Film: Yama Donga
Rating: 3.5/5
Cast: NTR, Mamta Mohandas, Priyamani, Mohan Babu, Brahmanandam, Jai Prakasha Reddy, Raghu Babu, Siva Parvathi etc
Music: MM Keeravani
Art: Anand Sai
Editing: Kotagiri Venkateshwara Rao
Camera: KK Senthil Kumar
Producer: Cherry
Director: SS Rajamouli
Released On: 15th August 2007
Story:
Raja (NTR) is a petty thief. Maheshwari (Priyamani) is the daughter of a rich man (Ranganath). Rich man dies and the two uncles (Jaya Prakasha Reddy and Raghu Babu) and their wives plan to pilfer entire property of Maheshwari. They treat her as a slave.
Raja makes a deal with a millionaire (MS Narayana) to find an expensive gown that was theft and bring to him. Raja brings it. MS Narayana dies with happiness after getting the gown back and misses signing a cheque for Raja. With the sorrow of not getting the money, Raja consumes alcohol and scolds Yamadharma Raju with fowl words. Yama listens to that and gets anger. He decides to bring Raja to Narakam.
Raja happens to encounter Maheshwari when she was escaping from a group of goondas set by her two uncles. Raja saves her but after knowing that she is belongs to rich family, he decides to make money by kidnapping her. As Raja demands some amount to release Maheshwari, her uncles act as if they are paying the money to him. But they kill him during the time of settlement (Yama’s part will be there in his death). Raja goes to Yama Lokam.
Rest of the interesting theme shouldn’t be revealed and that has to be watched on screen.
Performances and Highlights:
NTR’s performance is marvelous. His new slim look has shown him different but that’s good. His dances, dialogue rending and fights- everything is good. In some frames he looked different and new. It takes time to adjust to his newly attained features.
Showing Late NTR with the help of graphics is a marvelous attempt and that is to the level of perfection. Hats off to the technology and graphics-Although showing Late NTR was done in the film ‘Kalisundam Raa’ for a song, here the attempt appears to be longer and more perfect. The dance with Jr NTR and Sr NTR together in same frame is really worth remembering as it’s the first of its kind with technological competency.
Mohan Babu’s entrance as Yama is simply adopted from Ghatotkacha’s entrance in the film ‘Maya Bazar’. Even the verse that Yama sings introducing himself appears to be a parody of the one in Mayabazar while Ghatotkacha introduces himself.
The dialogues between Mohan Babu and NTR in Narakalokam stood highlight in the film. Wah! Jr NTR recalled his grandfather in rendering dialogues with mythological fervor in non stop following all the histrionics at ease. In fact, that is another adoption from Dana Veera Soora Karna’s ‘Kshaatra Pareeksha’ Scene.
Mamta Mohandas was given the dual role to play. Yama coming down and taking the shape of Mamata Mohandas recalls SV Ranga Rao in ‘Mayabazar’. Mamta has got real scope to act and she proved her abilities as actress with this film. She has bright future on screen.
Priyamani is not shown in glamour and she justified her role.
Anand Sai’s Art work is stupendous and that deserves grand mention of all. He really made a fantasy world real.
Jr NTR’s steps for the song ‘Nachore’ and ‘Ola Olala..’ songs.
Senthil Kumar’s camera work is good.
Negative Points:
There is no novelty in story line
Length of the film in second half
Analysis:
It’s a great entertainer after a long gap. It is an entertainment because of the theme although the story line appears to be normal. The idea generated by Rajamouli is executed very effectively on screen. Rajamouli is known for bringing grip in his narration. His success point lies in convincing the audiences by showing right scene with right depth of dialogue and right emotional quotient. Here, in this film Rajamouli did the same thing. Indeed, the ideas are adopted from ‘Yamagola’, ‘Mayabazar’ and ‘Dana Veera Soora Karna’. Yet it is completely original in its form.
The film has both class and mass appeal. There is ample scope for repeat audiences. Family audiences also relish the film. First half of the film runs fast and the audiences pay more attention with interest from the beginning of Yama Lokam scene. The second half appears to be long but that’s not bore.
Since the fantasy films haven’t come in recent times, it stands to be unique. The heavy budget incurred on the film may or may not be recovered considering the Telugu Cinema Stamina but ‘Yama Donga’ stands as a wholesome entertainer.
Theatre Response:
It will be certainly the mela of fans on the first day first show.
Fans responded to many scenes with heavy shouts and whistles (esp during NTR’s dialogues with Mohan Babu, Late NTR’s dance, Mohan Babu’s entrance)
Bottom Line: Watch It
(SiraSri can be reached at [email protected])
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