Day: January 19, 2025

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Emergency review: A competent political drama about the consequences of unchecked power

Setting aside the controversies, ‘Emergency’ offers a fairly balanced portrayal of the life and times of Indira Gandhi.

Emergency (Hindi), 17-01-2025, Historical drama , 2 hours 27 minutes, U/A, Theatre
  • Main Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, and Mahima Chaudhry
  • Director: Kangana Ranaut
  • Producer: Kangana Ranaut
  • Music Director: GV Prakash Kumar
  • Cinematography: Tetsuo Nagatas
  • Rating: 3/5

The recent political movies from Bollywood have often bordered on being both tacky and amateurish. They often end up glorifying the current ruling party while showcasing the Opposition Congress as either fools or extreme villains.

With Kangana being a BJP MP, her political ideology is well-known. Emergency directed and written by Kangana has had a long battle before its eventual release.

The censor board had asked for numerous cuts. Recently even the Sikh organizations wanted a ban on it.

Synopsis

Setting aside the controversies, Emergency offers a fairly balanced portrayal of the life and times of Indira Gandhi.

Kangana Ranaut presents the controversial prime minister sometimes as a villain who got blinded by her son’s love doing terrible things. At the same time, the movie showcases the emotional turmoil that Indira went through, we see her getting haunted by her image in Shakespearean style.

Emergency begins with glimpses of Indira’s childhood; the story spans her tumultuous journey till the end highlighting the various trials and tribulations like her complex relationships with her father and the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, as well as her husband Feroze Gandhi.

Portrayal of Emergency

On the sets of Emergency
On the sets of ‘Emergency’. (Supplied)

The best part of the Kangana directorial is undoubtedly the portrayal of events leading up to the extremely harrowing period of emergency.

Kangana showcases the very dangerous consequences of unchecked power. Political leaders are locked up and all the dissenters of Indira Gandhi are simply labelled as “anti-national”.

The media, especially the newspapers, supposed to represent the voice of the common man also suffered badly due to Indira Gandhi’s dictatorial ways. The discerning audience can definitely draw a parallel to today’s environment.

In the present times, anyone who raises their voice against Hindutva and BJP is labelled as anti-national and often put in prison for expressing their opinions.

Of course, Kangana wouldn’t have designed these portions keeping this aspect in mind, still, for those who can look beyond the obvious the parallels are very apparent.

Best moments

The dynamics between Indira and Sanjay also give the movie some of its best moments. Indira has a very soft corner for her son often overlooking his bratish ways. This unabashed love for the son makes her blind towards his deviousness.

Kangana Ranaut in Emergency
Kangana Ranaut in ‘Emergency’. (X)

The movie portrays Sanjay Gandhi as the major force behind the excessive brutality of the emergency. He was always confident about having his mother’s support. However, this changes when Indira develops a conscience deciding to take things under her control.

There is a hugely poignant moment after the death of Sanjay Gandhi. Many common people are seen celebrating the death of this spoilt brat linking him to a Raavan. Indira has a major breakdown in the car repenting about the way she has brought up her son.

A major problem with Emergency is its docu-drama feel. At certain points, the movie feels like a rushed narration of the major events in Indira Gandhi’s life.

Indira Gandhi’s return to power and the entire Blue Star operation leading to her being gunned down suffer on the account of an episodic feel.

These parts needed better layering for the viewers to develop a more emotional connection with the protagonist.

Kangana as Indira Gandhi

A poster of the film Emergency
A poster of the film ‘Emergency’. (X)

Kangana Ranaut as Indira Gandhi takes a while to get used to. Her initial speeches in the parliament suffer on account of her squeaky voice however as the movie progresses Kangana Ranaut also becomes better.

The actress particularly shines in the sequences showcasing Indira Gandhi’s emotional turmoil, the scenes where she is haunted by her fate and later expresses remorse have been well portrayed by the actor.

