Movie: Dwaraka
Rating: 2/5
Banner: Legend Cinema
Cast: Vijay Devarakonda, Pooja Jhaveri, Prakash Raj, Prudhvi, Prabhakar, Surekha Vani, Murali Sharma and others
Music: Sai Karthik
Dialogues: Lakshmi Bhupal
Cinematography: Shyam K Naidu
Editing: Prawin Pudi
Producers: Pradyumna Chandrapati, Ganesh
Screenplay and direction: Srinivasa Ravindra
Release date: March 03, 2017
One film changed the luck of Vijay Devarakonda. "Pelli Choopulu" made him a star to watch out for and also youth have started liking him. This is why "Dwaraka" starring him in the lead role got huge pre-release buzz.
Has the film lived up to the buzz?
Story:
Erra Srinu (Vijay Devarakonda), petty thief, lands in an apartment named Dwaraka when he is trying to run away from robbery.
He hits the luck here, as a pujari (Prudhvi) makes him a baba named Sri Krishnananda Swamy. Though he is acting as Baba on the insistence of Pujari, people start believing him.
An evil lawyer and police run a devasthanam trust on his name and star milking money from the donations that came from followers of Sri Krishnananda Swamy.
Erra Srinu who is in love with Vasudha(Pooja Jhaveri) comes to know that she has come to the same apartment. He continues to act as Baba in the hope to win her heart.
On the other hand a rationalist Chaitanya (Murali Sharma) tries to expose fake babas. Rest of the movie is how Srinivas comes out clean from this fake drama he is engulfed in, when the entire issue turns into a major issue.
Artistes’ Performances:
Going by his performance in the movie, one can say Vijay Devarakonda is not one film wonder. He shines in his role impeccably by showing many variations in his acting in one character.
After Vijay Devarakonda, it is Prudhvi who gets meaty role and the star comedian has used the character to his benefit. He doesn't do comedy but whatever his pravachanams are, he does evoke laughs.
Heroine Pooja Jhaveri is okay. Murali Sharma as rationalist, Prakash Raj as CM have done neat job. Kaleyaka Prabhakar as villain is good.
Technical Excellence:
Sham K Naidu's camerawork stands out. He has given best output for a small movie like this. Music by Sai Kartheek is very weak. Except for one song, all make you look for loo break. Production values are pretty ordinary. Editing is bad. Runtime is too lengthy.
Highlights:
Concept
Drawback:
Old story
Slow narration
Climax
Analysis:
After impressing the audiences as boy next door in "Pelli Choopulu", Vijay Devarakonda has picked up a subject that has more seriousness. "Dwaraka", directed by Srinivas Ravindra, puts Vijay Devarakonda in a role that requires him to show off various shades.
He appears as a petty thief, a romantic flirt, a fake baba and an honest man. To top it all, he hardly has any dialogue in the movie. He doesn't speak much when he turns baba. Thankfully, Vijay Devarakonda has pulled it off.
The storyline is not new; some of the Telugu movies have dealt the same concept. But the new director has told it in slow and documentary style.
The scenes between Vijay Devarakonda and heroine Pooja Jhaveri are good. Even Vijay is at his natural best in those scenes as romance is his forte. But the serious scenes of godmen, their activities, villains who want to use the money... don't excite. They are more TV serial-ish.
And also "Dwaraka" tests the patience with its runtime. The scenes never end and the sequences go on slower pace making us feel that we are watching a 3-hour movie.
Even the Murali Sharma's episode and Prakash Raj's scenes seem unnatural.
All in all, "Dwaraka" has serious subject of how some godmen and politicians-criminals are duping the devotees. Though intention of the new director is good, the way it is narrated is not entertaining. If not for Vijay Devarakonda, it falls totally flat. Only shining part of this movie is this handsome young hero.
Bottom-line: Baba Times!