Film: Simha
Rating: 2.5/5
Banner: United Movies
Cast: Nandamuri Balakrishna, Nayantara, Sneha Ullal, Namitha, K R Vijaya, Saikumar (Malayalam), Hemanth, Rehman, Kota, Brahmi, Ali, Venu Madhav, Dharmavarapu, L B Sriram, Krishna Bhagawan, Jhansi and others
Music: Chakri
Cinematography: Arthur Wilson
Editing: Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao
Story, dialogues, screenplay, direction: Boyapati Sreenu
Producer: Paruchuri Kireeti
Release date: 30th Apr 2010
Amidst all chaotic bliss of fans I watched the movie ‘Simha’ and came to conclusion after watching that a lion in any zoo would be more peaceful. What’s this violence? Kids would cry and women would get scared watching this mercenary. I’m same one who liked Samarasimha Reddy, Narasimha Naidu and Magadheera which were filled with violence but they were very meaningful with proper depth in characterization and drama. Hence nothing appeared abrupt or overdosed. But here the character of hero (both younger and older) is not sustained.
The story goes like this: Srimannarayana (Balakrishna) is a strict lecturer in a college. He corrects the youth and also teaches moral lessons.
His grandmother (K R Vijaya) asks him not to indulge in violence and looks out for matches for him. A lecturer (Namita) love Srimannarayana and a Sanskrit lecturer (Venu Madhav) runs behind her. Janaki (Sneha Ullal) joins in the college as student and the story takes new turn from there. A revenge drama backdrop is revealed that takes to second half.
Young Balayya is the savior in a college and he is like lion for many. He frequently taps on the naked shoulder of his colleague (Namitha) unnecessarily brining in doubt in is characterization. Although such scene would enthuse mass audiences, it drops the character graph as well.
Similarly Balakrishna in flash back episode also goes and hugs other women and servant maid that shows the ‘other shade’ of the hero.
On the other hand, the dialogues are damaging. Boyapati wrote pro-Nandamuri dialogue stating, ‘either to create history or rewrite history it is possible only for our vamsham’. It would had been nice had he stopped there…but the dialogue continues stating, ‘other vamsams are dirty’. Although, a situation was created to fit in this expression, it is needless to say that it is a deliberate blunder committed by dialogue writer Boyapati. Many would get hurt for sure with this line. In the last scene, the yellow flag was shown super imposing Balakrishna’s photo on that as a promotion for TDP.
Bloodshed, songs, vulgar dialogues and unbelievable scenes have become part of Telugu cinema and these days they are being used in meaningful way in right doses. But here everything is over-used. Sumos fly in air and collide to break down into pieces in air. Balakrishna fights despite wide swords and other designer weapons dig deep into his body. He shows no expression on face as well. Did he inject any anesthesia? I doubted.
Nayantara looked like a melted candy. Sneha Ullal is fair but no life in her smile or expressions. Namitha is like a bulldozer. Comedy is zero and Brahmi-Jhansi episode is worse than that of any C-grade movie.
This ‘Simha’ is strictly for hardcore fans that can swallow anything that Balayya gives. Kids, women and old crowds should stay away from this violent treat.
- Venkat Arikatla ([email protected])
