Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Movie Review - Shirdi Sai (Telugu) - Anthaa Sai Mayam!!

Mana chetilo vunna rottenu tinadam PRAKRUTHI

Edutivaadi chetilo rottenu laakkuni tinadam VIKRUTHI
Mana chetilo rottenu edutivaadiki pettadam SAMSKRUTHI..!!

That’s the divinity exuded by Sai baba in the film Shirdi Sai. Puranas say that God takes many reincarnations to restore world peace and to keep miscreants at bay. But the reason for Sai baba’s reincarnation is different - He is here to say that there’s GOD is everywhere. For people, who believe in the misnomer – God and Human are different – He’s here to bring them out of dark and show them light. These stories were penned by Hemandpant when Baba was alive. He himself was in Baba’s abode and listened to every piece from Satguru himself and thus created a soothing saga. If anyone wants to present Sai Baba’s story on celluloid, Hemandpant’s “Sai Sacharithra” acts as a perfect reference. They need not do any additional research on that, but they can embellish these stories as did by K Raghavendra Rao in Shirdi Sai.

When a film-maker embarks to make a devotional film, he’s got clear objectives: to mesmerize the audience; to induce the ‘Bhakti’ element; and to make everyone happy. In this film, ‘Darsakendrudu’ Raghavendra Rao was successful in meeting his objectives. He explored and unearthed different facets of Sai baba that are intrinsic. In the film, we see Sai Baba professing Sab ka maalik ek hai and we also witness him as the divine perpetrator of world. In earlier Sai films, only certain shades of Sai Baba were shown but this one is stupendous. You need to understand Shirdi Sai to the core to re-invent his divine avatar.

The movie is also given some fictional treatment. Ardent followers of Baba and avid readers of “Sai Sacharithra” (the book can be placed next to Ramayana and Mahabharata, and many people have read it millions of times) can point them out. This also raises the ire of few who compare it with the book or the 80s Vijaychander's  version for which Maestro Ilayaraja scored music. But it never dilutes the narration; it just tries to fill some hitherto unfilled gaps in Sai Baba’s story.

Moving on with the fictional elements – the one shown in the climax is important. Actually, Sai Baba’s soul leaves his body at Dwarakamayi (masjid), but in the movie it is shown to be happening at Butiwada (Samadhi mandiram). This is a deliberate effort by Raghavendra Rao to glorify the scene and make it devotional. Baba’s words “Idi marana sayya kaadu, Saranu korini vaariki karuna sayya” on the throne made the scene a tear-jerking one and his soul leaving the body there shows the experimental genius of the director. 

Nagarjuna casts a magical spell with his performance. He has refined Baba’s character and does justice to the role in every stage of Baba’s life. The true actor comes out of him when Baba becomes old and his acting reaches pinnacle during the climax. In short, he has redefined the role essayed by likes of Vijaychander and made a thumping impression with every possible emotion he could garner from that role.

The technical department shines all through the film. S Gopal Reddy’s deft camerawork coupled with decent set design creates the visual panache. Though some inevitable studio sets give a banal tinge to the locations, the overall packaging makes it picture perfect. Paruchuri Brothers have penned mighty lines that are incisive as a sword and brings out the Bhakti element when Sai renders them. After going through a lean patch for quite some time this film can be their comeback card. CGI also made its presence felt in some scenes.

One of the disappointments is the film’s music by M M Keeravani which is a sheer let down. He needs to check with his selection of singers. Some songs by the female singers are mellifluous but others lack sheen and do no good for the film. The other disappointment comes in the form of the comedy track and unwanted drag of Sri Hari's episode (a British officer who hangs a portrait of present Queen in pre-independence era).

Bottom-line: A great film for Sai Baba devotees. Watch it if you are a devotee of Baba, or even if you are not, or even if you are in need of some spirituality on screen. It's not magnificent, but it clearly meets the objectives of the film-maker and the audience.

My Rating: Expectation – 8/10; Reality – 7/10
 
 

No comments:

Post a Comment