YAMA DONGA : The Trio Strikes Back!

(Movie review)

After a series of flops and average rated movies, Junior NTR would have been waiting for a movie that would set him on the hit-streak. RAJAMOULI, the director, who gave Jr. NTR his career defining hits would obviously be the ideal choice for him to get a fresh start to his retarded career.

After two block busters “Student no.1” and “Simhadri”, the awesome - NTR, Rajamouli and Keeravani ‘trio’ is back!
Firstly, this is not a typical Rajamouli movie. He navigated through a new territory from his regular revenge, drama and action films. This time he chose a socio-fantasy subject.
Story:
Raja (NTR) is a petty thief. He sets out to steal a gown on the insistence of a businessman (M S Narayana). He meets Mahi (Priyamani) who runs away from her house due to the harassment shown by her family members towards her. Raja brings that gown. When he is about to get paid, the businessman dies of a heart attack. So Raja abuses Lord Yama in frustration. Yama (MohanBabu), who boasts that the people on earth are afraid of him because of his unbiased judgments, listens this and gets angry. He asks Chitragupta to bring Raja to Yamalokam though he has many years to live. Raja comes to know that Mahi is a very rich girl and plans to get a ransom from her relatives for her release. In the process Raja is killed by goons and is taken to Yamalokam. How Raja makes Yama's life miserable in the Yamalokam and comes to Earth again forms the rest of the story. There is a love angle to this between Raja and Mahi.

Positive aspects:
The first half is very interesting and especially the pre-interval sequences are amazing. As Lord Yama in a brief role, NTR’s acting and dialogue delivery is excellent. Indeed, he surpassed Mohan babu in those scenes. The major attraction in the movie is the graphical work of Late NTR’s scene with his grandson NTR and the Yamalokam.

WHO SAYS TOLLYWOOD IS NOT CATCHING UP WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS IN THE GRAPHICS DEPARTMENT??

The EFX has done a splendid job and hope they win an award for their work. As usually the comedy king Brahmanandam and Ali were good. The character of Yama was very active and Mohan babu has added a flavor to it with his style of dialogue delivery. Keeravani’s music is very good especially for the songs ‘Noonugu meesalodu’, ‘Nagamalli’ and ‘Nachore’.

Minus points:
The post interval proceedings lack fizz and the climax is predictable. The film runs over 3 hours and definitely needs trimming in the second half.

Performances:
NTR was excellent. His new physique will attract many people to this movie and his hairstyle was stylish. His body language, dialogue delivery in the mythological role and his verbal exchanges with Mohan babu definitely need applause. His dance performance in the songs ‘Nachore’ and ‘Nagamalli’ is a real feast to his fans. Mohan babu is best suited for the role of Yama and has carried it off very well. Khusboo plays the role of Yama’s wife.
After NTR and Mohan babu it’s Mamatha Mohandas who steals the show in the second half. Priyamani plays a rather subdued role.

Cast:
NTR, Mohan babu, Priyamani, Mamatha Mohandas, Khusboo, Brahmanandam, Ali, M.S.Narayana and others. Rambha, Navneet Kaur, Preethi Jhingania and Archana make a special appearance.

Rating: 3.5/5

I am not a die-hard NTR fan but, after this movie I salute to his acting and determination to come back strong!

written by: Vinaykanth N.
nvinaykanth@yahoo.com