Film: Anna
Rating: 2/5
Banner: Sree Mishri Productions
Cast: Vijay, Amala Paul, Satyaraj, Abhimanyu Singh, Ponnambalam, Santhanam, Suresh, Ragini etc
Dialogues: Sashank Vennelakanti
Editing: Antony
Music: GV Prakash Kumar
Camera: Nirav Sha
Producer: Chandraprakash Jain
Story, Screenplay, Direction: AL Vijay
Release Date: 9 Aug 2013
Vijay, who received good reviews with 'Thupaki' has come up with Thalaiva in Tamilnadu that has released as 'Anna' in Telugu. The point to be underlined is that the film released in Telugu prior to that of Tamil. Though Vijay is yet to find his grip on Telugu market unlike Vikram and Surya, the makers have expected lot with this release. But the film tests the patience for 3 hours.
Story:
Ram Murty becomes the savior of all poor people in Mumbai. People call him Anna (Satya Raj). He feels that it's dangerous for his son Vishwa (Vijay) to stay in Mumbai with him. Hence he sends him Australia. He runs his own business there and also participates in dance competitions as hobby. He falls in love with Meera (Amala) and comes back to India with her to take permission from father to marry her. Only then Vishwa comes to know what his father has been doing. With various twists and turns, Vishwa becomes Anna.
Performances:
Vijay's performance is just ok. There is no change in get up in big way between the jovial character in first half and serious role in the 2nd. Tamil fans of Vijay may feel his performance great but it will not appeal for Telugu audience.
Amala Paul got an opportunity to perform. She did well. Satya Raj and Abhimanyu Singh are ok. Santhanam as usual delivered his mark of punch dialogues. Ponnambalam, Naresh etc did justice for their characters.
GV Prakash Kumar's music is spineless. Background ground disappointed fully. Songs are dull. The major drawback for this film is music. Cinematography is good but same mood was followed throughout the film. The dark tone is not required for the jovial episodes in Australia. The length of the film marred the entire show.
Tamil director Vijay carved a nice story like his previous film 'Thanadavam'. But he failed in execution. The required intensity in narration was missing. Forced comedy and unnecessary sub plots killed the film. Had this story was given to Telugu directors, they would have made a powerful commercial entertainer with great elevation for hero that brings hysteria for fans.
Highlights:
- Interval episode
- Santhanam's comedy punches
Draw Backs:
- Run Time
- Screenplay
- Direction
Analysis:
Director failed in all the ways in projecting the protagonist as hero. The love track in first half need not be made so lengthy. He could have given interval 20 minutes before itself. The director couldn’t reach the expectations even with second half by giving real elevation for Anna.
Once hero becomes Anna, the story should run but shouldn’t crawl. The police station scene and the court scene are the unnecessary ones those marred the interest levels of audience. Adding to this, the second heroine track disturbs totally. Santhanam's comedy in second half didn’t gel well with the main plot.
While the audience experiences the pain of lengthy narration, the scene where Vijay controls himself to dance before a song comes as a knockout blow.
There will be many films with 3 hours duration, but Anna is a 3 hour film which gives an experience to audience that they have watched a movie with 3 days duration. Though the openings are good due to no direct releases, the result need not be predicted again.
Bottom Line: Painful
(Venkat can be reached at [email protected] or https://twitter.com/greatandhranews)
