Chandamama Movie Review

Film: Chandamama

Cast: Navadeep, Kajal, Shiva Balaji, Sindhu Menon, Ahuti Prasad, Nagababu, Radha Kumari, Uttej etc
Dialogues: Akula Venkat
Dances: Shankar, Nobel Paul
Camera: Prasad M
Music: Radhakrishnan
Producers: C Kalyan, Vijayanand
Director: Krishna Vamshi
Released On: 6th Sep 2007

The film is very much like a ‘Chandamama’. First half is like full moon fortnight and second half is like New Moon fortnight. This waxing and waning is reflected in the film.

Story:
Maha Lakshmi (Kajal) is the daughter of Ranga Rao (Naga Babu) who lives in a village. Ranga Rao is a rich land lord of the place. Rama Lingeshwara Rao (Ahuti Prasad) is another land lord who is a dipsomaniac and flirt. But he is not harmful to anyone. His son is Dora Babu (Siva Balaji) who is very good natured. Elders decide marriage for Maha Lakshmi and Dora Babu. Maha Rani (Sindhu Menon) is the daughter of Ranga Rao’s younger brother. She is very active and eccentric.

After arranging the marriage Maha Lakshmi reveals her past to Dora Babu. She says that she spent a night with Kishore (Navadeep), her friend in the city where she studied. Listening to that, Dora Babu drinks to the full and hits by an accident. That’s the interval shot. But the second half goes in hilarity without any serious things. Who marries Maha Lakshmi? Whate happens to Kishore and Dora Babu? What happens has to be watched on screen!

Performances:
Navadeep is good in his role. He acted very well in first half but in second half the scope to act is very less. Shiva Balaji is just ok. Kajal looked good and her performance is also up to the mark. Sindhu Menon is average.

Ahuti Prasad swept the entire show with his diction and slang. There are no routine set of comedians but Ahuti Prasad filled the gap on single hand.

Naga Babu is apt as reserved elder man and father of Kajal. Radha Kumari’s dialogues and comedy are also subtle.

SM Radha Krishnan’s music is appealing for class audiences again. No song is catchy and none could din in the ears after coming out from theatres. But the picturing of songs is very good. Especially, the first song with Kajal and Shiva Balaji and another one of ‘muddu’ are good.

The hard nuts in narration are:
The set of foreigners living in Nagababu’s house in the village
Characterization of Sindhu Menon

Good things to underline:
Ahuti Prasad’s character- he did wonderful job by delivering dialogues in East Godavari slang with perfect sink.
Radha Kumari’s character is also interesting as grand mother to Shiva Balaji.
Navadeep’s acting in first half.
No violence and vengeance in the film.

Analysis:
The film starts at very good pace but suffers from various bumps in narration. First half goes smooth but second half is elastic. The climax is quite routine and in tune with the expectations of mundane audiences. Krishna Vamshi has chosen a wrong line of story and he failed to develop proper characterizations to lead roles.

Krishna Vamshi is known for showing typical mannerisms on his characters. He also puts a female role that shows eccentricity in behavior like Charmy in Sree Anjaneyam. In this film he has chosen Sindhu Menon for that.

Here in ‘Chandamam’, he made a confused concoction by mixing two things. Initially he intends to give a message that Indians are forgetting their culture but foreigners are getting attracted for the same. But finally, the conclusion is ‘let younger ones marry the ones they love and needn’t bend to whims of elders’. There appears to be some lack of clarity at the end.

We have to see how far the patronage of audiences will be extended for this film.

Exclusive Sridevi in Pellikani Prasad Gallery

Sridevi in Pellikani Prasad

Telugu Film News - September 06, 2007

Director Veeru K: From Sex to sensibility

A Tollywood filmmaker who has made commercial entertainers with good doses of skin-show is now dabbling in a different genre of filmmaking.
Veeru.K, the director who knows for his hot films is out to delve into different kind of cinema now.
Having been bitten twice with the debacle of his two previous films both of which starred Ruthika, his hot belly, Veeru is now making a "realistic film."

What inspired Veeru to change tracks from his customary style of filmmaking?
Veeru says the success of some of the Bollywood films like Page 3 and ChandiniBar has blazed a new trail for many filmmakers like him who want to try some sensible stuff on celluloid.
According to the sources, Veeru is set to expose the sordid side of tinsel town in this film.
Having been in the film industry for decades, Veeru has seen the world of showbiz at very close quarters. Drawing from his experiences, Veeru has given shape to a story that will bring to light the bitter realities of film world – like casting couch, sexual manipulations and betrayals, and ego tussles.
It is going to be a story of a successful actress whose position is threatened by ambitious new girls in the industry.

Veeru is presently writing his new movie's script. He says the cast of the film will be finalized after the script is completed.
So expect a film on casting couch and sexual betrayals.

