Mahatma - Movie Review

Film: Mahatma
Cast: Srikanth, Bhavana, Jayaprakash Reddy, Uttej, Ram Jagan, Parachuri Venkateshwara Rao, Sekhar, Jyothy, Ahuti Prasad, Brahmanandam and others
Dialogues: Parachuri Brothers
Music: Vijay Anthony
Lyrics: Sirivennala, Suddala Ashok Teja, Lakshmi Bhupal
Cinematography: Sharat
Editing: Shankar Art: Srinivasa Raju
Fights: Vijay
Banner: Golden Lion Films
Produced by: C R Manohar
Story, screenplay and directed by: Krishnavamsi
CBFC Rating: U/A
Release date: October 9, 2009

What’s it about?
Dasu (Srikanth) is a rowdy in a basti in Hyderabad. He makes a living out of ‘settlement of petty issues’. A young lawyer Krishnaveni (Bhavana) gets him bail in a petty case and their acquaintance soon develop into romance after a series of events. On other hand, a politician cum business woman (Jyothy) plans to set up SEZ in that basti that move is protested by dwellers headed by a genuine leader (Sekhar). Meanwhile, a local politician cum rowdy leader Dada (Jayaprakash Reddy) also protests against businesswoman and seeks Rs 200 Crores from if she wants to set up SEZ there. Dasu initially believes Dada as good politician and works for him. When Dada tries to take advantage of Dasu, he realizes his fault and plans to contest against him on a newly floated Mahatma party. How Krishnavani and local theatre artiste bring change in Dasu and make him realize the importance of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideology is core point of the movie.

Analysis

This is Srikanth’s 100thmovie. Naturally, he wanted it to be memorable and handed over the project to the director Krishnavamsi who gave him new lease of life with Khadgam. Like Khadgam , Mahatma deals with social issue - the importance of Mahatma ideologies in current politics. Although the theme and intention is noble, the execution is not that absorbing. With a promising start, the film moves into different routes and falters in the end. Scenes prior to interval, and some portions of the second half are interesting and show touch of Krishnavamsi but on the whole the film is pretty ordinary. In fact, second half, especially, the climax sequences are predictable. Sirivennela’s meaningful lyrics in the title song ( Kontamandi Inti peru Kadura Gandhi), Jayaprakash Reddy’s performance and pre-interval sequences stand out in the movie.
Performances

Srikanth does his best in the role of a rowdy turned noble person. His honest attempt is visible. As an actor, he can be proud of this film. Of all the cast, it is villain Jayaprakash Reddy who steals the show. It is his career best performance. He looks wily and good-natured - like a true politician. Bhavana as young lawyer is a role similar to many of Krishnavamsi’s heroines. Sowmya has given her voice. She neither looks glamorous nor does she have anything there to prove her mettle as actor. Sekhar is good. Ram Jagan’s role is used perfectly to the narration of the movie and he does justice to various getups he portrayed. Uttej, Parachuri Venkateshwara Rao, Jyothy and others are okay. Brahamandam’s comedy looks so silly. Charmee appears in an item song.

As writer and director Krishnavamsi has delivered socially relevant movies with good presentation in the past, but this time he completely misses the point in narrating engrossingly. His so-called satires on cinema heroes, and other parties and politicians are nothing startling. Sirivennela’s lyrics in the title song are the best. The song will be remembered for a long time than the movie.

Cinematography by Sharat is pretty ordinary. Of five songs composted by Tamil music director Vijay Anthony two are taken from his other Tamil films ( Dilemmo. Dilemmo song and Jajjanaka Jajjanaka song) and another one is Telangana folk song.

Bottom-line

Mahatma’s theme is good and but narration is pretty ordinary. Krishnavamsi seems to have completely lost his 'touch'. Performances of Srikanth, Jayaprakash Reddy and Sirivennela’s title song stand out.

Similarities: EVV directed Rajashekar and Raasi starrer Neti Gandhi has similarities with this film’s plotline. Not entirely but has some resemblance .

Rating: 3/5

Reviewed by: JP