Rating: 3/5
Cast: Chiranjeevi, Srikanth, Karishma Kotak, Pawan Kalyan, Sada, Dilip Prabhavalkar, Allu Arjun (guest), Ravi Teja (guest), Kanta Rao, Rohit, Shayaji Shinde, Yana Gupta and others.
Dialogue: Paruchoori Brothers
Music: Devi Sri Prasad.
Cinematography: Chota K. Naidu.
Direction: Prabhudeva.
‘Shankardada Zindabad’ has won the first battle as to its story content and scenic division as it is an adaptation of Hindi Original ‘Lageraho Munnabhai’. Even the inclusion of the basic elements of ‘Gandhigiri’ that were there in Sanjay Dutt’s drama ‘Lageraho Munnabhai’ are found in this though not with the same impact. Even that Hindi original was a surprise winner of hearts, for the very reason that it carried the philosophy of ‘Mahatma’ his non-violence and sticking only to Truth. And credit goes to the writer of this original subject.
We in Telugu land would naturally appreciate such a film being remade with a bit of Telugu nativity that too with Mega Star playing the lead.
However, the concentration in Telugu is more on the projection of the hero and his younger brother Pawan Kalyan, that we see right in their characters’ introduction. Care is taken in giving a good finish to the film by designing interesting bits of climatic drama. Good that the artiste (Dilip Prabhawalkar), who played Bapu in the original also takes up the same role in this film.
Shankar Dada is already a familiar character to Telugu audiences. If he was an MBBS earlier, he poses as a history professor here. But like in previous film here too he is a Dada – Sankardada. The original name of the character is Sankar Prasad. This dada is in the bad company of a realtor goonda, Rajalingam, played by Sayaji Shinde. Sankardada’s job is to force the owners of the land out and help his boss occupy it.
As this drama was going on, Sankar comes across one Jahnavi (Karishma Kotak), a Radio jockey first falls for the charm of her voice and then to her beauty and intelligence. He introduces himself to her as a Professor in History; like he bluffed he was a Medico in the first film of this sequel. He happens to interact with her in a live show in the radio, as a part of contest, where he was subjected to a series of questions on Mahatma Gandhi, that is Bapu, where he fails. This is turning point in his life.
He was subjected to some hallucinations about how he was interacting with Mahatma and his ways of life. He replaces his ‘Dadagiri’ with Bapu’s non-violent ‘Gandhigiri’. It so happens that an old age home Lingam wants to grab, belongs to Jahnavi. And this gives him first opportunity to experiment with Gandhism, paving way for him to attract Jahnavi and also reform the realtor. From this point the drama takes another route to experience of greatness of Mahatma and his principles of life.
It is a life time character for Chiranjeevi like it was for Sanjay Dutt, who caught the imagination of the entire nation simply playing that powerful message oriented role. But Chiranjeevi’s mega star image subdues a bit of that impact. But he manages it well and tried his best to look different from all the characters he played earlier.
Srikanth’s role is like that of a side kick a la Shankar Dada MBBS. But an actor’s image, he built for himself playing some roles high pitch drama helped him keep to this positive image. He displays good time sense in dialogue delivery. And his role in this film weighs more than what he played in the previous film.
Sayaji Shinde makes his role and dialogue delivery no different from other films.
Others in the cast just managed themselves. Sada too appeared in a brief role. Raviteja, Allu Arjun, Prabhudeva and Nagendra Babu too add to the histrionic line, only to lend star cast glamour to gain at box office. Nagu Babu too lends his part in a brief role, adding credit to the film that all the three brothers and also their nephew Allu Arjun, a hot name these days, together appeared in one film.
Music composer Devisri Prasad makes his presence also felt in the song he composed on Hyderabad ‘Good Morning Hyderabad’.
The musical part has appeal. Prabhudeva’s directorial skills cannot be assessed as he has a screenplay of a film with the same content before him.
Yana Gupta’s half clad sizzling dance for the song ‘Aakaleste Annam Pedatha’ has its own effect on the weak minds.
Dialogue by Paruchuri Brothers is one contribution that makes the film look and sound a bit different from its original, especially in playing up human emotions.
For one who watches theatre productions or films like this, definitely feels the impact of Mahatma, as a potential source for box office too. No wonder there were reports in the press as to how people watched ‘Lageraho Munnabhai’ were adapting ways and means of Mahatma, in real life, in winning hearts of others. The element of satirical comedy, found in the original, is missing.
The new actress in heroine’s role is not an apt choice. The influence of the earlier ‘Sankardada’ film is also found in this. The second part of the film is quite heavy due to lack of relief. The Telugu film’s screenplay and dialogue needed a little more care.
Reviewed by Gudipoodi Srihari
The views expressed in the article are the author's and not of greatandhra.com.