For some, the redemption arc may come across as being calculative to avoid further backlash, still the way these portions have been written and performed is wonderful to watch.

Talking about other actors, Vishak Nair as Sanjay Gandhi is also terrific perfectly portraying the reckless nature of Sanjay. He imbibes Sanjay’s ruthlessness wonderfully making the viewers detest him.

Seniors Anupam Kher and the late Satish Kaushik make their presence amply felt too, as a moral counterpoint to Indira Gandhi. They play Jayaprakash Narayan and Jagjvan Ram respectively.

The dashing Milind Sonam as the famous field Marshal Sam Manekshaw also gives a good account of Manekshaw. Lastly, Shreyas Talpade as Advani also brings a certain authenticity.

Technical aspects

The cinematography of Tuesto Nagata also deserves a special mention. His work particularly in the disturbing emergency is outstanding. Through his lens, Tuesto Nagata does a very fine job of capturing the immense turmoil that the nation had gone through.

The songs come across as more of unwanted guests. The political leaders lip-syncing songs come across as unnecessary; still, “Ae Meri Jaan” sung by the legendary Hariharan makes for a soothing listen and a good watch.

Final take

Keeping aside the rushed storytelling and its docu-drama feel, Emergency makes for a good watch provided you are into political dramas.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/emergency-movie-review/

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Sankranthiki Vasthunam: A fun filled Sankranti outing in trademark Anil Ravipudi style

‘Sankranthiki Vasthunam’ is a wholesome entertainer particularly for those likeVenkatesh’s brand of comic timing and Anil Ravipudi’s whacky storytelling.

Sankranthiki Vasthunam (Telugu), 13-01-2025, Action, Comedy, 2 hours 24 minutes, U/A, Theatre
  • Main Cast: Venkatesh, Aishwarya Rajesh, Meenakshi Chaudhary, and Upendra Limaye
  • Director: Anil Ravipudi
  • Producer: Shirish
  • Music Director: Bheems Ceciroleo
  • Cinematography: Sameer Reddy
  • Rating: 3.5/5

In a short span of time, Anil Ravipudi has established himself as a successful commercial director. His stories rely more on punch lines and outlandish humour rather than a coherent storyline.

However, the conviction with which he narrates his stories and the actor’s commitment makes them hugely enjoyable. Very good examples are F2: Fun and Frustration (2019) and its sequel F3 (2022).

The director also proved his versatility with the action drama Bhagavant Kesari in 2023. He did a fine job in merging Nandamuri Balakrishna’s stardom with strong beats of women empowerment.

Synopsis

With Sankranthiki Vasthunam, the director returns to familiar territory. A whacky comedy with elements of family drama, the storyline isn’t high on logic, and often borders on being farcical, but what holds the movie together majorly is Venkatesh’s brilliant act coupled with Anil Ravipudi’s narration.

Sankranthiki Vasthunam begins off with a kidnap scenario. A CEO of the world’s number one tech company Aakella (Srinivas Avasarala) is kidnapped on his visit to India. The government has a big responsibility to bring Aakella back.

Venkatesh plays suspended officer YD Raju, extremely well known for his notorious handling of criminals, shooting them at his will.

Due to the numerous complaints of a human rights organization YD Raju is suspended. Meenakshi Chaudhary plays VD Raju’s ex-girlfriend and a police officer herself. Meenakshi and YD Raju had a bitter break-up.

YD Raju makes a promise not to marry anyone else but it turns out that he is a happily married man with Bhagyalakshmi (Aishwarya Rajesh). They have four kids, among the kids, Bheemla Revanth Pavan Sai Subhash is the most important one.

Meenakshi comes to VD Raju’s place to seek help from him and also a certain hope of reconnecting but is thoroughly shocked to know that he has moved on. The rest of the story focuses on the tangle that VD Raju finds himself in and how Meenakshi and Co are able to free Aakella with his help. There is a small subplot as well connected to the importance of respecting teachers.

