Magadheera movie review:SPLENDID!!!

My rating: 3.75/5
Banner: Geeta Arts
Cast: Ram Charan Teja, Kajal Agarwal, Srihari, Sunil, Brahmanandam, Sarath Babu, Rao Ramesh,
Music: MM Keeravani
Background music: Keeravani & Kalyani Malik
Cinematography: Senthil Kumar
Dialogues: Ratnam
Art: Ravinder
Editing: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
Fights: Peter Hynes & Ram Lakshman
Styling: Rama Rajamouli
Story: Vijayendra Prasad
Screenplay & Direction: SS Rajamouli
Producer: Allu Arvind
Release date: 31 July 2009
Plot:

The story happens in the year 1609. Kala Bhairava (Ram Charan Teja) is the protector/cheif guard of Udayghad kingdom. Mitra (Kajal Agarwal) – the heir princess is in love with him. But there is a bad relative of the king who wants to marry her. Sher Khan (Srihari) plans to invade Udayghad. In the process ensued, all of them die. These four people take rebirth after 400 years in the contemporary era. Harsha (Ram Charan Teja) is a race biker. He falls in love with Indu (Kajal Agarwal). And a bad guy called Raghuveer is after her. The rest of the story is all about how they trace themselves back to the past and settle the unfinished business.

Artists Performance: Ram Charan Teja: In this movie, he gets an opportunity to do some real good performance and he performs them convincingly with effortless ease. And he had gone through tremendous physical toil in this film as it involves horse riding, sword fighting, dances and many more. His dance in Bangaru Kodipetta after the completion of Chiranjeevi’s appearance is stunning. He is gifted with a good voice and he should fine tune it further to come up with pristine Telugu diction.

Kajal Agarwal: She is the surprise pack of this movie. She never looked so gorgeous and lovely in her earlier movies. She is overwhelming in this movie. Soumya who dubbed her voice came up with fabulous job in the first half where heroine’s naughty and is in love. However, she needs to come up with better dubbing for emotional scenes and serious episodes.

Others: Chiranjeevi did a special appearance in Bangaru Kodi Petta remix song. He is shown in an unwanted scene.Brahmanandam and Hema comedy episode is mediocre. Srihari has relatively small screen presence. But his role is extremely powerful. He is excellent as Share Khan and his get-up and dialogue delivery is superb. And his Srikakulam dialect in the second half is very nice. The guy who did the role of villain has sharp features and he is adequate. Rao Ramesh is excellent in the role of Aghora. His voice and body language is wonderful. Sameer is good as the deputy of Srihari. Sunil and Brahmanandam are adequate. Mumaith Khan danced with Ram Charan Teja in Bangaru Kodi Petta. Kim Sharma did another item song. One wonders what Saloni is doing in this movie?

Technical departments:

Story - screenplay - directon:
Story of the movie is about rebirths. Rajamouli opened the movie by revealing the story right in the first episode. The challenge lies in Rajamouli’s handling of telling the story interestingly to the audiences though audiences know what he is going to narrate. Screenplay of the movie is good and the Rajamouli trade mark commercial paybacks are nicely inserted at regular intervals. Rajamouli who made a self-confession in the past that he is weak at narrating love stories makes a nice effort to come up with a convincing love story that penetrates eras and generations.

The following three episodes are visually extraordinary:
• The opening sequence.
• The shot where hero and heroine go to Bhairava to perform poojas.
• Marvelous art work carried to portray Udaigadh city of 1609AD
• Battle between Kalabhairava and 100 soldiers of Sher Khan
• Wonderful picturization of Dheera Dheera song
• Lord Shiva’s statue that brings hysterical feeling
• Helicopter and bike stunts of Ram Charan
• The shot involving of elevating camera on top angle between two pillars in flashback episode.

The following commercial payoffs will work big time
1. White Chunni thread (just like the thread of medal in Yamadonga film)
2. Picking up four important characters from the past and get them closer in the current time.
3. Ending the movie from where it started in the opening episode (usage of same weapons, location, sentiment etc)
4. Aghora tells villain how to recognize the hero. And the same symptoms occur during helicopter fight before interval.

