful but she is restricted to a few scenes in the first half and songs only. Aryan Rajesh and Ravi Varma are neat as Charan’s brothers.

Vivek Oberoi is yet another added attraction to the film and he has been showcased in a fiery manner in the second half. The elevation scenes to showcase the fights are pretty good and will please the masses. Especially, the Azerbaijan fight which showcases Charan’s six-pack look is good.

Minus Points :

The second half of the film is ended on an abrupt note. After elevating the villain’s role so well and giving the fans goosebumps in the pre-climax fight, the proceedings go down all of a sudden and the film is ended on a simple note.

Yet another major drawback is the screenplay by Boyapati. There are many scenes in the film which are not clear. The manner in which Charan reveals facts about his brother, how the villains caused problems to him, and how it is set in the present time is not showcased clearly.

As expected, there are many logics which go for a toss in the film. The story of the film is nothing new and has been dealt with many a time before. As in every Boyapati film, there is an overdosage of violence and this will restrict the film in the overseas and multiplexes.

Technical Aspects :

Though DSP’s music was not that great audio wise, the makers have done well to make the songs look good on screen. DSP’s background is also decent and elevates the fights in a superb manner. Dialogues are massy and the production values by Danayya are pretty impressive. Editing is crisp in the first half but looks out of place in the second. Special mention to the fights composed by Kanal Kannan as all the thrills are very good.

Coming to the director Boyapati, he has done what was expected of him. Though he did not showcase anything new, the manner in which he has used Charan’s charisma and screen presence was very good. Fans wanted to see Charan in an aggressive manner and Boyapati has done justice to this part quite well. He also starts the first half with good emotions, songs, and fights and sets the interval bang well. But his narration lacks the grip in the second half as logic goes for a toss and the film is edited abruptly and because of this, the ending is disappointing.

Verdict:

On the whole, Vinaya Vidheya Rama is a typical Boyapati film with his trademark elevation scenes and fights. The only difference here is that Charan is showcased in a new manner but the story and treatment remind you of the same old Boyapati films in the past. The film is clearly made for the masses and fans and will only please them. But for all those who look for something new and expect fresh taking and entertainment, the film ends up as a below-par watch. So, keep your expectations in check as you exactly know what is coming your way.

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NTR Kathanayakudu

Release date : January 09, 2019

Starring : Balakrishna, Vidya Balan,Kalyan Ram, Sumanth, Rana Daggubati

Director : Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi

Producers : Balakrishna, Sai Korrapati

Music Director : M.M Keeravaani

Cinematographer : Gnana Shekar V.S

Editor : Rama Krishna Arram

NTR Kathanayakudu is one of the most awaited biopics in the history of Telugu cinema. Based on the life of legendary NTR, the first part has hit the screens today amidst huge pre-release buzz. Let’s see whether the film lives up to all expectations or not.

Story:

The story of the first part is based on the life of Rama Rao(Balakrishna) who leaves his job and decides to become an actor. He is ably supported by his wife Tarakam(Vidya Balan) and very soon, Rama Rao makes it big and becomes a top star in the industry. But there is more life ahead for Rama Rao as destiny has other plans and makes him take the political route. How does he manage all of it and to know how much of it is showcased in the first part, one needs to watch the film on the big screen.

Plus Points :

Probably, Balakrishna was destined to play his father on screen and boy, he has done just a mind-blowing job as NTR. You only feel as if you are seeing NTR himself on screen as NBK looks apt as the legendary actor in the second half. One can say that it is Balakrishna’s best performance to date as the star actor has lived in the role of NTR. Be it Balayya’s body language, or facial expression, he has got everything right and is a treat for all Nandamuri fans.

Many might have wondered why Vidya Balan opted to do a Telugu film. But she breathes life into the role of Basavatarakam. Vidya Balan proves why she is a national award-winning actress and gelled so well with Balayya and the manner in which she evokes chemistry with him is just superb. The emotions that she portrays through her silence speaks a thousand words and is the big pillar in the film.

Krish has selected characters in such a way that everyone is just class personified. Sumanth plays the mighty ANR and he is very good on screen. His onscreen chemistry with NTR and how those scenes are narrated by Krish is reminiscent of the good old days and Sumanth needs a special mention.

The way NTR’s rise an actor is showcased beautifully by Krish and Balakrishna relives all the iconic characters of NTR in a good way. The manner in which Kalyan Ram plays Hari Krishna looks neat.

Minus Points:

All the special appearances are not handled properly as they just come and go in the proceedings. One of the basic drawbacks of the film is that is a bit slow. The proceedings take forever to reach to the actual twists or turns in the film.

There is no political angle in the first part and all those who think there would good drama will be disappointed.

Technical Aspects:

What catches you right away is the manner in which the time frame is captured through the brilliant camerawork by Gnana Sekhar. He has showcased the different time frames in such a beautiful manner that you relive many of the memories yourself. What makes the camerawork even better is the superb production design. Be it the sets or the costumes or locations chosen, everything looks quite authentic on screen. Dialogues by Sai Madhav Burra and those written for Balayya are clap-worthy and stay in your minds even after you come out of the theaters.

Yet another unsung hero of the film is undoubtedly Keeravani who makes things magnanimous with his music. The way he has scored music keeping the royalness of NTR is too good. His background score elevates the proceedings completely. The styling done for each artist is remarkable.

Coming to the director Krish, he has done a pretty good job with the film. He has kept the first part totally to showcase NTR the actor and narrated what the legendary actor went through in each of his crucial phases in his life in a superb manner. The second half has good emotions and the manner in which NTR decides to join politics is established convincingly. However, if he would have added some entertainment quotient through the heroines and made the proceedings a bit crisp, things would have been even better.

Verdict :

NTR Kathanayakudu is a fitting tribute to the biggest actor to have graced Telugu screens. Balakrishna lives in the role of NTR and gives Nandamuri fans a reason to rejoice. Terrific performances, honest portrayal of NTR and a good build-up for the second part are huge assets. If you ignore the slightly slower pace, the film ends as a good watch for the fans but the general audience will find the biopic a decent watch.

copied from 123telugu.com Rating : 3.25/5

Reviewed by 123telugu Team