Strong aspects

Sankranthiki Vasthunam is a comedy entertainer
‘Sankranthiki Vasthunam’ is a comedy entertainer. (X)

A strong aspect of Sankranthiki Vasthunam is undoubtedly the characterization of Venkatesh, coupled with his wonderful act. The senior actor isn’t new to the genre of humour.

The actor’s comic timing in movies like Malliswari (2004), F2 and F3 along with Nuvvu Naaku Nachav (2001) has brought the house down raising many chuckles. Still, director Anil Ravipudi brings out a different side to his comedy.

As a man caught between his ex and his wife, while handling the important task at hand Venkatesh is simply brilliant. He brings the house down on many occasions with his expressions and lifts many of the movie’s comic moments with his wonderful sense of timing.

Performances

Venkatesh portrays a loving family man, an ex-lover and a smart cop in a wonderful manner. A particular mention must be of the pre-climax fight when his character lets out all the pent-up angst. There is a super mix of action and comedy thoroughly entertaining the viewers.

His chemistry with both Aishwarya Rajesh and Meenakshi Chaudhary is the icing on the cake. The scenes involving a trio are super fun to watch as well.

Aishwarya Rajesh as the jealous yet lovable wife does a great job too. There is a certain naivety to Bhagyalakshmi which Aishwarya pulls off wonderfully. Aishwarya’s portrayal of jealousy and insecurity whenever Meenakshi gets close to her husband is brilliant to watch.

Anil Ravipudi directorial Sankranthiki Vasthunam
Anil Ravipudi directorial ‘Sankranthiki Vasthunam’. (X)

Meenakshi Chaudhary as the cop and an ex-girlfriend also gives a good account of herself. After playing the roles of housewife in Lucky Baskhar and Matka, this marks a different terrain for her and the actress more than holds her own opposite Venkatesh and Aishwarya Rajesh.

Special mention must also be made of Bheemla Revanth Pavan. As a boisterous kid with OTT-inspired curses, the child actor does a very good job. The chemistry between Venkatesh and Bheemla Revanth adds to the fun element.

Upender Limaye plays an eccentric cop with a high pitch. His scenes often border on being loud still it goes with the movie’s nature.

Technical aspects

Bheems Ceciroleo’s music is another asset for the movie with Ramana Gogula’s “Godari Gattu” being a major highlight. Apart from that, the song “Meenu” showcasing YD Raju and Meenakshi’s romantic past is also a fun number.

Talking about the movie’s flaws there is a shabbily written subplot about respecting and remembering your teachers. The message behind this is noble as teachers are an important pillar of society and worthy of respect, however, the way it has been integrated is patchy.

Also, the second half has moments of repetitiveness in terms of humour. Some sequences with farcical humour test the viewer’s patience.

Final take

To sum it up Sankranthiki Vasthunam is a perfect watch for those looking for light-hearted entertainment. Fans of Anil Ravipudi and Venkatesh will have a blast.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/telugu/sankranthiki-vasthunam-movie-review/

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Daaku Maharaaj : A mass feast for Balakrishna’s die hard fans

Bobby Kolli’s ‘Daaku Maharaaj’ doesn’t break any grounds in terms of the story. It is a tried and tested good versus evil saga somewhat elevated by Balakrishna’s star power.
Daaku Maharaaj (Telugu), 12-01-2025, Action, Drama, 2 hours 30 minutes, U/A, Theatre
  • Main Cast: Nandamuri Balakrishna, Bobby Deol, Shraddha Srinath, Pragya Jaiswal, and Chandini Chowdary
  • Director: Bobby Kolli
  • Producer: Suryadevara Naga Vamsi
  • Music Director: S Thaman
  • Cinematography: Vijay Kartik Kannan
  • Rating: 2.5/5

Bobby Kolli’s Daaku Maharaaj plays out like an unabashed love letter to the crazy fan following of Nandamuri Balakrishna.

