"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.

"Rama Rama Krishna Krishna" Movie Review

Ram, who thinks, he is a sporty version of Pavan Kalyan for the 2000's generation disappoints in this flick of mindless violence, routine fare and disappointing story with throwbacks to retrograde plots. Frankly, it is adding to the list of flops that Dil Raju is accumulating in the last few years, after the blockbuster "Bommarillu" faded from memory. Nothing redeems the movie, and the less said the better.

"Badmash Company" Movie Review

To say Shahid Kapoor is the next big thing is not unreal if you watch "Badmash & Co." Yash Raj Films finally allows a director P Shetty to pursue script with conviction  - financial chicanery, family values and friendship with a rags-to-riches redux allows many variations and range of emotions to portray for Shahid aided by glamour from Anushka Sharma. Locations enhance the story rather than distract and absence of violence make it breezy and largely cheerful fare. Movie is just a bit long because there's no twist in the tail but the charm is a straight-forward screenplay that entertains.

"Simha" Movie Review

Simha could be Balakrishna's first hit in seven years and may unleash a frenzyof sorts amongst his fans. But the  plot is not new, and in sticking to the story of hero-his-heroic father (you get the idea), director Boyapati Seenu lets loose fifth-degree violence and relishes, and even justifies it - Sumos blasting mid-air, trains smashing humans, and axes dripping  in blood. No wonder Sumos are hardly seen on roads and railways cross their line but the axe-effect continues to plague Tollywood. Thats because fans don't insist on heads (of such heroes) to roll. Celebrate, if you are a Balayya fan. Otherwise, you haven't lost anything, if you decide to skip it. But Balakrishna emotes well especially the Senior's role and he has a mouthful of dialogues which is music to fans'  ears . Nayanatara, Sneha and Namitha  add glamour and oomph.

"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.

"Darling" - Movie Review

Summer's big hero release  Darling starring Prabhas scores pretty high in entertainment quotient. Finally, Prabhas gets the much-needed facelift in dances, stunts, drama, romance and comedy  and the long-awaited hit after Chatrapathi. The movie rehashes some of the old story sequences of director Karunakiran's flagship comedy and romance scenes and even takes liberties with the audience's intelligences by bunking down some of the sequences as though they never happened. But the presentation is good and makes audience feel at home in comedy and romance. Songs, stunts and comedian Srinivas Reddy hit a new high- all three, sorry to mix them up in one sweep - do their bit in enhancinng the creative value of the film and make it worth watching. Kajol is cute while Prabhas takes the lap of honor in the film for his efforts - this will go down as his finest output in recent years.

Varudu verdict

Its difficult to pick a bone with the first half of  "Varudu" after I watched it after a busy season of marriages. This being the season of marriages - Varudu  - shines bright in the first half. There's impeccable  settings, a demure heroine, some heart-tugging dialogues and some extra-ordinary recount of the typical Telugu marriage. This  makes the movie mesmerisingly good till interval - then all hell breaks lose with the entry of Aryan - the villain. And the movie loses plot with weak characterisation, unconvincing villainy encouraged by impotent police and implausible subvention of the system by the villainy. Its here that Gunasekhar  - who does a fair effort in comeback  - goofs up. The villain part - the Ravana in the Ramayana piece of the movie - is overdone with unwarranted intensity and implausible sadism and cruelty. But for this which rankles the whole of second half, Varudu manages to strike a chord with everybody who believes in both arranged marrriages or love marriages. Allu Arjun tries hard but can't stand the onslaught of the intense-looking villain - Aryan - who charged a crore for the film. Two songs by Mani Sharma get you paisa vasool.