Movie: Janatha Garage
Rating: 2.75/5
Banner: Mythri Movie Makers
Cast: NTR, Mohanlal, Samantha, Nithya Menen, Unni Mukund, Sai Kumar, Brahmaji, Benarjee, Ajay, Sitara, Devayani, Gunaji and others.
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Cinematography: Thiru
Editing: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
Fights: Anal Arasu
Art: A.S. Prakash
Producers: Naveen Yerneni, Mohan (CVM), Y.Ravi Shankar
Written and directed by: Koratala Siva
Release date: September 01, 2016
Fresh from the success of "Nannaku Prematho", NTR has teamed up with hit director Koratala Siva for "Janatha Garage". Ever since the movie was announced, it has created huge interest among the film lovers and with the casting of Malayalam superstar Mohanlal the interest hiked further.
As Koratala Siva is in top form and the trailers have become popular, the movie generated huge expectations. Touted as one of the biggest movies this season, it has hit screens in Telugu and Malayalam languages simultaneously.
Let's find out how the film has fared and whether it has the potential to become blockbuster.
Story:
Satyam (Mohanlal) establishes an auto garage in Hyderabad in early 1980’s. Soon he becomes a leader to their locality. All people in the neighbourhood approach him for help and he also “repairs” (bashes up) men who do wrong to the people.
In the present day, Anand (NTR), an environmental researcher, studying and living in Mumbai frequently lands in problems for his cases against powerful people who pollute the nature. He also knows how to teach them a lesson by bashing them.
On a study exchange program, Anand comes down to Hyderabad and he closes down the illegal quarry of Satyam’s son Raghava (Unni). Impressed with Anand’s aggressive and righteous nature, Satyam asks him to take over his garage. Why? What is his motive?
Artistes’ Performances:
NTR has excelled once again where performance is concerned. He has shown his maturity when he does the scene of Samantha leaving him.
The great actor Mohanlal has not much scope for giving great performance but his presence itself mesmerizes. Samantha and Nithya Menen are wasted in the movie. Sai Kumar’s role is laughable. Ajay’s character lacks proper depth. The villainy done by Unni and Sachin Khedekar also fail to give desired results.
Among other actors Devyani has done good job. Kajal Agarwal’s item song comes at wrong time but she has tried to spice up the screen with ample skin show.
Technical Excellence:
The film boasts high technical values with top-notch camera work by renowned cinematographer Thiru and great artwork. Much of the film is shot at Janatha Garage set and even Mumbai set props are eye-catching.
Devi Sri Prasad’s music is okay. Only couple of songs are good. Editing is bad - from pace to keeping plenty of unnecessary scenes. Fights are routine. Dialogues are good but direction and narration are not effective.
Highlights:
NTR’s performance
NTR and Mohanlal’s scenes
GHMC Episode
Some dialogues
Drawback:
Dull first half
Heroines with no proper roles
Lack of emotional quotient
Weak Villain
Predictability
Lengthy runtime
Analysis:
“Idhi Oka Kutumba Katha”
“Janatha Garage”, the latest film from director Koratala Siva, begins with this note. Although it has widely been publicized as a commercial movie with an importance of protecting the nature, the film is actually more about family and its dynamics.
The first half of the movie stresses on hero and his attitude of protecting the nature, while the second half focuses on the family issues. This mish-mash doesn’t work perfectly.
From the beginning of the movie, the scenes doesn’t excite as all of them are predictable. The first half of the film is totally dull. The hero’s attitude and his dual track with the both the heroine moves at snail pace with no exciting scenes. Added to this there is no entertainment at all. Then comes the second half which is better than the first half and offers some genuine good moments involving Mohanlal and NTR.
What works in the film? Couple of episodes in the second half have worked out. There is a scene where NTR goes to GHMC office to help an officer played Rajeev Kanakala who is threatened by a goon. The way the scene is handled is superb. This is the best mass scene. Then there is one scene where NTR says I am puli, which is also effective. Apart from these scenes, the performance of NTR is huge strength. Single-handedly, he lifts many scenes. Although NTR has not played to the gallery, there are some scenes where he excelled at with his convincing portrayal.
Apart from these couple of good scenes, entire movie runs on expected lines with the absolutely weak story. The plot is so very cliched. In one particular scene, a Chief Minister calls for all-party meet and Mohanlal, who is just a local leader in some part of the city, to attend this and CM drops the idea of a big project on the objection of this leader. In another predictable scene, a leader hatches a plan to plant bombs in city to dethrone the current CM. In how many films haven’t we seen this? Such outdated scenes are aplenty.
And there is a villain who is rich corporate but fears Mohanlal as if the latter controls entire Hyderabad. Even 25 years later, he still treats him as threat to his business expansion although Mohanlal still is a mere garage owner.
Moreover, the pattern of hero introduction and his philosophy of working for the society is similar to the director’s second film “Srimanthudu”. The scene between NTR and Suresh in the beginning is exact mirror of Mahesh Babu and Jagapathi Babu.
Siva Koratala’s writing is full of errors. His screenplay is not convincing. Although NTR and Mohanlal have tried hard to save this wafer thin script, the cliched work doesn’t soar up much. And the movie moves on and on with slow pace.
Wonder how Samantha (who appears skimpiest dresses) and Nithya Menen have agreed to play such roles where they don’t have any substance. Koratala Siva takes too much time to establish the simple story line. The climax is seen in many movies earlier.
But the major issue of the movie is the story of Koratala Siva which is not at all new. All in all, the movie can be watched for some moments in the second half and NTR’s terrific performance. Not a good movie but not totally bad either.
Bottom-line: Okay Dokie
