'Josh' Review: Message Oriented

Film: Josh
Rating: 3/5
Banner: Sri Venkateswara Movies
Cast: Naga Chaitanya, Karthika, Prakashraj, J D Chekravarthy, Sunil, Brahmanandam, Hema, Surya, Sreya Dhanwantari, Anand and others
Music: Sandeep Chowta
Cinematography: Sameer Reddy
Director: Vasu Varma
Producer: Dil Raju
Released On: 5th Sep 2009

“Naaku mamoolugaa message lu ivvadam ishtam undadhu. Neeku emaina ichchanu anipisthey teesuko”. This is Naga Chaitanya’s dialogue in the movie. And indeed, the movie is message oriented. And as the dialogue suggests the youngsters can take the message if any, from the movie. Let us see how the whole thing went on.

Story:
Satya (Naga Chaitanya) is a young lad in Vizag who suddenly says to his parents that he wants to quit college studies and moves to Hyderabad in search of job. He finds a small job there but witnesses the spoiling students in a college. He tries to change them but in the process he develops tug with a student leader J Durga Rao (JD Chakravarthy). Satya finds no other way than joining in same college as a student to bring change in students, being one among them. Finally has Satya succeeds in that attempt? That forms the climax.

While this is one line, there is a flash back for Satya that makes him take decision to leave studies and move to Hyderabad. And a college Principal (Parakash Raj) happens to be key factor in that aspect. What’s that reason? That forms other line.

And Nitya (Karthika) happens to be a love factor for Satya who works in a school as teacher.

Performances:
Naga Chaitanya: He was given a very underplaying role. Most of the time he was seen without expressions. That gives a wrong impression for audiences that he doesn’t know how to act. His presence on screen as debutant is good. He danced well and fights are also good. From now he needs to focus on his dialogue delivery and expressions.

Karthika: She is just ok. The make up given to her is not good and that made her look very ordinary.

Sunil is ok with his subtle comedy and Prakash Raj performed to his best in his son’s dead body scene. Brahmanandam is very weak in his role and he couldn’t make people laugh even once. Former Miss Femina runner up Shreya Dhanwanthari is also scene in a not so important role.

Technically, the movie scores well with cinematography. Montages chosen for songs are hilarious. ‘Neeto unte inka konnaallu..’ has got lyrical beauty and ‘deerideeridi be ready…’ has haunting rendition.

Director Vasu Varma has dealt well only with his story line and narration but not with star son.

Dialogues:
“College paatam cheppi pareeksha peduthundi. Kaani jeevitham pareeksha petti paatam chebuthundi..gunapaatam” sounds subtle in entire movie.

Highlights And Dim Lights:
Cinematography is good
Costumes are subtle
Make up for heroine is very bad
Brahmanandam gone wasted
Jumps and abrupt cuts in editing
No required voltage in narration

Analysis:
The director seems to be very conscious of what he was making!

The dialogue “Naaku mamoolugaa message lu ivvadam ishtam undadhu. Neeku emaina ichchanu anipisthey teesuko” seems to be director’s line for contemporary youth audience.

It is a general opinion that youngsters don’t relish the messages and lectures. Hence the director has chosen that line. That’s fine up to that. But the elements that strengthen a movie are weak in this. There is no proper romance track, no action elements and no thrilling moments. It goes to be a straight narration with a little flash back episode.

The elements of ‘Shiva’ are used in the film to some extent but there is no comparison to that action-classic.

The movie appeals for teenagers and parents. The movie asks parents to leave sheep-mentality by going along with the herd and forcibly burdening children to get ranks in examination. The movie appeals for students stating that young age is a valuable time to build future but not for making it useless with drug addictions, irresponsibility and ragging.

On a whole, the movie has one and only big attraction- that is Naga Chaitanya, the son of Nagarjuna. And added glory is Dil Raju. Box office collections merely depend on these elements and they are the crowd pulling factors.

(SiraSri can be reached at [email protected])