| Details:
 Banner: Sri Sai Ganesh Productions Pvt. Ltd.
Starring: Venkatesh, Anushka, Richa Gangopadhyaya, Shraddha Das, Kamalinee Mukherjee, Sarath Babu, Prabha, Ananth Nag, Brahmanandam, Dhramavarapu, Poonam Kaur and others
Music: Guru Kiran
Cinematographer: Shyam K Naidu
Editing: Marthand K Venkatesh
Dialogue: Paruchuri Brothers
Art: Chinna
Producer: Bellamkonda Suresh
Story, Screenplay, Direction: P. Vasu
Story:
 The story starts with the portrait of Chandramukhi (Anushka) being gifted to Gayatri (Kamalinee Mukherjee). Geeta (Shraddha Das) and Gowri (Richa Gangopadhyay) are the daughters of Sarath Babu and Prabha. Dharmavarupu Subramaniam brother-in-law of Sarath Babu, and his daughter Poonam Kaur stays with them. Things fall worse due to mis-happenings caused from Gauri’s engagement. In this regard, Sarath Babu meets Siddhanti who further meets Dr.Ravi (Venkatesh) to solve the situations. Dr.Ravi finds suspicious things at Sarath Babu’s house like Gayatri, the eldest daughter of Sarath Babu seen dancing in Chandramukhi’s getup in nights. Dr.Ravi makes his investigation strong and leaves to Venkatapuram and comes to know interesting things about Chandramukhi and King Naga Bhairava Rajasekhara (Venkatesh). Chandramukhi and the dance master gets killed by the king and the ghost of Chandramukhi haunts the king and the king escapes. Who is possessed by Chandramukhi out of all ladies? How does she take revenge on king? How does Dr.Ravi help out the family forms the rest of story?
Performances:
 Venkatesh is fine in the psychiatrist role. He tried his best to look cruel as the King. However, Venkatesh doesn’t look like a villain even when he does evil deeds! He has another surprise getup in this film which is annoying at the best. He is fifty already and it is clearly visible on his face. Even his dances lacked those energy levels of the past. Venkatesh has no heroine and duets in this film and that is a welcome change.
Anushka too is lacking that majestic appeal that helped her to carry of a powerful role in Arundhati. Age factor started to affect Anushka too! Her classical dances are a pain to watch. Kamalinee performed and danced better than Anushka. Richa Gangopadhyaya got into action towards the end and she did an average job. Shradha Das is apt. Poonam Kaur has an insignificant role. Brahmanandam’s comedy act hardly tickles you. Dharmavarapu’s role is an imitation of Vadivelu’s in Chandramukhi. He is good. Ananth Nag, Sarath Babu and Prabha are believable.
Analysis:
 director introduced Venkatesh’s character in this film as an assistant to Rajinikanth’s character in Chandramukhi film. The story and screenplay of Nagavalli is strikingly similar to Chandramukhi. Even the dialogue and song concepts too remind you of it. However, the flashback part of Nagavalli is told in an elaborate way unlike in Chandramukhi film. There is a twist in the tale towards the end and also there is a suspense element about who is the possessed girl. Barring these two changes everything in Nagavalli is just a rehash of Chandramukhi film with a different star cast.
Even the suspense element could be guessed by many as the director didn’t involve that girl’s character in the story all through the film until the secret is revealed. First half of the film is passable with few unfunny comedy scenes and uninspiring songs. In the first hour the film works only in parts. Second half gains momentum as the story starts to unravel. Flashback part is strictly Okay without any surprises. Towards the climax director starts to uncover all the details in a hurried manner. This part is full of explanations and logics. Climax looked out of the place with Venkatesh (with a weird makeup) and Anushka fighting amidst a tornado effect (absolutely not required).
Film ends on a predictable note and audiences leave the theatres wondering if this is a sequel to Chandramukhi or a remake of it!
A Paruchuri Brothers dialogue hardly leaves a mark. Guru Kiran’s music is lacking nativity. Background score is fine though. Shyam K Nadu did his best within his limitations. Art work is not bad. Editing is neat. Production values are standard. Despite having a star of Venkatesh’s caliber, the film is made with a limited budget and it is evident on the screen.
P. Vasu’s taking style and screenplay is caught in eighties. The first and last songs in this film are an example of how much outdates the director is. P. Vasu tried to repeat Chandramukhi’s magic with Nagavalli but sadly couldn’t. The script has too many holes and the climax sequences are a let down. The last half an hour of Chandramukhi worked big time due to the scariness and tight screenplay. Nagavalli lacks all those nail biting and edge of the seat moments.
Plus Points: Venkatesh factor, Attractive publicity,Scenes with Richa,Sound Effects
Minus points: Very Poor climax ,So many loose ends, Stunt scenes with old Venkatesh in 2nd half are silly,Make up of 130 year old Venkatesh is not convincing
Verdict: Nagavalli movie should work in the commercial aspect as the film is made with a limited budget.But Nagavalli fails to take us to the high expectations. |
No comments:
Post a Comment