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Film Reviews
Average
Film: Yuvaratna Raanaa (Telugu)
Director: A Kodandarami Reddy
Cast: Balakrishna, Heera, Bhagyasri, Charanraj, Srihari, Sudhakar Chalapathi Rao, Jockgad
If the story of the film and the roles of the actors is any indication, it is a fine example of how even veteran directors like A Kodandarami Reddy take cinegoers for granted.
Raanaa (Balaknishna) wants to avenge his foster father Nageswara Rao’s (Chalapathi Rao) murder by Bheemaraju, a mafia king. After eliminating him, he becomes the mafia boss. Bheemaraju’s sons Kanakararaju and Devaraju (Charanraj), return from abroad and try to regain control over the mafia. There is some gratuitous violence and romance and a prolonged climax.
Balakrishna is good in dance sequences, but his emoting is far from convincing. Music director Koti has succeeded in providing some lilting tunes.
Y Maheswara Reddy
Enjoyable
Film: Aaram Thampuran
Director: Shaji Kallas
Starring: Mohanlal, Manju Warner, Narendra Prasad
It is another Devasuram with some commissions and omissions. Still, Malayalee film buffs. usually astute in rejecting hackneyed themes, received it well because they wanted to see Mohanlal as a feudal chieftain, and because there is a new liking for the traditional and mythical.
The story of how love grows between Jagan (Lal), who bought the Kanimagalam tharavadu, and Unni Maya (Manju), a member of the tharavadu has charm. The transition of Jagan into Aaram Thampuran has elements of fun and intrigue.
Appan, belonging to Kaipuili tharavadu , is hell-bent on destroying Kanimagalam tharavadu anti has not allowed the latter to conduct the annual festival in the family temple of Kanimagalam for years. For the Kanimagalam family and for the villagers, Jagan is Aaram Thampuran come to save them from App-an’s evil designs. The songs are ordinary, and the dialogue reminds us again of Devasuram as both scripts were authored by Ranjith. But it is an entertaining movie with brilliant acting from Lal, Manju and Narendra Prasad.
Padmanabha Venugopal
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