Friday, May 4, 2012

Movie Review - Dammu (Telugu) - Expectation 9/10; Reality 4/10!!

Jalsa: Yuddam ante satruvuni champadam kadu satruvuni odinchadam
Dammu: Yuddam ante gelavadam odadam kaani champadam chaavadam kadu.

The central theme of "Dammu" is based on the above mentioned quotes. It is a tailor-made film for Jr. NTR fans that takes him to the next level in terms of performance. Boyapati Seenu etches him as a person who relies on his thinking and reasoning rather than getting carried by the stream. Hence the reactions and emotions are controlled and sophisticated. The sensitive side of a macho hero is a nuance that is least explored in our films and Jr. NTR shedding tears in the middle of bloodshed comes as a surprise. It seems like he's gonna embark on his political journey with this film. Lot of preaching, many dialogues abusing the ruling party, and how people made fools of themselves bringing them to power is evident in many scenes. The one thing that does not leave NTR's films is the reference to clan, surname, blood, etc. God save the actor. 

Though it's a simple drama detailing the rivalry between two belligerent feuds, it depends heavily on the characterization of the people in the story. But alas!! some characters are elevated whereas some are grossly wasted. Bhanupriya in the mother’s role is left silently weeping all through, without make-up, but she could not relive her role played in "Chatrapthi" for which she's revered till eternity. And how can someone rope in Trisha and do not instill any romance in the movie? Now I could see a reason why Sruthi Hasan walked out of the film. Karthika is refreshing, she adds some spice with her peppy lines and comical touch. The underlying message of the film is that we live in a male chauvinist society where men are protectors and a royal family is incapable of dignity merely because it doesn't have a male child. It implies that women basically don't count and they are still treated as an instrument of progeny. God save the film-maker's thinking.

Boyapati Seenu, please wake up and smell the coffee, "Simha" was a surprise package that worked for a bunch of reasons, but every day is not Sunday and one can't recreate the magic with same formula again and again. One can see the traces of all the past films of Jr. NTR (Aadi, Simhadri, Samba, Brundaavanam etc) in this one. Even though Dammu is well-presented, and several dialogues shine, the fatal flaw is its plot that was in use when dodos existed. Some scenes are innovative and cause loads of adrenaline rush, but the causative factor for such scenes makes them illogical. The movie is primarily aimed at male audience who likes violence, one person thrashing many goons, self-exploding Jeeps, Sumos, Scorpios and what not!! The fight sequences are dragged like chewing gum, though enticing at the beginning they lose their steam in the end. As the story unfolds in the second half one is bored to death with the clichés. God save Telugu cinema. 

The film's loaded with a magniloquent background score filled with loud chants and trumpets. M M Keeravani tried to create some magic (apparently from bits and pieces copied, err, borrowed from OSTs of world cinema) but failed miserably making it a tiresome musical experience. I can't understand why Keeravani is not giving any melodies?? Where has gone the musical wizard who gave us Jaamu Raatiri (Kshana Kshanam), Telusaa Manasa (Criminal), Awarapan Banjaarapan (Jism) among others?? What we get from him are mass numbers that are remembered for their offensiveness of the lyrics. God save Telugu music. 

DUMMU reputundanukunna DAMMU theatre laku DUMMU pattisthundi :D :D



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