Movie Review: BHAI (By Hapra)
Rating: 1.75/5
Cast: Nagarjuna, Asish Vidyarthi, Sonu Sood, Richa, Brahmanandam, MS Narayana, Zara Shah and others
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Story-Screenplay-Direction: Veerabhadram
Producer: Annapurna Studios & Reliance Entertainment
Release date: 25th October 2013
Going by the one-liners already released into tinsel town, and with the kind of massive release planned even during deadly cyclone, one will expect that ‘BHAI’ is no doubt going to be a trend setter. Let us see how it is.
The CONTENT:
Bhai (Nagarjuna) is based in Hongkong where he works for Mafia Don David (Asish Vidyarthi) and his sons (Sonu Sood and Ajay). While having fun in Hongkong with guns and girls, suddenly a call from Hyderabad that an undercover cop (played by heroine Sneha’s husband Prasanna) is eliminating all gangsters, David sends Bhai to India. After checking out various henchmen who left David’s India gang, Bhai finds out a mole and finally finds out that under-cover up. He prepares to kill that police officer, and just before shooting them, officer’s sister and father bring back some lost memories to Bhai. INTERVAL BANG. What is that flash back, and how is this police officer connected to Bhai, and what will David do now? That’s the rest of story.
The EFFORT :
On-Screen:
Nagarjuna looks smart and slim, and his dresses are always stylish. No doubt he is still at par with the younger likes of Jr NTR and Ram Charan. Majority of his character is regular like he did in dozens of his past flicks, but this time he has completely depended on Telangana slang for his diction.
Other than Nagarjuna, none other actor in the movie actually impresses the audiences with their presence. But still we have to name Brahmanandam, as he becomes second hero for a while in second half. The moment he is there on screen, there is some sort of relief, and yes he excelled well in this routine role too.
Richa Gangopadhyay is of late becoming a complete misfit as a heroine. She is plastic in her expressions, and her mediocre dances in that heavy duty look will upset audience more. Tamil hero Prasanna’s presence is expected in the likes of Shyam in ‘Kick’ movie, but he is like a regular handsome guy who takes up such roles. There is neither kick in his performance, nor dynamism and heights of exaggeration.
Villains, Asish Vidyarthi and Sonu Sood are not given any mannerism inputs it seems, and watching them is like watching all their previous flicks with new dubbing. Others like Nagineedu, Jaya Prakash, Aditya Menon, Kasi Viswanath, Rajitha are all regular stuff. Also there is one scene heroine, named Kamna Jetmalani, and we cannot understand why she has take up that single shot, junior artist role. Even MS Raju as ‘Mansion Raju’ is completely wasted.
The less we talk about Hamsa Nandini and her item number, it is better.
Off-Screen:
Veerbhadram knows how to integrate all scenes quite well, and how to direct actors according to the screenplay written in book. But that wow factor is missing in his work, and his mixed style of imitating his contemporaries is not up to mark. Direction lacks punch as the script itself is lacking a flavour. There are lot to be discussed about his home work, we’ll do it in ‘breakdown’ part anyway.
For the first time, Devi Sri Prasad’s music sounded amateurish, and the songs are not as exciting as the unit promoted. Of course, if songs are considered as little okay, then for his background score we have to turn towards east and bow to Sun. Some best work is done by cinematographer Rasool at parts, but he depended heavily on his lighting setups, rather helping the scene get dynamism with free-flowing cinematography.
The PLUSES:
· Nagarjuna’s Looks
· Brahmi’s so-so comedy in second half
The MINUSES:
· Spineless story, Pace less screenplay
· Boring Songs
· Routine comedy
· Unbearable First Half
· Length of movie (153 minutes)
BREAKDOWN:
At a time when star directors are picking regular stories and narrating them in new format, Veerabhdram picked up a routine story and narrated it in much more routine way. While his earlier films managed to stand at Box Office due to comedy heroes and their comic timing, this time there is no chance for it.
The moment BHAI movie starts, exaggerated Mafia feeling given by Veerabhadram is quite unconvincing. No way, one believes that Nag is a powerful mafia kingpin ‘Bhai’ after looking at silly fights and intensity-lacking action episodes. Maybe one could digest that for this formulaic movie, but even comedy is horrible in first half as most of the time is consumed for introducing characters itself. With MS Narayana’s character, director has thrown satires at Boyapati Sreenu regularly and ‘ruler’ background score is made a mockery. But before coming down heavily on Boyapati like that, Veerabhadram has forgotten that he himself is also cooking another lifeless story. Planning a sequence with Brahmi like Sreenu Vytla will help only if the script could make people laugh. Otherwise even Brahmi’s presence will be a torture. Had Veerabhadram focused on comedy in second half well, movie would have become little better.
A mafia story, then a cop saga, then a family drama, then a political twist and a silly climax! Telugu cinema is dependent on these elements from ages, but directors who blended them in needed proportions have succeeded not all. Shades of scenes from movies like Gabbar Singh and Dookudu are omnipresent in Bhai, while Veerabhadram himself looked like Sreenu Vytla and Puri Jagan’s styles. A bunch of sharp one-liners that create huge alarm before release will never help to carry 155 minute movie. Its high time director realizes this.
Coming to hero Nagarjuna, it couldn’t be understood why he is pouring more money on some formulaic stories like this. The big set constructed for Bhai’s India residence, and others are really not needed. They don’t serve any purpose in the flick, except giving a feel that it is competition to Dookudu Mahesh Babu House. Maybe Nag also should watch out these 90s kind of scripts and keep himself away from them smartly like the way he looks.
Bhai will make fans happy as they are able to see their hero on silver screen, but collections will go for a toss after first weekend.
The FINISHING Line: Bhai, tasteless Chai!!!
