Sri Krishna Commission Report - Good Read

If the last time  you read about AP (like me) was in 8th grade social studies text book, gift yourself a reading of 505 pages of Sri Krishna  report for a 360 degrees view of one of most vibrant states - its a definitive, staggering report with appealing statistics,  insights on some of the basic curiosities and inquiries we keep having on Hyderabad, AP or Telangana - its a socio-politico-economic commentary - unbiased and readable. You can finish it in less than four hours.

Manmadha-Baanam - Telugu Movie Review

"Manmadha  Baanam" starring Kalam Hasan, Madhavan and Trisha, directed by Ravikumar gives a tour of Rome, Venice and Barcelona, brings back fun of "Sati Lilavati" and pun of "Panchatantram". It is watchable once but has some patchy and dull and yet some dazzling reels of standards you expect from Kamal's team. Second half is better but all lead actors compete well. Trisha looks gorgeous and Kamal still coming good. No kisses between them, surprise. Devisri Prasadd scores good music.

"Naagavalli" - Telugu Movie Review

"Naagavalli" is perceptively linked up with the storyline of "Chandramukhi" and puts Venky in dual role - one in negative role for first time. It seems to have diluted  the scary contents of original "Aapta Rakshaka" which ran for 200 days and so the film moves in a trajectory of "Chandramukhi" punctuated by the same moments of fear, discovery, and laughter that made "Chandramukhi" so endearing. NV is not your dad's movie to send shivers and thrills because of dangerous verisimillitude to CM. Its watchable but no surprises, except Venky chopping body partsof good men. The heroines are the real heroes but  Anushka really lets down. Funny, Venky gets five  heroines but not even one to woo.

Kathi Kanta Rao - Telugu Movie Review

"Kathi Kantha Rao" is one of those exaggerated comedy fares you want to watch after a week of lavish smattering from sensex falls. It has brisk screenplay, AVM studio-style story and comedy gang thats surprisingly controlled in performance. Everybody packs a punch sometime. Dialogues and direction are typical EVV-style but raunchy at times. With Allari Naresh and Kaamna and Kota and Venu Madhav-the film will connect with masses. It is above-average entertainment. 

The Social Network - English Movie Review

"The Social Network"  is one incredible movie on the life and times of facebook founder - Mark Zuckerberg. It shows how melancholic, egoistic, workaholic Zuckerberg, who can't stay close to anyone, starts facebook accidentally, and later pulls the rug on his real pal and co-founder. David Fincher directs awesomely and uses some dramatic narrative techniques seldom seen in Hollywood movies - flashback and forth. He paces the movie with extreme  delicacy and precision and is helped by Sorkin's swift dialogue and some great music. Justin Timberlake as the candyman and Andrew Garfield as co-founder of facebook besides the Harvard twins and Zuckerberg's only girl-friend all stand out. Inspite of some pusating courtroom dramat that forms the backbone of the movie, the movie shows the many faces of human behaviour that nudged facebook into a $25 Billioon (now$60 Billion) company. Even if you are not facebook user, you will  get curiouser. Well worth watching.

Kalyanram Kathi - Telugu Movie Review

"KK" is like Damocles' sword hanging over the career of Kalyanram in the form of violence he continues to unleash with dad's money and grand-dad's name.  It tries to fiit brother-sister sentiment in a new age format with multiple twists that can sometimes numb you, but the overall impact despite director Mallikarjun's best efforts is mixed and unhealthy for family viewing. Even as the producer brands a new name like NKR, NKR is not mightier than sword.

Mahesh Khaleja - Telugu Movie Review

In "Mahesh Khaleja", director Trivikram tries to broadcast the mystic star's box-office appeal with a medley of multi-film plots (from Dev Anand's "Guide" to "Athadu" again). He is good at weaving romance with violence and almost succeeds unless you expect a lifetime of entertainment in one movie - he gets unprecedented output from Mahesh who excels in all emotions - he dominates Sunil, Brahmanandam and Ali in comedy and sometimes over-does. But he looks more leaner, fitter and watchable than Anushka who fails to sizzle. Trivikram's dialogues are turning more censorable aned less sensible. But as long as he makes watchable films like this, he will draw audiences. Mani's music is average.