Movie Review: Raja - The Great
Rating: 2.75/5
Cast: Raviteja, Mehreen, Radhika Sarathkumar, Rajendra Prasad, Srinivas Reddy, Sampath, Prakash Raj, Sai Kumar, Posani, Annapurna and Others
Cinematography: Mohan Krishna
Music: Sai Kartheek
Producers: Dil Raju-Sirish
Story-Screenplay-Dialogues-Direction: Anil Ravipudi
Release Date: 18th of October 2017
Until few years ago, Raviteja used to have 2-3 new releases per year. After repetitive flops, Mass Raja decided to take ample time to sign the right projects and that's why he had no release in the past two years. Finally, He okayed 'Raja - The Great' directed by Anil Ravipudi who is in good form with 'Patas' and 'Supreme'. This Dil Raju's Production released Today. Let's see if the Producer's success streak continues or not...
Synopsis:
Raja (Raviteja) is blind since birth but his Mother (Radhika) makes him learn all the tricks to an extent that he is better skilled than people who can see. He always wanted to be a cop but blindness ruins his dream. An opportunity to take part in a police operation comes in the form of Lucky (Mehreen Kaur) who faces death threat. The rest of the story is about how Raja saves Lucky from a powerful villain!
Performances:
Raviteja is back with 'Raja - The Great'. He played the role of blind man effortlessly and convincingly. Certainly, This is one of his career best performances. The energy levels and comedy timing for which he is known for are intact despite the long gap. But, He showcases over-confidence in few scenes to an extent that audience would even forget that hero is blind.
Mehreen Kaur is just alright, be it performance or glamour. Radhika does a terrific job. Vivena Batena is okay. Rajendra Prasad, Srinivas Reddy and Pruthvi evoke laughter. Tanikella is first rate. Prakash Raj, Sai Kumar and Sampath Raj have done justice to their roles.
Pros:
Raviteja
Direction
Comedy
Cons:
Routine Story
Second Half
Technicalities:
Songs composed by Sai Kartheek are just so-so. Only the Hero introduction song is impressive. He, however, scores brownie points with Background Score. The theme music chosen for Hero characterization is good. Mohan Krishna's Camera Work is appreciable. He is particularly good in the scenes shot in Darjeeling. Production Values were up to the standards of Sri Venkateswara Creations. Director Anil Ravipudi yet again plays to his strength. He deserves a pat on his back for presenting the blind man's role so entertainingly. Though few scenes were illogical, The Director has succeeded in tickling the funny bone throughout the movie. Even Dialogues penned by him deserve a special mention. Story of 'Raja - The Great' isn't refreshing but the racy screenplay makes the difference. Overall, Anil has done a good job.
Analysis:
Telugu Audience have been rejecting the films which lacked a novel story in the recent past. Even during this phase, Few Directors managed to deliver hits with routine subjects. Anil Ravipudi is one of them who succeeded in entertaining audience despite routine story and screenplay. After 'Patas' & 'Supreme', This Young Filmmaker followed similar route for his third movie as well.
Usually, Films in which Hero plays blind are mostly based on sentiment. Anil Ravipudi proved a full-length commercial entertainer could be made though the protagonist is blind. Except for the fact that Hero is a blind man, There is no freshness in 'Raja - The Great'. This film is the story of a blind man who saves a girl from villain when police department is in a helpless situation. The comedy generated using the blind man's role hits the right chord with the viewers.
Not even a single sentiment scene is based on Hero's blindness. Instead, The Filmmaker made use of defect to the fullest to generate humour. 'Mukha Chitram' thread in the combination of Raviteja and Srinivas Reddy is hilarious.
First Half of 'Raja - The Great', particularly the Kabaddi sequence, is throughly entertaining. Even Rajendra Prasad, Pruthvi and Annapurna keep the viewers in splits. Fight Sequence before the Interval thrills the Masses. Tempo drops a bit in Second Half though comedy worked to some extent and few scenes appear repetitive. Too much liberty is being taken during the action sequences. However, Entertainment overshadows all such flaws in the movie. Overall, 'Raja - The Great' is a good commercial entertainer.
Bottom Line: Routine yet Entertains!
