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Movie Review: AAGADU (By Hapra)

By:  Tupaki Desk   |   19 Sep 2014 5:18 AM GMT
Movie Review: AAGADU (By Hapra)
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Movie Review: AAGADU (By Hapra)

Rating: 3/5

Cast: Mahesh Babu, Rajendra Prasad, Sonu Sood, Tamanna, Vennela Kishore and many other noted comedians.

Cinematogrpaher: KV Guhan

Music: SS Thaman

Story- Screenplay-Dialogues-Direction: Sreenu Vaitla

Producer: 14 Reels Entertainment

Release date
:
19th, September 2014

Sensational ‘Dookudu’ combo is back into action with ‘Aagadu’. There is huge hype and hoopla around this Sreenu Vaital directorial and Mahesh Babu starrer. Let us see if it is living upto expectations or not.

The CONTENT

Shankar (Mahesh) is an orphan who helps police in childhood and gets adopted by Rajaram (Rajendra Prasad) as his son. He grows old to become Encounter specialist, but distances from Rajaram due to a mistake. One day police bosses transfer him to Bikknaeedu to settle the issue of cruel Damu (Sonu Sood) who is in the process of building power plant illegally. Meanwhile, Shankar starts liking sweet shop owner Saroja (Tamannah), after entering Bikkaneedu. Also he starts arresting henchmen of Damu and seizes his illegal businesses, after which Shankar comes to know about certain deadly facts related to his own family. What will Shankar do now? You have to watch it on silver screen.

The EFFORT :


On-Screen:

Mahesh Babu is simply superb again. His wonderful body language (he is slimmer now), terrific comedy timing, a new rayalaseema accent dialogue delivery and fantastic modulations keep you one toe. From first frame to last frame, it is his show, only his show of strength. Also his dances need a mention, as his swift moves are really making girls lose their heart again.

Tamanna got a routine role, and she neither looked gorgeous nor did any stunning performance. She is okay in songs though tried her best with glamour. Shruti Haasan turned heads with her single number, and looked promising alongside Mahesh.

First half of the movie is dedicated to comedians like Raghubabu, Prabhas Seenu, Posani Krishnamurali, Vennela Kishore and others. However, Nazar’s comedy act as a noisy and jealous SI working under CI Mahesh enthralls all the way. His comedy timing is fantastic and in tune with the lead hero. Second half should be credited to Brahmanandam, as he steals the show yet again. However, there is not much ‘characterization’ and ‘comedy’ written for him like in earlier Sreenu Vaitla movies.

Sonu Sood is picture perfect as lead villain and he excels with his emotions as usual.

Off-Screen:

Sreenu Vytla knows the best of MaheshÂ’s comedy timing and he explored it to peaks now. Also he extracted good work from all other celebs and technicians, but only tangled with his own story line. Lot of comparisons to other movies and his own Dookudu are bound to happen for this flick.

Thaman hasnÂ’t done justice to his 50th film, as music looks stale at many parts. Though songs are fine, background music lacks that pep. He should have taken more care on re-recording, as music sounds louder at parts and weak at places. Cinematography by KV Guhan is a nice treat again as he is highly instrumental in getting that rugged look right.

All other departments worked fine including our swift cutter editor MR Varma and art director AS Prakash. Fight master Vijay composed terrific fights again, while choreographer Prem Rakshit spins magic.

The PLUSES:


· Mahesh Babu

· Entertaining First Half

· ‘Aata’ style Meelo Evari Koteeswarudu spoof

· Jucnction lo (Shruti), Nari Nari (Mahesh’s step), Bhelpuri songs

· Lengthy Telugu-ish Dialogues


The MINUSES:


· Routine Sreenu Vytla style plot

· Tamanna’s role

· Simple interval bang, climax

BREAKDOWN:


As expected, Sreenu Vytla has cooked another self-styled decoction for Mahesh Babu and pitched with intensified comedy and dialogues this time. But he failed to get a new plot on board as he lost mid-way to Dookudu in the second half. Though he etched Mahesh’s character quite well, others lost that sheen due to heavy gap in intensity between lead-hero and them. On a whole, another formulaic entertainer is delivered with a ‘overdose’ of Mahesh.

Movie starts quite well in rugged locales and Mahesh Babu as Encounter Shankar simply arrests attention. It is his comedy timing and terrific response to other’s dialogues that raises the bar. However, certain scenes look clichéd and boring as they have references to ‘Dookudu’ all the time. Before interval, a game-show episode takes comic levels to peaks. But that simple interval bang fails to live up to expectations. Dialogues hold audiences to seats as such a pure and rhyming lengthy Telugu sentences look like a treat. And second half turns quite predictable and routine giving no new goosebumps and hair rising feel. Mahesh however makes sure that his presence kills the boredom and sets the pace running. A simple climax ends the story, but it is Brahmi’s graphicall designed dance that attracts highly.

Aagadu will be another money spinning flick for sure, but it may not turn an industry hit. At a time when people are expecting new, a routine story from Mahesh–Vaitla combo is going hit hard on expectations. Had Seenu cut that Dookudu flavor from Aagadu, movie would have gone to different level. In the long run, it is tough to register stunning figures, but Mahesh’s stardom posts decent collections in first two weeks.

The FINISHING Line:
Watch It For Mahesh

Review By: Hapra