Movie: Yamaleela 2
Rating: 2/5
Banner: Krishvi films
Cast: Dr. K.V.Satish, Diah Nicholas, Mohan Babu, Brahmanandam, Kota and Others
Music: S V Krishna Reddy
Editor: Gowtham Raju
Cinematography: Srikanth Naroj
Producer: Dr K.V. Satish
Story, Screenplay, Music, Direction: S V Krishna Reddy
Release Date: November 28th, 2014
As the credits end, SV Krishna Reddy gives a voice over as to what inspired him to make this film. Yamaleela showed Chitragupta losing the Bhavishyavani and how he and Yama go to ‘bhoolokam’ to get the book back. Now, after 20 years, he says he made Yamaleela 2 when Chitragupta lost his book for the second time. Let’s see what the story is this time around…
Story:
Yama (Mohan Babu) and Chitragupta (Brahmanandam) come to Manasarovar after hearing some celestial beauties sing. Here, Chitragupta hands over the book to a human being to go in search of his master who goes into penance on lake bed. By the time, Chitragupta returns with Yama, the human being is gone.
The story then shifts to a hospital and we are introduced to Krish (Dr KV Satish) and Anandi (Diah Nicolas) who are research students working to cure leukemia under the mentorship of their guide (Rao Ramesh). Why is the cure so important to all three of them and how they fight all odds to find the cure forms the rest of the story.
Artistes’ Performances:
Dr KV Satish who also produces the film debuts with the film. He works hard to look convincing, but looks more like a television serial hero than a feature film hero.
Diah Nicolas is a decent enough find and might find a few takers in the coming days. She looks kind of cute and handles her part well. Apparently, she was born and brought up in South Africa, but she carries off the part of Anandi gracefully.
One cannot find fault with Mohan Babu, but this ‘Yama’ of his is surely not his best. Brahmanandam as Chitragupta is predictable and together they provide some comic relief.
Rao Ramesh is his usual self as are Sayaji Shinde and Ashish Vidyarthi as Stephen, the pharma king who owns a leading pharmaceutical company out to get the formula from Krish and Anandi.
There are other like Kota Srinivasa Rao, Geetanjali, Taagubothu Ramesh, Chalapathi Rao, Uttej play their parts sincerely.
Sada is seen providing some glamour in a song right at the beginning of the film. Another surprise inclusion is that of Nisha Kothari who plays Prema Rani, the girl who briefly romances Yama. She also gets to do a song with Mohan Babu.
The staple of all films these days, Posani as the police officer evokes laughs in his characteristic style.
Technical Excellence:
Since Dr Satish produced and acted in the film, he has spent enough money to try and make it look rich. A lot of graphics work has been done to capture the beauty of Manasarovar and the audience might find them interesting.
The music is by SV Krishna Reddy and in all, the film has eight songs. Ever since the audio has been released, it has created a positive buzz. Sada’s song has been well picturised.
SV Krishna Reddy returns after a long gap and shows that he hasn’t forgotten his craft, but there are bound to be comparisons with the original Yamaleela, also directed by him.
Highlights:
- Some comedy scenes
- Songs
Drawbacks:
- Scenes in Punjab which are too artificial
- Hero
Analysis:
Yamaleela was a huge hit when it released. Naturally, Yamaleela 2 released amidst high expectations. This time around, SV Krishna Reddy chooses the pharma industry as the backdrop and repeats the emotional drama from Yamaleela.
While Ali’s film had mother sentiment, this film revolves around a little girl diagnosed with leukemia.
The little girl preparing to appear on Paaduta Teeyaga gets to know of her disease and the director tries to touch the hearts of the audience with this track. Only this time, he fails to leave the audience in tears as the plot has been seen way too often.
Also, the opening sequences are heavily inspired by Jagadeka Veerudu Atiloka Sundari. From then on, the story shifts from Hyderabad to Kerala to Punjab to Manasarovar and back.
So, Krishna Reddy introduces Taagubothu Ramesh, Chalapathi Rao and gang as sardars in the first half.
In the second half, there is Posani’s track. While Posani’s is tolerable when compared to the other two, Taagubothu Ramesh must seriously stop accepting such roles. The entire track in Punjab is hardly hilarious though efforts are made to pull off fast ones based on sardar jokes.
Of course, to be safe, Krishna Reddy says his intention was not to hurt the sentiments of any religion.
Another pain point is the unnecessary track of Nisha Kothari. Except to fit in a song and dance sequence for Mohan Babu, there is absolutely no need for it.
But the film really begins to falter in the second half when it becomes way too predictable and routine. Krishna Reddy also makes it tiresome with some totally avoidable twists and turns which are also boring to say the least.
In all, Yamaleela 2 lacks the freshness and charm of Yamaleela. Blame it on story or blame it on mundane narrative style of Krishna Reddy which is reminiscent of the ’90s, Yamaleela 2 is tedious watching.
Bottomline: 20 Years Later...
(Venkat can be reached at [email protected] or https://twitter.com/greatandhranews)
