Cast: Mahesh Babu, Sreeleela, Prakash Raj, Ramya Krishna, Rao Ramesh, Vennela Kishore and Jayaram
Director: Trivikram Srinivas
Superstar Mahesh Babu's much awaited Sankranthi release, Guntur Kaaram, directed by Trivikram Srinivas is out in theatres. Let's find out if the movie is worth watching.
Guntur Kaaram
The film begins with goons led by Jagapathi Babu and Sunil, placing bombs to blast a chilli yard belonging to Jayaram and Ramya Krishna’s family in Guntur. In the ensuing clash, their kin Raghu Babu kills Sunil while Ramya Krishna leaves the house leaving her 10-year-old son (Mahesh Babu). The hero grows up under the upbringing of his aunt (Easwari Rao) and runs the yard with his men.
One day, he is invited to Hyderabad by a veteran politician (Prakash Raj) and he goes there hoping to meet his mother (Ramya) who is now a state minister. But he is disappointed and returns home, while Prakash Raj’s lawyer (Murali Sharma) is entrusted with the job of getting a few papers signed by Mahesh Babu. Meanwhile, Mahesh falls in love with pretty Sreeleela, daughter of Murali Sharma and she reciprocates. Will he able win the love of his mother and girlfriend, check out in theatres.
Mahesh Babu looks handsome and energetic and pulls off a self-piteous role with ease. However, he has fully banked on his dancing over other things to keep his fans and audience engaged throughout the film. He shines bright and tries to salvage a poor-etched plot but in vain. Less said that better about Sreeleela’s role which is ill-defined. She looks gorgeous and dances well but ends up being a mere glam prop in the film. Prakash Raj proves his mettle as evil politician, while Ramya Krishna, Jayaram, Murali Sharma fit the bill.
Director Trivikram Srinivas has to give up his stale formula of sending the hero into a big family and then make him resolve their woes. He has to think out of the box since new-age directors are breathing down his neck.
Of course, he had an illustrious career with sensational hits but when it comes to Mahesh Babu, he is falling short of expectations and takes us back to dreadful ‘Khaleja’ days. We really don't know why it happens, barring the actor-director well-made ‘Athadu’ in 2005.
Mahesh tries to salvage this rudderless family drama ‘Guntur Kaaram’ with his dancing skills and with his sharp comic and sarcastic one-liners. He surely bent his back to perform some intricate and racy dance movements and matched steps with dancing sensation Sreeleela. Their foot-tapping number ‘Kurchi Madatha Petti’ peps up the dull proceedings and is going to burst music charts in the days to come. Of course, he flexes his muscles and makes mincemeat of his opponents, albeit with a tinge of comedy.
However, director Trivikram Srinvas fails to come up with a solid script to justify the larger-than-life image of Mahesh Babu. If the director thought that the story of a son craving for the love for his estranged mother (Ramya Krishna) is good enough to keep the audience glued to their seats, he would realize his folly sooner than later. Even the love story between Mahesh Babu and Sreeleela looks more contrived than realistic as the girl goes to hero’s house to make him sign a few papers by seducing him a bit.
No doubt, Ramya Krishna has a strong reason to stay away from her doting son and goes to the extent of marrying another person, but it doesn't evoke necessary sympathy for mother-son plot as it is relegated to climax portions. Mahesh Babu totally trusted director Trivikram Srinivas to dish out a family drama by blending action and dances in equal measure. But the wafer-thin plot, reminding us of ‘Atharinitiki Dharedi’ where the hero arrives to win the love and confidence of his estranged aunty, looks pale in comparison to Pawan Kalyan’s blockbuster.
Rating: 2/5