The following scenes will create an impact:
1. The horse coming back to help the sinking hero.
2. Kill 100 people episode (inspired by 300 movie killing style where killing is shown more like poetry than a gore element). The opening credits have the counting of 100 as the backdrop and we realise the importance of it only after watching the last fight of the flashback.

The following scenes are mediocre:
• The basis of heroine misunderstanding hero is too flimsy.
• Chiranjeevi’s episode
• Dialogues in first 44 minutes
• Srihari’s car colliding with chopper looks comical in the serious fight of climax. .

Other departments:

Rajamouli should be appreciated for giving due credit to all his technicians by dedicating a full-song to them during the end titles of the movie. Watching that was fun. Songs scored by MM Keeravani are little disappointing when you listen to them on the stereo. But they are good on screen with visuals. Background music (a combined effort of Keeravani and Kalyani Malik) is excellent. Cinematography by Senthil Kumar is very good. It is extremely difficult to recreate the era of 400 years old and art direction by Ravinder is splendid. Fights composed by Peter Hynes are excellent. Dialogues by Ratnam are good. Styling by Rama Rajamouli is very good and you can see chic colors in the costumes worn by the lead pair in abroad song. Editing is good. Visual effects are nice. So is digital intermediate. But at the same time, there seem to be inconsistency in visuals throughout the movie. Some of the visuals are excellent and some of the visuals are good and some other are mediocre. Visuals are the results of combined effort of cinematographer, art director, visual effects department, DI team and film processing lab. One can see inconsistency in the postproduction of the movie. Production values of Geeta Arts are impressive and it is one of the biggest spent movie of Telugu film industry.

Analysis:

Opening episode of the movie is superb. First half of the movie is nice and second half is decent. The tempo goes down right after the flashback episode as it’s everybody’s guess that what follows is a predictable climax. The plus points of the movie are Ram Charan Teja, novel subject of rebirth, flashback episode, grandeur and commercial pay offs. On the flipside, there is tremendous scope for improvement in the second half. On a whole, Magadheera might not be a great film. But it is a good entertainer with nicely packed commercial elements and grandeur. Go and watch it in a theater near you with nice projection and good sound system.

The movie scores 4/5 by the virtue of technical values and adventurous attempt. It would have scored bigger if the first 44 minutes were also dealt well with sensible comedy and treatment.

Tailpiece:
There is uncanny resemblance to Arundhati and Magadheera stories. Both these films are about incarnations. Both these movies have aghora episodes. And villain lusts heroine and that forms the central conflict point in both these movies.

The movie is having overwhelming response all over the state. As said the movie should be watched in a good theater with good sound system.

Josh music launch on July 18th

The logo of Naga Chaitanya Akkineni’s debut film Josh will be unveiled by his grandfathers ANR and Rama Naidu at a function to be held on 11 July. Producer with midas touch Dil Raju is planning to launch the music on 18 July, i.e., tomorrow. Sandeep Chowta is scoring music for this high profile movie. Karthika (daughter of yeater year's heroine Radha) makes her debut in Telugu with this movie. Vasu Varma, a debutant directer, directs this film. The movie is planned to be released on August 12th.

Leader postponed to October 2nd!!!

Sekhar Kammula’s latest movie Leader introducing Rana, grandson of movie mughal Ramanaidu as hero is going to release on 2nd October which is the birthday of the true leader of India – Mahatma Gandhi. Earlier the producer aimed at 15 August. But delayed schedules caused this movie to postpone to 2nd October which is being produced by the prestigious AVM banner

Purnodaya Movie Creations completes 30 years

Purnodaya Movie Creations that produced classics like Sankarabharanam, Swathi Muthyam, Sagara Sangamam, Sitara, Swayam Krushi, Seetakoka Chiluka is completing 30 years of it’s existence. Sangam Academy felicitated Edida Nageswara Rao on this eve with Sangam Lifetime Achievement Award. This function was held on 14 July in Ravindra Bharati. Journalist Pulagam Chinnarayana’s book ‘Cine Purnodayam’ was also launched on this eve. Megastar shared his experiences of his marriage on the dias. Though only 10 movies came from tha banner, all are considered classics of Telugu cinema. The production house has stopped producing movie after megastar's 'Apatbhandavudu'.

