BOTTOM LINE
Playing With Audience
OUR RATING
1.25/5
CENSOR
‘UA’ Certified, 2 hrs 21 mins
What Is the Film Aatagallu About?
Siddharth (Nara Rohit) is a top director accused of murdering his wife Anjali (Darshana Banik). Veerendra ( Jagapathi Babu) is appointed as public prosecutor in the case. He has a track record of supporting the right guy. All evidence point at Siddharth as the killer. What happens when Veerendra is convinced that Siddharth is not a murderer?
How Is Nara Rohith’s Performance?
Nara Rohit plays another role that is hard to differentiate from what he has done before. It is the same and he plays with absolutely no effort to change. There is a slightly aggressive streak given to the character, but even that is not properly highlighted to have an impact.
There are a few scenes where the action should have stood out, but that does not happen. The pre-climax and climax depended a lot on acting prowess. The elevation does not come.
Direction by Parachuri Murali?
Director Parachuri Murali returns with a movie after a long gap. Aatagallu has its source in Hollywood movie Primal Fear, but the director tries to give it a fresh spin. Unfortunately, he fails to come up with a believable narrative.
The first half of the movie falls flat in the way it goes about conveying the story. It feels as if everyone is going through motions with no real interest. The proceedings lack the bite that the director is hoping to achieve. If not for some classy moments for Jagapathi Babu one wouldn’t have mind escaping from the movie in the first half itself.
To those who stay for the second half, there is some progress finally. However, what we get to see is utterly silly and logicless. The one-man upmanship between Jagapathi Babu and Nara Rohit that happens in the second half is contrived to the core. The Brahmanandam comedy in between is sad. The only reason one wants to stay until the end is to know the reason for a particular happening. When that is revealed, there is nothing but a feeling of frustration to be the one still sitting.
Overall, Aatagallu plays with the patience of its viewers rather than with each other onscreen. The movie is such that it might put director Paruchuri Murali back in cold again. The only thing the director needs to be appreciated for is thinking of ‘Image Complex’.
Darshana Banik and Others?
Darshana Banik looks lovely and apart from that, she has nothing to do until the climax. Not that it is good, but it is only when she gets something. Jagapathi Babu, meanwhile, is like the hero of the movie. He plays it in such fashion and confidence. Apart from them, Subbaraju gets a decent part. Thulasi plays a mother on the verge of losing a son to overaction perfection. Jeeva is wasted. The rest don’t have that noticeable parts.
Music and Other Departments?
Music by Sai Karthik is below par. The background score feels nonexistent even though there are loud noises now and then. The cinematography gives the movie a dated feel. The editing given an haphazard feeling. The writing is bad.
Highlights?
Image Complex
Length
Drawbacks?
Direction
Editing
Logicless
Alternative Take
Watch the Hollywood movie Primal Fear or the Bollywood version Deewangee.
Did I Enjoy It?
No
Will You Recommend It?
No
Aatagallu Review by Siddartha Toleti
Final Report:
Aatagallu is an outdated, boring murder plot stretched with a painful comedy track. Overall, the movie is a real test of patience and endurance.
– Nara Rohit is still out of shape adding to the poor styling and costumes.
– A small twist to the Anjali’s murder case.
– Aatagallu second half started. Siddharth’s wife murder suspect identified and submitted in the court.
First Half Report:
There is not a single thing that works in the first half. Everything is so poor including Brahmanandam’s comedy track testing the patience.
– Story comes to present. Lawyer Jagapathi Babu is convinced that Siddharth (Nara Rohit) is not guilty. Siddharth is out on bail.
– Hero, heroine and Brahmanandam comedy track is being dragged.
– Judge grants the permission for Jagapathi Babu to interrogate Siddharth in judicial custody. Flash back time.
– Director Siddharth (Nara Rohit)’s wife Anjali gets murdered. Lawyer Jagapathi Babu takes up the case against him.
– Aatagallu show started with massy title cards.
Preview: Aatagallu
Aatagallu is yet another movie of Nara Rohit that is likely to have a unique or different concept and content at its base. It is the execution where his films have been faltering, as they lack the big screen chutzpah.
Paruchuri Murali is the director of Aatagallu. He has had an excellent beginning to the career with Nee Sneham, Andhrudu and Pedababu. While none of them were big blockbusters, he was seen as a director with solid potential. That is the reason why he got Adhinayakudu starring Nandamuri Balakrishna. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out, and he has had a negligible presence since then.
The trailer of Aatgallu sure does look appealing but is a delayed project which is also visible. It is releasing in a tough time with a weak theatrical presence. We have to see what can it do in cinemas with competition from other fresh movies.