Review By: Hapra
Rating: 1.75/5
Cast: Nagarjuna, Asish Vidyarthi, Sonu Sood, Richa, Brahmanandam, MS Narayana, Zara Shah and others
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Story-Screenplay-Direction: Veerabhadram
Producer: Annapurna Studios & Reliance Entertainment
Release date: 25th October 2013
Going by the one-liners already released into tinsel town, and with the kind of massive release planned even during deadly cyclone, one will expect that ‘BHAI’ is no doubt going to be a trend setter. Let us see how it is.
The CONTENT:
Bhai (Nagarjuna) is based in Hongkong where he works for Mafia Don David (Asish Vidyarthi) and his sons (Sonu Sood and Ajay). While having fun in Hongkong with guns and girls, suddenly a call from Hyderabad that an undercover cop (played by heroine Sneha’s husband Prasanna) is eliminating all gangsters, David sends Bhai to India. After checking out various henchmen who left David’s India gang, Bhai finds out a mole and finally finds out that under-cover up. He prepares to kill that police officer, and just before shooting them, officer’s sister and father bring back some lost memories to Bhai. INTERVAL BANG. What is that flash back, and how is this police officer connected to Bhai, and what will David do now? That’s the rest of story.
The EFFORT :
On-Screen:
Nagarjuna looks smart and slim, and his dresses are always stylish. No doubt he is still at par with the younger likes of Jr NTR and Ram Charan. Majority of his character is regular like he did in dozens of his past flicks, but this time he has completely depended on Telangana slang for his diction.
Other than Nagarjuna, none other actor in the movie actually impresses the audiences with their presence. But still we have to name Brahmanandam, as he becomes second hero for a while in second half. The moment he is there on screen, there is some sort of relief, and yes he excelled well in this routine role too.
Richa Gangopadhyay is of late becoming a complete misfit as a heroine. She is plastic in her expressions, and her mediocre dances in that heavy duty look will upset audience more. Tamil hero Prasanna’s presence is expected in the likes of Shyam in ‘Kick’ movie, but he is like a regular handsome guy who takes up such roles. There is neither kick in his performance, nor dynamism and heights of exaggeration.
Villains, Asish Vidyarthi and Sonu Sood are not given any mannerism inputs it seems, and watching them is like watching all their previous flicks with new dubbing. Others like Nagineedu, Jaya Prakash, Aditya Menon, Kasi Viswanath, Rajitha are all regular stuff. Also there is one scene heroine, named Kamna Jetmalani, and we cannot understand why she has take up that single shot, junior artist role. Even MS Raju as ‘Mansion Raju’ is completely wasted.
The less we talk about Hamsa Nandini and her item number, it is better.
Off-Screen:
Veerbhadram knows how to integrate all scenes quite well, and how to direct actors according to the screenplay written in book. But that wow factor is missing in his work, and his mixed style of imitating his contemporaries is not up to mark. Direction lacks punch as the script itself is lacking a flavour. There are lot to be discussed about his home work, we’ll do it in ‘breakdown’ part anyway.
For the first time, Devi Sri Prasad’s music sounded amateurish, and the songs are not as exciting as the unit promoted. Of course, if songs are considered as little okay, then for his background score we have to turn towards east and bow to Sun. Some best work is done by cinematographer Rasool at parts, but he depended heavily on his lighting setups, rather helping the scene get dynamism with free-flowing cinematography.
The PLUSES:
· Nagarjuna’s Looks
· Brahmi’s so-so comedy in second half
The MINUSES:
· Spineless story, Pace less screenplay
· Boring Songs
· Routine comedy
· Unbearable First Half
· Length of movie (153 minutes)
BREAKDOWN:
At a time when star directors are picking regular stories and narrating them in new format, Veerabhdram picked up a routine story and narrated it in much more routine way. While his earlier films managed to stand at Box Office due to comedy heroes and their comic timing, this time there is no chance for it.
The moment BHAI movie starts, exaggerated Mafia feeling given by Veerabhadram is quite unconvincing. No way, one believes that Nag is a powerful mafia kingpin ‘Bhai’ after looking at silly fights and intensity-lacking action episodes. Maybe one could digest that for this formulaic movie, but even comedy is horrible in first half as most of the time is consumed for introducing characters itself. With MS Narayana’s character, director has thrown satires at Boyapati Sreenu regularly and ‘ruler’ background score is made a mockery. But before coming down heavily on Boyapati like that, Veerabhadram has forgotten that he himself is also cooking another lifeless story. Planning a sequence with Brahmi like Sreenu Vytla will help only if the script could make people laugh. Otherwise even Brahmi’s presence will be a torture. Had Veerabhadram focused on comedy in second half well, movie would have become little better.
A mafia story, then a cop saga, then a family drama, then a political twist and a silly climax! Telugu cinema is dependent on these elements from ages, but directors who blended them in needed proportions have succeeded not all. Shades of scenes from movies like Gabbar Singh and Dookudu are omnipresent in Bhai, while Veerabhadram himself looked like Sreenu Vytla and Puri Jagan’s styles. A bunch of sharp one-liners that create huge alarm before release will never help to carry 155 minute movie. Its high time director realizes this.
Coming to hero Nagarjuna, it couldn’t be understood why he is pouring more money on some formulaic stories like this. The big set constructed for Bhai’s India residence, and others are really not needed. They don’t serve any purpose in the flick, except giving a feel that it is competition to Dookudu Mahesh Babu House. Maybe Nag also should watch out these 90s kind of scripts and keep himself away from them smartly like the way he looks.
Bhai will make fans happy as they are able to see their hero on silver screen, but collections will go for a toss after first weekend.
The FINISHING Line: Bhai, tasteless Chai!!!
Review By: Hapra