Film: Ragada
Rating: 3/5
Banner: Sri Kamakshi Enterprises
Cast: Nagarjuna, Anushka, Priyamani, Brahmanandam, Pradeep Rawath,
Kota, Dev Gill, Dharmavarapu, Raghu Babu, Tanikella, Supreeth,
Sreelatha, Sana, Master Bharat, Charmee (spl appearance)
Music: Thaman
Editing: Marthand K Venkatesh
Cinematography: Sarvesh Murari
Story, screenplay, dialogues, direction: Veeru Potla
Producer: D Sivaprasad Reddy
Release date: 24/12/2010
Nagarjuna has been trying hard to score a hit since ‘Mass’ and now he arrived with another commercial treat. This is the last of the biggies for 2010.
Story:
Set on the backdrop of Hyderabad, the story begins with GK (Dev Gill) who is keen on taking power from Peddanna (Pradeep Rawath) and waits for the right chance. He finds a possibility with the arrival of Satya (Nagarjuna) who is brave, strong and intelligent. Satya wins GK’s confidence and in this process, even GK’s love interest Sirisha (Anushka) also falls for Satya. Meanwhile, Satya gives asylum to Ashtalakshmi (Priyamani) who has few issues.
However, no one knows who Satya is, from where he came and why he came. All this forms the rest of the story.
Performances:
Nagarjuna looks smashing as ever and he has shouldered the film very well. His looks are outstanding and as usual, he rocks with his screen presence.
Anushka has filled the glamour quotient with her voluptuous appeal and she will be a visual treat to the masses. Performance wise, she did her bit as required.
Priyamani was effective and though she cannot match Anushka in terms of looks or glamour, she made her presence felt in her own way.
Brahmanandam takes off in an interesting manner and gives few laughs. However, his role becomes weak during the second half.
The bunch of villains like Kota, Pradeep Rawath, Dev Gill, Supreeth, Shravan didn’t have much except screaming their lungs out and taking the bashings from the hero. There is no strength in their characterization.
Charmee looks sizzling hot and her moves are sensuous.
Dharmavarapu, Master Bharat were brief and brought few smiles, Sana was standard, Sreelatha was okay, Satya Prakash was standard, the rest did their bit upto the mark.
Highlights:
- Nagarjuna’s style and looks
- Glamour quotient of the leading ladies
- Opening fight sequence of Nag
- Rich presentation of songs
Drawbacks:
- Second half slows down and there is a drag
- Unwanted inclusion of songs
- Abrupt jerks in editing
- No depth in the character etching of villains
Analysis:
Overall, the film runs on pure formula of few fights, glamorous songs, a comedy track and one sentimental attachment to the plot.
Primarily, the makers tried to cash in on the star power of Nagarjuna and he has not let them down. While the dialogues at few places were effective, the screenplay was having few hiccups.
Though there were few unexpected twists in the second half, the director was not able to give it that punch. Developing the comedy track would have helped. However, this is a film for Nag fans, B and C centers. The content is weak but it is the presentation which was packed with the right ingredients for a mass masala entertainer.
Bottomline: Pure commercial formula entertainer
(Sirasri can be reached at [email protected])
