"Express Raja" (Telugu Film Review)

Review of the film at this link:

https://www.telugu360.com/express-raja-movie-review-rating-live-updates/

"Ko Ante Koti" Telugu Movie Review

“Ko Ante Koti” is Sarvanand’s latest film directed by Anish Yohan Kuruvlla. It’s the story of a serial robber (Srihari) whose speciality is in opening any bank locker in the world. He can open these locks whether they have number combination or heavy-metal combination with multi-inch thickness. He ropes in two other characters - one a glutton who can also mash people with his obese body and two, an abettor with a broken eye and cylindrical glasses who signals to the gang in between “heist and run”. This talented trio ropes in Sarvanand during one of Srihari’s sojourns in jail. The reason? Srihari is planning the grandmother of all robberies so far. Before you wonder whether it is the Swiss Bank locker or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (because these are the two most grandmotherly of all lockers in the world, one houses more cash than the politicians in India and Indonesia and the other stores most gold held by most central banks in the world), you are told there is one place where all the black money is kept in India itself and that is the next target after which the loot will be trifurcated, no quadrafurcated and they will all happily retire. Srihari - the gang leader baits each of the three with a thing or two dear to their hearts. Will they succeed? Will they survive the police inspector Ranjit Kumar (brilliantly played by veteran theatre actor and voice coach Vinay Varma)? And will Sarvanand get his love Priya Anand (The “English Vinglish” cutie who played Sridevi’s niece)? That’s the long story of an unsually long film which has its queer eccentricities and oftentimes humor that’s dark, obnoxious and adult-grade variety. Sometimes, the humor resembles the “Delhi Belly” profanities which grate on you, no wonder the movie got an A-grade.


In the name of experimental, obtuse humor and unwarranted twists, director Anish Kuruvilla (debut film “Avakaay Biryani”) has created a film rich in violence and crude jokes and the only thing that sustains the film is performances by Srihari, Sarvanand and stage actor Vinay Varma. For the first forty minutes, the director takes a long time to register the plot and the principal characters and gives no relief except by way of interactions between the four characters. After that, suddenly, the songs appear one after another almost in quick succession. The narrative also moves in forward play and flashback which jars the flow – such techniques will make an action drama unduly sag. Also, the film is completely unfit for family audiences and director compounds the agony by killing off some great entertainers like Chitti, PC and Inspector Ranjit Kumar. I keep reiterating that killing off the lively characters in the film is inimical to the success of any film. Even in a film like “Gambler” starring Ajith, the director Venkat Prabhu eliminates the comic characters in the film and the film met with below-par success; such actions are anti-sentiment and never received well by the audience.

The length of the film could have been better edited. Music by S K Karthick sounds better in some songs and camerawork is good. Sarvanand is a good actor but this film produced by himself is not worthy of his money and efforts. He has to build his versatility as an actor in selecting themes which enhance the range of his body language, he is getting consigned to being the metrosexual male with a thick beard, mr.cool, and a decent lover boy. If he has to make it to the next cut of mass heroes, he has to “escape gravity” to do a mass roles, the audiences will tire of his benign smiles and cool walks in background songs. Actor Raaja of “Anand” fame also went out of offers because of this monostyle acting. Fact is, Sarvanand has potential which needs better leverage. Srihari gives a  fine performance and he shows a better range of Telugu accent but his characterisation lacks consistency and mars the film in the second half. Director Anish who produced such fine films like "Anand" leaves a bad taste with this film with a lack-lustre plot thats trite and characterisations that go haywire. With regard to theatre heavyweight Vinay Varma, it is surprising he got such a brief role and gets killed; he gave some brilliant moments with his scheming looks and rich timber voice and just mouths off "Dongre" with hilarity. He certainly deserves to be noticed by Tollywood for meatier roles. On the whole, “Ko Ante Koti” is barely watchable for the jarring notes it hits, faulty screenplay and very few characters redeem the film as outlined. It deserves just 2/5.

"Andari Bandhuvaya" Movie Review

As summer demand for movie content shoots up - "Andari Bandhuvaya" releases this week. Its one of the lighter movies but not enough to rock the Box Office. Its a half-hearted attempt on Altruism, starring Sarvanand and Padmapriya. The movie lacks intensity and impact and drags despite some good comedy. Padmapriya looks gorgeous and might sparkle if shaped up. Music by Anup Rubens is outstanding in this movie of good samaritan cliches. Sarvanand is turning into the new Raja style actor with offbeat themes and maverick story lines. But the movie is not upto the mark of Chandra Siddhartha and has some lewd jokes. Nevertheless, its passable if you are tired of  IPL, 20-20 and violence-laden movies.

"Prasthaanam" Movie Review

Prasthaanam starring Sarvanand, Saikumar and Sandeep is impressive political drama by director Deva (Vennela ifame) and takes lot of potshots at contemporary political happenings through the intrigues within one political family. It is well shot and carries your interest largely with some wonderful satire in the first half courtesy Jayaprakash Reddy and Jeeva. But the ending is predictable and violence stark and dark. Censor cuts mar forty per cent of dialogues yet enough punches are pulled off. If Star Power was higher, the movie would have sizzled at the BO. Yet, newcomer Sandeep and Saikumar  and Sarvanand perform with aplomb and ease. Music by Mahesh Shankar is loud and its a pity one of the only melody songs is edited out to make the movie more serious in the second half.