Film: Krishnarjuna
Cast: Nagarjuna, Vishnu, Mamta Mohandas, Mohan Babu (in a guest role) Brahmanandam, Sunil, Manorama, Nasser, Bhuvaneshwari, Venumadhav, Gilli Dev and others
Dialogues: Marudhuri Raja
Music: M M Keeravani
Cinematography: Om Prakash
Editing: Gowtham Raju
Stunts: Shiva
Produced by: Mohan Babu M
Story, screenplay and directed by: P Vasu
Release Date: Feb 01, 2008
CBFC Rating: U
What's it about
Arjun (Vishnu) is innocent and lives with his grandmother who is working for rich landlord (Nasser). Arjun acts as bodyguard cum assistant to Satya, the rich arrogant sister of his employer. Satya gets engaged to another rich business tycoon (Gilli Dev) but an astrologer tells them that whoever marries her will die. So the innocent Arjun is made scapegoat and gets him married to Satya in the hope that after his death the business tycoon can remarry Satya His grandmother dies after learning the truth and Arjun too attempts suicide but a divine intervention rescues him. The rest of the film is Krishnamayam.
Analysis
There was lot of expectations riding on Krishnarjuna, as Vishnu is coming up with this film after hugely successful Dhee and Nagarjuna doing special role but the film turns out to be disappointment. Director P Vasu is known for presenting kichdi of movies by borrowing main plot line and remixing it with other films. He does the same with Krishnarjuna. Taking basic plot from Bruce Almighty, the director rehashes his own Tamil movie Chinatambi (Chanti in Telugu), Akkineni starrer Buddimantudu and Lage Raho Munnabhai. But his presentation is cliched and as old as the Himalayas. It looks more of an 80's film despite the computer generated graphics and 'Think smart' visual effects.
The fault not lies with the story but in execution.
Vasu belongs to old school of direction - a very formulaic. His idea of comedy (Bhuvaneshwari and Brahmandam track) is not digestible to the slick audiences of today's generations. The first half is slow and boring. The second half has some good moments between Nag and Vishnu but the climax turns into predictable mode.
The only saving grace in this film is undoubtedly Nagarjuna. He looks so good and cool as God although inspired by Morgan Freeman's character in Bruce Almighty.
Performances
Thank God, Nagarjuna brings some chill in other house dull proceedings. He as Almighty is perfect. Vishnu won appreciation and great number of fans for his endearing performance in Dhee. He should choose such roles where he does best - comedy and action. Here he looks not at home. In the role of an innocent bhakta he does adequate job but ooks so weighty. Mamta Mohandas does very glamorous character and she carries it with ease. How does Mohan Babu's character (a Sadhu) help the film? Manorama, Brahmanandam, and Bhuvaneshwari have done their job rightly.
Keeravani's music too is not that impressive. Camera work is okay. Vishnu has used computer graphics and visual effects heavily to give the film chic look. They are impressive too.
Bottom-line
Another kichdi from P.Vasu and big disappointment. The film lacks entertainment and the narrative style is as old as Himalayas. Nagarjuna is the only saving grace.
Rating: 2.75/5
Sourced from:
Bruce Almighty: The basic plot is taken from it. Nagarjuna's entry including he sweeping off the floor is straight copy. But the director has not used it entirely.
Lage Raho Munnabhai: In Lage Raho Munnabhai, Sanjay Dutt gets hallucinations about the existence of Gandhi. Similar logic is used here in Lord Krishna's presence.