'Magadheera' pushed back to July 29th

Much hyped release of this year 'Magadheera' has been pushed back to July 29th from July 22nd for reasons of re-recording. Some inside sourses say that the delay is because of Keeravani too as he is presently in US for his sangeeta vibhavari and he'll retun on 28th. Some also say that it might get released on August 15th, the lucky day for SSR whose last film came 2 years ago and was a blockbuster. So stay tuned folks to as which of this will come out to be true.!!

Hrithik Roshan as Lord Rama??!!

You'll witness one more 'Ramayana' on silver screen. Its Sanjay Khan who is going to rope this project as per reliable sources. He produced 'Tipu Sultan' previously.

Sources say that the shooting would be for around 3 years with Hrithik as Rama. And the title is 'The legend of Rama' says Jayed Khan, son of Sanjay Khan.

He says he'll be playing the role of Lakshmana and BigB has come forward to play the role of Dasaradha. Hunt is going on for the roles of Ravana and Sita.

This will be going on the sets soon. This is said to be produced on a whooping budget in the history of Bollywood...So stay glued for more news folks!!!

Oy! inside info

This is the inside info about the much awaited movie Oy! This movie's album has already topped the chart busters.

• Good comedy in first half

• Average second half

• Fresh and new love track

• 3 songs are highlight

• Good range movie with comfortable 50 days talk

• A much bigger range will depend up on movie's promotion

'Magadheera' audio fares average and not up to the mark!!

It has been two days since the audio release of much hyped movie of the year 'Magadheera'. And the response is mixed. Many say that the audio is not up to the mark. The much hyped remix song 'bangaru kodi petta....' from megastars's blockbuster gharana mogudu stands stale. Music of this song is just okay and the voices have been lent by Ranjith and Sai shivani. The intensity required for this song is missing in Ranjith's voice. Other songs fare averagly with routine music. Not much to say about this album. You really wonder whether Keeravani gave this music?! But SS Rajamouli is known for his lavish presentation of songs on-screen which he has learnt from Raghavenra Rao might be the only saving grace and also BGM. Audio is definitely a minus and does not help the movie much. If the movie becomes a blockbuster then the audio sales might get pushed but otherwise a bad album from Keeravani. Not expected this from you sir!!!

And requests have been going from the fans to change the logo of the title as no movie in recent times registered a hit designed with a black logo title. Its getting a negative response. Hope you are listening designers!!

Maro Charitra shooting in Canada

As per reliable sourses, Dil Raju couldn’t able to procure visas for the entire unit for USA. Hence they are planning to shoot the film in Canada and pass it off as USA. The shooting of the film is supposed to start in this month, but couldn’t. The unit is expected to go to Canada next month. Ravi Yadav (cinematographer of Bollywood blockbuster Race) is making his debut as director with this movie. This film is based on K Balachandar’s yesteryear’s classic Maro Charitra. Micky J Meyer is composing music. Most of this film will be shot in abroad. Wait and see if it ends in a tragedy like the masterpiece or he'll make some changes according to present generation.

'Adurs' on October 14th???

October 14th is the date set for the release of NTR’s latest film 'Adurs' in the direction of VV Vinayak. This film is supposed to release in summer, but got postponed due to the injury to NTR. NTR is completely fit and raving to resume the shoot again on today. The movie will be wrapped up in this schedule. Expectations are sky high on this movie. NTR and brahmanandam in brahmin getups are said to be rocking the comedy section. Hope this will be another 'Yamadonga' for them. Vallabhaneni Vamsi Mohan is producing this movie on Vaishnavi Arts banner.

'Josh' on 12th August???

