Srikanths's 100th Film MAHATMA Review

Film: Mahatma

Banner: Golden Lion Films

Rating: 3/5

Cast: Srikanth, Bhavana, Jayaparakash Reddy, Jyothy, Uttej, Jagan, Brahmanandam, Paruchuri Venkateshwara Rao etc

Music: Vijay Anthony

Lyrics: Seetarama Sastry, Suddala Ashok Teja and Lakshmi Bhupal

Dialogues: Paruchuri Brothers

Cinematography: Sarath

Director: Krishna Vamsi

Producer: C R Manohar

Released On: 9th October 2009



Story:

Dasanna (Srikanth) is a rugged youngster who lives in a ‘basthi area’ and his life style includes only fights, daily intake of alcohol and non-veg. His livelihood depends on rowdism. In the process he happens to encounter an advocate Krishnaveni (Bhavana) who keeps on bailing him out whenever he gets into police case.

On the other hand a political rivalry runs between ruling party leaders Dattanna (Jayaprakash Reddy) and Kalarani (Jyothy). In the flow of events, Dasanna happens to become a tool between Datthanna and Kalarani.

But Gandhism attracts Dasanna all of a sudden. He stops alcohol, non vegetarianism and also fights. He starts the process of accepting mistake. How that affected him? How that helped his area? That forms rest of the story.


Performances:

Srikanth:
He did his best with utmost care. His expressions worked really well for every scene. He also tried to show some expertise in dances as well although choreography is pretty poor. The shades of his portrayal in Shankaradada Zindabad are seen on some scenes.

Bhavana:
She is the biggest minus for the movie and there is nothing more speak about.

Jagan:
Although a trivial role, he deserves a paragraph here. He appears in various get ups- NTR, Tanguturi Prakasam. Pingala Vekayya, Alluri Seeta Rama Raju, Potti Sree Ramulu and Gandhiji. The song ‘Kontha mandi inti peru…’ was shot on him.

Brahmanandam appears in guest comedy and that is just ok. Jayaprakash Reddy aptly grooved in the role of Datthanna. Jyothy is ok as Kalarani. Uttej and Paruchuri Venkateshwara Rao have played as side kicks to protagonist.


Charmee spilled glamour in an item song and Navneeth Kaur also made her hot presence on screen although appeared for a few seconds.

Editing has suffered some problems (Gandhi’s statue looks shabby for some time and clean and neat for other time in the same scene). Cinematography is good. Story is fine and screenplay could have been better. On a whole it’s a laudable attempt by director but could have carried the subject with more intensity.

Highlights:
Title song ‘Talayetti jeevinchu..’
Song on Gandhiji ‘Kontha mandi inti peru kaadura Gandhi..’

Disappointments:
Heroine
Dialogues (except ‘kattana..kottana’ and ‘amma ..neeyamma’)
No proper comedy


Analysis:
The take-off of the movie is pretty hysterical with the title song ‘Talayetti jeevinchu Tammudaa..’ But the actual story wouldn’t start till the interval bang. The beginning of second half promises bigger things but that goes with various ups and downs. First 45 minutes of the movie goes in run of the mill style and that could have been confined to 20 minutes jumped into actual story.

The song ‘Indiramma inti peru kaadura Gandhi’ that raised controversy was changed to ‘Konthamandi inti peru kaadura Gandhi’. But Censor didn’t bother to cut down the word ‘f...k off’ used by artiste Jyothy for Kalarani character in first half.

Director seems to have ignored masses and that is evident through his selection of heroine and the get up given to her. Any other heroine would have aptly fitted in the requirement.

On a whole, the spirit of non violence, truth, accepting the mistake and perseverance are conveyed in this attempt through some scenes. But more homework should have done to make it a better product since the title is ‘Mahatma’!!!