Raghavulu draws a blank with Megastar

The report that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders had a detailed talk with Megastar Chiranjeevi to rope him into their party fold and that he had evinced keen interest in the Leftist movements turned out be a deliberate leak by the Leftists to their favourite daily Eenadu.
While everything was written positively about the meeting between the Comrades and the Megastar, what was not leaked to Eenadu was the cold reponse given by the latter to the Reds' invitation to him to join the politics. Sources said Chiranjeevi had not spoken his mind at all about his interest in politics and in fact, reportedly said a "no" to their invitation, as he is planning to confine himself to social service activities at present. Thus, Raghavulu could only draw a blank with Chiranjeevi.
The Leftists, who are looking for building up a strong third alternative in the State, desperately need a driving force for their political movement. They might not come to power on their own, but the Comrades want to play the role of kingmaker in the State as well and get their works done. But, so far, their attempts have not succeeded.

Pawan face to face with Nandini tomorrow

Actor Pawan Kalyan will come face to face with his first wife Nandini after a long time. The two are slated to appear at the family court in Visakhapatnam tomorrow. The family court directed Pawan Kalyan to appear in person for the hearing.
And accordingly, Pawan Kalyan came to Visakhapatnam this evening. He is staying at the local Green Park hotel in Visakhapatnam. A large crowd consisting mostly of Pawan’s fans gathered outside the hotel on coming to know about his presence at the hotel.
The police are also making elaborate arrangements at the family court tomorrow as a large number of Pawn Kalyan fans are likely to gather for catching a glimpse of their favourite star.

Gossip: Satti Babu Insists Saroja In Thailand!

Every one lines up when a director plans shooting in abroad. He usually picks up his co-directors and assistant directors to fly along with the main artistes in the cast.
Contrary to this practice, E Satti Babu, the director of Viyyalavari Kayyalu, flew along with Saroja Reddy, the daughter of Prabhakara reddy, a popular actor of yester years to Thailand for shooting. She is involved in the film as executive producer and has become an eyesore to many, including the co-director and the asst director of the film. Satti Babu didn't feel their need at Thailand and dropped them.
They wonder what services Saroja would render to Satti Babu there.

Sushant’s debut on 7 September

Sushant - nephew of Nagarjuna Akkineni - is all set to make his debut as hero with a film to be launched on 7 September. Tamanna (Sri and Happy Days fame) is paired with Sushant in this film. Sri Nag creations produces this film. Annapurna Studios presents it.

Medhavi talkie part completed

National award winning director Neelakanta is directing a film titled Mister Medhavi with Raja Genelia in the main leads. The talkie part of the film is complete. Raja is doing the role of an employee in a corporate. Genelia is doing the role of an NRI girl. This film deals with the emotional relationship between these two people. This film too sports a novel storyline like the ones in Neelakanta’s earlier films. Chakri composed five songs. Suman is doing the role of Genelia’s father. The shooting of songs will start on 17 September. The postproduction work will be completed in October month. B Rama Rao produces this film on Life Style Art Pictures banner.

Sekhar Suri prefers same cast

After delivering success with his different film ‘A Film By Aravind’, Sekhar Suri is all set to direct another film with the cast of that film. Rishi and Rajiv Kanakala play leads in this film too. Urvasi Sharma (a model from Mumbai) makes her debut as heroine. A new producer Phani will produce this film. This film will go to floors on 6 September

Tight security at Prasads

As the Hyderabad city is getting back to the normal mood after the gory incident of bomb blasts, Prasad - the most-sought-after entertainment center in Hyderabad is making it taking tight security measures. Each and every patron who is going to watch cinema has to go through three electronic checks and two manual checks before entering the screen. All the baggage has to be deposited outside the complex.

Photo Feature: Shilpa Shetty plays 'Don'

If you think that SRK was not up to the mark as Don in Farhan Akhtar's version, then here’s some news for you. It seems that Shilpa Shetty has taken the responsibility of continuing the ‘Don legacy’ as she plays a lady Don in one of her upcoming films, Shilpa the Big Don.

For quite a while now, there have been reports doing rounds saying that Shilpa was offered a Hollywood film Pink Panther 2 which she didn’t accept. Now take a look at what she has given up the Hollywood flick for. After ‘Big Brother’, one would expect classier choices from Shilpa but tight jeans, garish naval exposing tops and junk jewelry like a dog leash attached from the neck to the belt surely don’t paint a very classy image. The word ‘classy’ probably has a different meaning in her dictionary.

One of the dailies had reported that Shilpa demanded 350,000 pounds for starring in a British film titled Quick, Slip Me a Bride. The producer then had no option but to move on and select another actress. But then looking at the production value of this probably dubbed Hindi film, Shilpa the Big Don, with Shilpa in an action-packed role, we wonder how much they must’ve paid her.

Abhishek in Salman Khan’s footsteps

Looks like AB baby is following in Salman Khan’s footsteps. Sources close to Abhishek reveal that the actor has a new hobby — painting.

Even though he has no immediate plans to take it up seriously, Abhishek apparently visits websites that offer painting classes and even reads books on the topic.

The actor, we are told, will soon paint a canvas for a charity event and show off his newly acquired skills. Such fun!