The unit of Naga Chaitanya’s debut 'Josh' returned to city after an exhausting schedule at golden temple city Amritsir. The last leg of the shooting is currently going on at Mehdipatnam now. An action seen is being composed which was okayed in a single take near PV express highway and was composed exactly opposite to Jr.NTR's office on 29th June. Dil Raju produces this movie by introducing Vasu Varma as the director. Karthika (daughter of yesteryear’s beauty Radha) is doing female lead. Dil Raju is aiming for 12th August release.

Mamata flirting Rana!!??

She is known as the mesmerizing beauty of the southern circuit(though that much seen is not there...) and is one of those rare starlets who is a combination of stunning looks and very good talents. She is none other than the Malayalam beauty Mamata Mohandas and right now she is making news for the wrong reasons.

It is being buzzed strongly that Mamata has been getting ‘cozy’ with Daggubati Rana, grandson of the movie Moghul D Ramanaidu. Apparently, Rana is busy with the shooting of his debut film with Sekhar Kammula and Mamata is said to be in Kerala.

The news is that Mamata has already quashed this as baseless rumors and is said to be lashing out at the origin of this news. Rana from his end is not available for any comment. While the mystery is on, only time will tell how much truth is there in this.!!

Spy cameras for Vedam shooting???!!

It is known news that the intelligent director Krish of ‘Gamyam’ fame has now launched his new multi starrer ‘Vedam’. The film has been getting a lot of attention for various reasons and prominent among them is the coming together of two heroes from strikingly different backgrounds.
They are Allu Arjun and Manchu Manoj Kumar, since then it is heard that a craze of sorts has developed and many are said to be working out ways and means to install spy cams at the shooting locations so that the stills or scenes from the film can be leaked out.

Krish is known to be a strict disciplinarian when it comes to shootings and not many are entertained to be present in the premises while the shooting is on. Wants to be another Shankar(ha ha ha...)So it now remains to be seen how he is going to overcome this challenge and come with his ‘Vedam’ without any leaks.

Nani for six-pack and colour enhancement

He is being deemed as a budding hero and true to his image, he has been coming up with good performances and also a strong screen presence. We are talking about the new lad Nani who made his debut with the film ‘Asta Chemma’ and came up with his latest offering ‘Ride’.

Now, an unusual buzz has been making rounds about Nani and it is heard that this hero has been hitting the gym to join the six pack league. The interesting bit is, he is also said to be going through few sessions for color enhancement that would make him a bit fair from his dusky shade.
This looks something opposite to what the foreigners do to get their skin tanned from fair. While it is not sure how successful Nani will be with his new approach, many are waiting to see how he would look if he does go ahead with the color enhancement thing.

Shruti Hasan says ok to Bikini but not in the presence of Kamal…

Shruti Haasan, Kamal Haasan’s light-eyed, fiery-natured daughter, is a month away from breaking into Bollywood.

Her romantic lead is Imran Khan, who Shruti has known since childhood. “He actually considers me his little sister, but that didn’t make it difficult for me to romance him on screen!” she laughed. But the film is not all romance. She’s done death-defying stunts “crossing all boundaries that might have ever existed while filming action scenes” and wounded herself too in the bargain. “But I’m proud of those bruises,” said Shruti.

She’s happy, however, that her superstar father didn’t drop on the sets. “I wouldn’t be able to act in front of him so I told him to stay away and watch the final product,” she smiled. Doing a bikini scene, too, would be difficult with Kamal around, she admitted. “I’m okay with wearing a bikini onscreen or showing a little skin. I don’t know why a great deal is made out of the bikini! All those who have worn it till date, have looked good, and if you have a great body — then why not,” she said, “but... my dad shouldn’t be in the same film!”

Her debut film apart, Shruti’s busy composing the music for her home production, a remake of A Wednesday in Telugu and Tamil with Kamal playing the lead. “You can imagine how nervous I am as both the films will release within a gap of a few days. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Composing music was a different experience altogether and it was challenging working with dad,” she said.