BOTTOM LINE
Derailed.
CENSOR
165 Minutes – “UA” certified
OUR RATING
What is the film about?
Aagadu is another routine revenge drama that we have seen umpteen number of times. The only fresh element in this other stale story is the characterization of Encounter Shankar (Mahesh Babu).
How is Mahesh Babu’s performance?
Superstar Mahesh Babu is in his elements as far as body language and energy is concerned. However it must be said that lengthy dialogues don’t suit him as well as the short and one liner punches from him. Lengthy dialogues with such an express delivery make it hard to follow many a times and even the punch that is actually present in the given dialogue loses its sheen in the process. Other than this dialogue delivery problem it is an extremely satisfying outing for the star which also includes dances from him.
Direction By Srinu Vaitla?
Direction by Srinu Vytla is the film’s biggest failure. Despite giving a fresh characterization to Mahesh Babu, the director surrounds that with mundane and predictable stuff. Add to it there one can visibly see on screen the pressure felt by the director to deliver and live up to his previous comic standards and punches. In an attempt to outdo his previous movies, the director overwrites the dialogues. All this come together to create a movie that fails to deliver on all the promises it made.
Tamanna, Rajendra prasad and others performance?
Tamannah was largely absent from all the teasers and promotional materials for a large part of promotion. When one watches the film one knows why it is so. The actress is hardly present in the story of the film. She comes only for songs and then disappears. This is another one of her forgetful outing for sure. Sonu Sood on the other hand seems to be enjoying his routine as a villain. Rajendra Prasad is good but is underutilized. Brahmanandam fails to evoke similar response like he had on the previous occasions with the director. Other comedians like Pruthvi, Vennela Kishore, Raghubabu and Posani etc have their brief moments but they are well, brief. Character actor Nazar is used as a comedian in the film and while he gives his best shot, it somehow doesn’t click.
S.S.Thaman and other departments?
Music by SS Thaman was okay, few songs were picturized very well but their impact could have been more had they been placed well. The background score is a mixed bag with the music director giving sensational stuff for few sequences starring the star but were ordinary elsewhere. Cinematography fails to give the ‘big’ movie vibe. The film is filled with dialogues but not many of them work out the way the writers would have expected them to. Choreography of songs is decent.
Highlights?
Mahesh Babu.
Songs picturization.
Few gags.
Drawbacks?
Missing emotion.
Flat narration.
Second half.
Punch missing in comedy.
Alternative take:
With lesser length and some reduction of comedy and an additional dose of heroism with proper dual between the hero and villain, Aagadu would have been a perfect commercial entertainer despite its predictable story.
Did I enjoy it?
Yes, in parts, especially first half.
Will you recommend it?
Yes, but with lots of apprehension.
OUR RATING
Reviewed by Siddhartha
