Movie: Ra Ra Krishnaiah
Rating: 2/5
Banner: SVK Cinema
Cast: Sundeep Kishan, Jagapathi Babu, Regina, Tagubothu Ramesh, Tanikella Bharani, Ravi Babu, Rajesh and others
Music: Atchu
Editor: Marthand K Venkatesh
Cinematographer: Sai Sriram
Producer: Vamsi Krishna Srinivas
Story, Screenplay, Dialogues and Direction: Mahesh Babu P
Release Date: 4th July 2014
A small film that created a flutter because it starred love birds Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia who were on the brink of marriage was Tere Naal Ishq Ho Gaya. To cut a rather long story short, Ra Ra Krishnaiah happens to be a free make of the film which did manage to have an average run there thanks to the lead couple. Let’s see how the film’s director Mahesh Babu has handled this tried and tested script…
Story:
Kittu (Sundeep Kishan) is a hard-working cab driver who dreams of buying his own car. But his owner cheats him and takes away his savings. An angry Kittu then goes to his boss’s house and kidnaps his daughter Nandeeswari (Regina). Luckily for him, he finds her at a time when she is looking for ways to run away from her arranged marriage. She hopes that if Kittu demands more money from her father, she too can settle down peacefully. But as is the norm in all films, Kittu and Nandu end up falling in love promptly. Meanwhile, Kittu decides to return Nandu to her parents’ house as he does not want to be labeled a kidnapper for life. However, just at the crucial time, Nandu is kidnapped by Jaggu bhai played by Jagapathi Babu. So, who is Jaggu bhai and why does he kidnap Nandu?
Artistes’ Performance:
Though Sundeep puts in a decent performance, he does not have it in him to carry the script on his shoulders due to the weak script. However, he does perform well during emotional scenes.
Another important actor in the film, Jagapathi Babu, enters during the second half. Though he has good screen presence, his role does not appeal to the audience. The director tried to make his character comical, but fails badly.
Coming to Kotha Janta girl Regina, she has showcased her ample talent once again. She also pulls off her role with ease.
Tanikella Bharani is his usual self while Tagubotu Ramesh manages to make you laugh occasionally.
Some comic relief is provided by Venu as the Bihar kidnapper and Ravi Babu as the guy who talks to his dead father in between. As for the rest of the cast, they put in adequate performances.
Technical Excellence:
From among the songs composed by Atchu, only the title song is hummable. Background score, cinematography are good. Editing should have been crisper though.
Coming to director Mahesh Babu, he hardly made any changes to the original Hindi script, though he added his name in the credits. He might have assumed that few would make out it’s a remake as the original film was not a super hit. But anyone who would have watched Tere Naal…, will instantly make out that it is a complete copy of the film. What is irksome is that despite lifting the film completely, he fails to make it interesting and amusing. The audience is put through torture right from the first frame. He manages to make you laugh at the beginning of the second half. But that’s about it. The rest of the film is intolerable.
Highlights:
- Regina’s performance
Drawbacks:
- Screenplay
- Direction
- Songs
Analysis:
One waits for the film to pick pace and turn interesting at every twist and turn. But the audiences only end up being bored as the script progresses as the director has failed to make the story and presentation gripping. The film shifts from Chennai to Kerala and there are lots of chase sequences. Yet, it does not amuse the audience.
One hopes that Jagapathi Babu would provide some relief. But the scenes where he is introduced and the audience are told that the entire family is into kidnapping, the episode of Ravi Babu who is a failed kidnapper and Krishnaiah’s track leave you totally irritated and hoping that the title credits would roll instantly.
Wonder why Sundeep Kishan who has been choosy about his roles till now decided to do this film? He could have fallen for the commercial elements that the script had scope for. Unfortunately, the director does not bail him out here and we end up watching a desperate Sundeep trying to put in his best. Coming to Jagapathi Babu, it won’t take two such roles to put him back where he was before Legend happened to him.
Though the title is Ra Ra Krishnaiah, it would be barely two weeks before the film is rejected by the audience saying ‘po ra Krishnaiah’. If you get tempted to watch Sundeep Kishan and Regina, then let us warn you, watch it at your own risk!
Bottomline: Hard luck Krishnaiah.
(Venkat can be reached at [email protected] or https://twitter.com/greatandhranews)
