Banner: NBK Films, Vaarahi Chalana Chitram and Vibri Media
Producers: Balakrishna, Sai Korrapati, Vishnu Induri
Director: Krish
Music: M M Keeravani
Cast: Balakrishna, Vidya Balan, Kalyan Ram, Rana, Bharat Reddy, Rohit Bharadwaj, Surya Srinivas, Garapati Srinivas, Vennela Kishore, Poonam Bajwa, Manjima Mohan, Himanshi Chowdhary, Heroshini Komali, Sachin Khedekar and others
Special appearance: Sumanth, Prakash Raj, Brahmanandam, Rakul Preet Singh, Satyanarayana, Nitya Menen, Pranitha Subhash, Shriya, Hansika Motwani, Shalini Pandey, Krish and others
Story
Harikrishna (Kalyan Ram) assures his mother Basavatarakam (Vidhya Balan) at Adayar Cancer Hospital in 1984 hiding the fact that she was diagnosed with cancer. She asks why he left his dad NTR (Balakrishna) for which he tells that he himself asked her to be by her side.
Basavatarakam whose eye sight reduces with each passing second wishes to see NTR's album and goes nostalgic about their journey. she recollects how NTR entered into her life, how he with his frank and straight forward and honest attitude resigned as the registrar at the then Madras Collectorate and how he entered film industry, faced difficulties and became a super star.
To find out his film journey, enjoy NTR-Kathanayakudu on silver screen.
Performances
Natasimha Balakrishna slipped into the role effortlessly. He carried the film on his shoulders with his performances bringing in different variations in expressions and emotions. However he looked aged as young NTR. The makers should have cast someone else, especially Jr NTR for the role for better impact. Balakrishna danced to NTR hit songs with full energy and attracted with his mannerisms and antics.
Vidya Balan got a limited role but performed well showing her expressions and emotions elevating the scenes with her screen presence.
Kalyan Ram looked good as Harikrishna and others too did well their roles. Sumanth played well in the role of his grandfather ANR. Though as young ANR did not resemble ANR, he performed well as old ANR.
Hansika looked good as Jaya Prada but others like Shriya, Nitya Menon did not look perfect in looks of Prabha and Savitri. Praneetha looked good as Krishna Kumari. Krish as KV.Reddy elevated the scenes with his intensitry. Naresh as BA.Subba Rao, Murali Sharma as Aluri Chakrapani, Prakash Raj as Nagi Reddy, Avasarala Srinivaas and DV.Narasa Raju performed well.
Other stars performed well in their special appearances.
Technical
Keeravani elevated the scenes with his powerful background music.Couple of songs are good and most of them are situational. Other songs are the remakes of NTR's yesteryear hits.
Editing of Arram Ramakrishna left many drags in the film which slowed the pace. He could have made it even crispy. Cinematography of Ggnanasekhar elevated the scenes taking the film to another level taking movie lovers back to the olden days.
Krish could have added few more twists and turns and concentrated on the emotional connect of the film rather than concentrate on including remixes of NTR's yesteryear hits. Production values are good.
Plus Points
NTR, Vidya Balan and other star cast
Cinematography
BGM
Couple of dialogues
Minus Points
Slow pace
Lack of emotional connect
Balakrishna's aged looks
Editing
Special appearances
Lack of real twists and turns
Documentary feeling
Analysis
Krish who got the golden opportunity to direct the biopic on legendary personality of Telugu people, NTR was also bestowed on the responsibility of elevating him in style on silver screen.
Krish drew inspiration from Mahanati and started off in the same vein narrating NTR's journey from the eyes of his better half Basavatarakam. The narration sails off smoothly with NTR resigning his influential government job and heading to Madras to test his luck in films.
Entire first half showcases his trials and tribulations and eventual rise to stardom in Tollywood. Second half showcases how NTR gets emotionally touched with the peoples issues after few incidents and developments finally decides to enter politics thus paving way to second part of the biopic Mahanayakudu.
The narration goes in a predictable manner singing praises of NTR covering all his negatives and minuses. This reached a stage where after sometime people get bored hearing to NTR praises all the time. This was unlike Mahanati where the makers highlighted even Savitri's minuses.
Second half too goes in the similar manner but interest is generated with NTR entering politics. Powerful dialogues penned by Sai Madhav Burra and Balakrishna'e energetic performance and Krish's powerful taking, kept interest in the second part. Krish's story, screenplay and direction is good. One gets a feeling that his hands are tied most of the time as he did not deviate from any manner.
The film is a treat to Nandamuri fans and it has to be seen how multiplex movie lovers receives it as it lacks the emotional quotient. It has nothing for B, C centers.
Final Talk
NTR Kathanayakudu a treat to Nandamuri fans
Rating: 2.75/5.0
0 comments