Balakrishna’s connection with the masses is undeniable, regardless of whether you like the actor or not.

Bobby Kolli uses the connection to the hilt to keep the viewers invested.

Synopsis

In simple terms, the story of Daaku Maharaaj focuses on a civil engineer turned vigilante. The movie initially presents Balakrishna as Nanaji, a driver. However, Nanaji’s real intentions are different.

His true mission is to protect the granddaughter of the tea estate. The family is under threat from MLA Trimurthulu Naidu (Ravi Kishan).

Nanaji quietly eliminates the gangs related to Trimurthulu Naidu. Things take a dramatic turn when Nanaji’s real identity comes out.

Balwant Singh Thakur (Bobby Deol) is informed of Daaku Maharaaj’s reappearance—the second half shifts to an origin story.

Before becoming a vigilante Balakrishna’s Sitharam was an upright civil engineer. Sitharam’s aim was to bring water to the withered area of Sonapur in Madhya Pradesh. This area is ruled by the demonic family of Thakurs.

Bobby Deol’s Balwant Singh Thakur is the youngest among the brothers. The rest of the story focuses on the transformation of Sitharam and his connection with the granddaughter of the tea estate.

A showreel for Balakrishna

Daaku Maharaaj is an action thriller
‘Daaku Maharaaj’ is an action erntertainer. (X)

It goes without saying that Daaku Maharaaj is mostly a showreel for Nandamuri Balakrishna. The actor’s screen presence coupled with his histrionics is what makes the movie watchable even when the plot enters into an utterly mundane zone.

The actor’s delivery of punch lines is definitely something that hardcore fans will enjoy. He does a very good job of portraying Sitharam’s transition from an honest civil servant wanting to solve the problems of Sonapur through government methods into a vigilante.

A scene which deserves a particular mention is a breakdown portion in the flashback involving the death of a girl. The quire in the voice coupled with the tremble as he talks about the horrific death brings out the actor in Balakrishna.

Both Shraddha Srinath and Pragya Jaiswal make their entry in the second half as the spouses of Bobby Deol and Balakrishna respectively.

Both of them make their presence amply felt particularly Shraddha Srinath as the honest collector who goes against her husband. An emotional sequence between Shraddha and Balakrishna before the death of her character is hugely poignant.

Bobby Deol as the thoroughly aristocratic Thakur with zero emotions makes for a suitably cruel villain. He gets the patriarchal nature of an upper caste bigot to perfection, his confrontation scenes with Balakrishna like the pre-climax sequence are deadly.

Flaws

A major problem with Daaku Maharaaj is its tried and tested formula of good versus evil. The movie comes with zero surprises for those who have grown up on commercial Telugu cinema. The beats of the story become very predictable.

The movie also suffers on account of too much fan worship. The fan service gets nauseating after a point giving little enjoyment for the neutral audiences.

Daaku Maharaaj also suffers from the mostly flat characterizations of the supporting cast. Able comic actors like Satya and VTV Ganesh are given very little to play with. The likes of Shine Tom Chacko as a wacky cop on the hunt of the Daaku start off promisingly but end up being majorly sidelined as the movie becomes a celebration of Balakrishna’s aura.

Technical aspects

Apart from Balakrishna’s performance, Vijay Kartik’s cinematography is also of a good standard, the Chambal portions of the second half showcase his prowess as a cinematographer.

Thaman S’s songs don’t help the movie much but his background score is pulsating, it perfectly complements the cinematography of Vijay Kartik in the Chambal portions.

Final take

To sum it up Daaku Maharaaj is strictly for the hard-core Balakrishna admirers, the ones who worship the actor and watch movies only for him.

(Views expressed here are personal, edited by Sumavarsha Kandula)

https://thesouthfirst.com/entertainment/telugu/daaku-maharaaj-movie-review/