Rating: 2.75/5
Cast: Raviteja, Mehreen, Radhika Sarathkumar, Rajendra Prasad, Srinivas Reddy, Sampath, Prakash Raj, Sai Kumar, Posani, Annapurna and Others
Cinematography: Mohan Krishna
Music: Sai Kartheek
Producers: Dil Raju-Sirish
Story-Screenplay-Dialogues-Direction: Anil Ravipudi
Release Date: 18th of October 2017
Until few years ago, Raviteja used to have 2-3 new releases per year. After repetitive flops, Mass Raja decided to take ample time to sign the right projects and that's why he had no release in the past two years. Finally, He okayed 'Raja - The Great' directed by Anil Ravipudi who is in good form with 'Patas' and 'Supreme'. This Dil Raju's Production released Today. Let's see if the Producer's success streak continues or not...
Synopsis:
Raja (Raviteja) is blind since birth but his Mother (Radhika) makes him learn all the tricks to an extent that he is better skilled than people who can see. He always wanted to be a cop but blindness ruins his dream. An opportunity to take part in a police operation comes in the form of Lucky (Mehreen Kaur) who faces death threat. The rest of the story is about how Raja saves Lucky from a powerful villain!
Performances:
Raviteja is back with 'Raja - The Great'. He played the role of blind man effortlessly and convincingly. Certainly, This is one of his career best performances. The energy levels and comedy timing for which he is known for are intact despite the long gap. But, He showcases over-confidence in few scenes to an extent that audience would even forget that hero is blind.
Mehreen Kaur is just alright, be it performance or glamour. Radhika does a terrific job. Vivena Batena is okay. Rajendra Prasad, Srinivas Reddy and Pruthvi evoke laughter. Tanikella is first rate. Prakash Raj, Sai Kumar and Sampath Raj have done justice to their roles.
Pros:
Raviteja
Direction
Comedy
Cons:
Routine Story
Second Half
Technicalities:
Songs composed by Sai Kartheek are just so-so. Only the Hero introduction song is impressive. He, however, scores brownie points with Background Score. The theme music chosen for Hero characterization is good. Mohan Krishna's Camera Work is appreciable. He is particularly good in the scenes shot in Darjeeling. Production Values were up to the standards of Sri Venkateswara Creations. Director Anil Ravipudi yet again plays to his strength. He deserves a pat on his back for presenting the blind man's role so entertainingly. Though few scenes were illogical, The Director has succeeded in tickling the funny bone throughout the movie. Even Dialogues penned by him deserve a special mention. Story of 'Raja - The Great' isn't refreshing but the racy screenplay makes the difference. Overall, Anil has done a good job.
Analysis:
Telugu Audience have been rejecting the films which lacked a novel story in the recent past. Even during this phase, Few Directors managed to deliver hits with routine subjects. Anil Ravipudi is one of them who succeeded in entertaining audience despite routine story and screenplay. After 'Patas' & 'Supreme', This Young Filmmaker followed similar route for his third movie as well.
Usually, Films in which Hero plays blind are mostly based on sentiment. Anil Ravipudi proved a full-length commercial entertainer could be made though the protagonist is blind. Except for the fact that Hero is a blind man, There is no freshness in 'Raja - The Great'. This film is the story of a blind man who saves a girl from villain when police department is in a helpless situation. The comedy generated using the blind man's role hits the right chord with the viewers.
Not even a single sentiment scene is based on Hero's blindness. Instead, The Filmmaker made use of defect to the fullest to generate humour. 'Mukha Chitram' thread in the combination of Raviteja and Srinivas Reddy is hilarious.
First Half of 'Raja - The Great', particularly the Kabaddi sequence, is throughly entertaining. Even Rajendra Prasad, Pruthvi and Annapurna keep the viewers in splits. Fight Sequence before the Interval thrills the Masses. Tempo drops a bit in Second Half though comedy worked to some extent and few scenes appear repetitive. Too much liberty is being taken during the action sequences. However, Entertainment overshadows all such flaws in the movie. Overall, 'Raja - The Great' is a good commercial entertainer.
Bottom Line: Routine yet Entertains!