Waltair Veerayya Review – Maha Bore Ayya!

BOTTOM LINE
Maha Bore Ayya!

OUR RATING
2/5

CENSOR
U/A, 2h 40m

What Is the Film About?
Salmon Ceasor (Bobby Simha) is a dangerous criminal who escapes prison by killing many police professionals. Seethapati (Rajendra Prasad) wows to arrest him and seeks the help of Waltair Veereeya Chiranjeevi). How he went about the whole thing and did he have a personal motive, forms the movie’s overall story.

Performances
Megastar Chiranjeevi returns to his commercial mass forte with Waltair Veerayya. Once again, he submits to the vision of the director entirely. If he was subtle and intense in his last outing, he is seen in an out-and-out mass avatar with most of the comedy here. The problem, therefore, is more about how the director designs his character rather than the acting itself.

The attempt to bring the vintage Chiranjeevi to the present audience is where things go wrong. Right from the look to the small nudges related to the act, they are over the top than necessary. The look, for example, doesn’t remind us of the past, and similarly, the dialect takes time to get used to rather than giving a vintage touch. There are a few emotional moments in which Chiranjeevi has done well, but they are lost in the overall needless glitter.

Shruti Haasan, seen in another commercial entertainer for the festive season, has another flower pot role. She is acceptable in the songs, but that’s it. As usual, Shruti Haasan goes missing most of the second half.

Analysis
Bobby Kolli of Power and Jai Lava Kusa fame directs Waltair Veerayya. He has picked a commercial entertainer plot mixing thriller, comedy, and emotions equally.

Waltair Veerayya opens on a very ordinary note setting up the core plot involving cops and the mafia. It also highlights the biggest issue with the movie simultaneously.

The lack of consistent tone and unevenness in the screenplay is instantly visible. The proceedings start on a serious note. Then there is a typical mass heroism block, and silly comedy led by the hero then follows it. While individually, they are fine, things don’t work out as a smooth narrative.

The uneasiness in the proceedings reflects our enjoyment (or engagement) with the content. One is never wholly connected to the happenings on screen or the hero’s cause. In a way, it is similar (concerning the problem) to Chiranjeevi’s nearly two-decade-old movie Jai Chiranjeeva.

The inconsistent characterization that is neither entirely heroic nor completely funny is a byproduct of the issue with the story and screenplay. The interval, as it is, is one of the better blocks of the movie as it caters to mass heroism and is done well.

Things return to the usual in the second half when the proceedings resume. However, it’s a little bit more consistent tonally when compared to the first, mainly because there is less potpourri of genres. It makes things a little more palpable, but then again, it highlights a much bigger issue with the movie – writing and story. They are ordinary and weak. The whole thing then leads to an over-the-top climax which is spectacular larger than life action gone wrong.

Overall, Waltair Veerayya has moments that provide fun here and there, and there is a bit of drama and over the top action, as well. But, it fails to click as a whole and leaves one scratching the head in disappointment. If you love Chiranjeevi, try it, but keep the expectations at the least.

Performances by Others Actors
Mass Maharaja Ravi Teja plays a crucial role in Waltair Veerayya’s second half. He has his typical mass swag in place. Also, this is among his best appearance lookswise in recent outings. While he is good in his scenes, the combo portions with Chiranjeevi could be better. There is not enough meat to them and hence lack the impact even though the two look fabulous together.

Waltair Veerayya is filled with artists in every frame. However, not everyone has a part worth mentioning. Bobby Simha, Prakash Raj, Rajendra Prasad, Vennela Kishore, Subbaraj, Srinivas Reddy, Sapthagiri, Shakalaka Shankar, Pradeep Rawat, John Vijay, etc., and so many more.

The list is exhaustive, but none barring Rajendra Prasad, Bobby Simha, and Prakash Raj, have anything serious to do. In fact, one would be hard-pressed to remember if a known face like Pradeep Rawat has uttered a word at all. Many are just part of the gang and don’t have anything significant to do.

Music and Other Departments?
Devi Sri Prasad comes up with an enjoyable soundtrack in Waltair Veerayya. A couple of songs are visually appealing on screen and the background score, too, is adequate. It adds a peppy quality to the proceedings.

Arthur Wilson’s cinematography is satisfactory. The visuals look grand on screen. Mythri Movie Makers continue to maintain high production values. The editing is mostly alright, barring some parts. They could be crispier. The writing is silly most of the time for fun sake. It doesn’t work consistently, though. The dramatic moments too, don’t have depth and are adequate at best.

Highlights?
Couple of Songs (Boss Party & Sridevi Chiranjeevi)
Some Comedy Parts
Chiranjeevi, In Parts

Drawbacks?
Poorly written comedy
Uneven Screenplay
No Emotional Connect
Silly and over the top Climax
Illogical Scenes

Did I Enjoy It?
No

Will You Recommend It?
No

Waltair Veerayya Movie Review by M9News