Rajapattai - King lacks grandeur

 

Cast : Vikram, Deeksha Seth,Viswanath,Mithra Kurian,Thambi Ramaiah

Music : Yuvan Shankar Raja

Cinematography : Madhie

Direction : Suseenthiran

Production : PVP Cinema

Review : Kumar (The 70 mm Team)

Suseenthiran, who has a achieved stardom with his earlier flicks joins with Chiyaan Vikram for the first time. They duo has tried to deliver commercial cinema with a different vision.Deeksha Seth makes her debut with Rajapattai.Suseenthiran has tried to give commercial treatment to Seenu Vasan's story about land grabbing and its impacts.

Story

Vikram enacts the role of Anal Murugan,who is side kick and a wannabe villain. Viswanath dons the role of Dakshinamurthy, he runs a home for orphanage in the memory of his late wife .A gang of baddies try to get hold of Daksinamurthy where Anal Murugan shows his masculine strength and becomes savior for the old man. Later, Daksinamurthy narrates the situation which keeps him on the run that unveils the evil plan of his son, who hopes to fulfill his politcal ambition by selling orphanage home to political giant Mayakka.Kaavalan fame Mithra Kurian fits the role of the corrupted politician as Akka who tries to grab lands from people. Akka has shades that reminds us of the undisputed villain Soorna Akka (Dhool) . The tussle between Anal Murugan and Mayaakka forms the crux of second half and leads to usual the climax of Good winning over the Evil.

Performances

The story provided ample scope for Vikram to perform action sequences.Yes, he scores them and it seems like a cake for a versatile actor like Vikram . Viswanath evokes laughter with his love guru sort of advices,he makes use of his experience which brings the roof down with the laughter.Thambi Ramaiah shares the screen space only for few minutes but he has done the justice for his role .The leading lady Deeksha Seth fails to showcase her performance, She has a long way to go. Though the leading lady disappoints, Mithra Kurian has excelled in her performance and her evil looks does bring fear among audience.

Technicalities

The first to be mentioned on the list must be Stunt Choreographer Anal Arasu , his action choreography is mind blowing and leaves audience stunned. Madhie's cinematography has accompanied Anal Arasu's stunts that becomes a visual treat for everyone. Editor Kasi Viswanath has done a clean job with right cuts .

Yuvan Shankar Raja's songs usually has soul to the tunes but Rajapattai is not under that list . Podi paiyan and Villathi Villain are exceptionally good.The Background sounds pretty ordinary same as the songs . Suseenthiran who has a variety of blockbusters under in his carrier from his debut movie Vennilla Kabadi Kuzhu to his earlier flick Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai has failed to cater the mass audience with the ingredients,the song placements is awful and the screenplay drags in the second half and falls sharply before the climax.

Wow Factors

• Versatile act by Vikram
• Anal Arasu's Stunt
• Viswanath's timing comedy

Oops Factors

• Suseenthiran's screenplay failed miserably
• Seenu Vasan's story lacks the power
• Yuvan Shankar Raja's Songs are ordinary

Bottomline

Vikram , Viswanath,Mithra Kurian and Anal Arasu win people's heart while the rest of the cast and crew disappoints.

Rajanna movie review

 

Movie : Rajanna
Director : Vijayendra Prasad
Producer : Nagarjuna Akkineni
Cast : Nagarjuna, Sneha, Annie, Shweta Menon, Nasser

Rajanna, produced by Nagarjuna under his Annapurna Studios banner, was marketed well across the state.

The movie is directed by father-son duo � Vijayendra Prasad and Rajamouli. The film is inspired from an uprising in Nelakondapalli in 1948 against feudalism.

Rajanna (Nagarjuna) and four of his friends (Pradeep, Rawat, Ajay and Supreet) oppose the British rule and try to motivate the people through revolutionary songs.

After1947, Rajanna realises that India got independence from the British, but is reeling under the oppression of the feudal lords. Rajanna saves Lachchamma (Sneha) from the clutches of a feudal villain, and marries her.

He continues his fight against the gentry and tries to awaken the people with his songs and speeches. He also kills the tyrannical rulers and finally gets killed in the hands of a Nawab. Rajanna`s adversaries also try to eliminate his wife and daughter Mallamma (Baby Annie). However, Lachchamma saves Mallamma and in the process gets killed.

Sambayaa (Nasser), a music teacher of the same village saves Mallamma and brings her up as his grand daughter. Mallamma, meanwhile, develops hatred towards the landlords and transforms that hatred into songs. She becomes the target of the anger of land lords. Mallamma who resembles Rajanna wants to save the people of her town and leaves for Delhi.

Mallamma meets Prime Minister Nehru and urges him to save her people from the lords. She finally emanicipates her people.

BabyAnnie is excellent as Mallamma. The character of Rajanna is very special and different from all the characters Nagarjuna has done so far. Nag has proved his mettle again. Sneha does justice to her role. ANR`s voice over at the beginning and the end of the film is one of the highlights.

Nasser is a big asset to the film. Director Vijayendra Prasad should be commended for writing a great script, perfectly in tune with the times of the British Raj and the Rajakars movement in Telangana. The screenplay clearly reflects the Rajamouli-brand.

Keeravani scored music that is apt for the movie from the start to the finish, apart from tickling the audience with an aura of revolutionary songs.

Cinematography and editing are big pluses to the film. Art work is extraordinary. Both the first and second halves are equally balanced and boredom is kept at bay, despite treating a semi-historical subject.

Verdict: Worth a watch