Janatha Garage - Movie Review

What’s it about!

Anand (NTR), a student of environmental science in Mumbai, lives for saving the nature. He files cases and fights against the forces that damage the environmental space. On the other hand in Hyderabad, Satyam (Mohanlal) runs a garage but he also protects the local people from all injustices. People approach him for all kinds of help and he can’t live without helping them. In the process, a big corporate company owner Mukesh (Sachin Khedekar) turns his foe as Satyam rejects Mukesh’s plan of turning a slum into a real estate development project. Satyam’s son Raghava (Unni) gets attracted to power and money. To study how a growing city like Hyderabad would be coping with environmental concerns, Anand comes from Mumbai to Hyderabad and happens to meet Satyam. What is the connection between Satyam and Anand and how his life turns from there forms the rest of the story. 

Analysis

The first film in the combination of NTR and hot shot director Koratala Siva deals with the subject of protecting the Mother Nature. It is told in a commercial movie format. Like in his previous movie ‘Srimanthudu’, the director has blended the “message” with all commercial ingredients like terrific fights, family drama, romance and songs. While the concoction was perfect in ‘Srimanthudu’, here it goes missing. 

The movie begins straight away talking about how Mohanlal came to Hyderabad, established Janatha Garage and turned into a messiah to the local people. And then he also introduces his hero who loves plants, earth more than his maradalu Bujji (Samantha). So far so good! Trouble begins here after. In a slow pace, the director tells two parallel stories - one of Mohanlal and his garage and other of NTR. In between we get to see the scenes involving with NTR and Samantha, NTR and Nithya Menen that are so dull.

Post interval the movie shifts to Hyderabad and NTR taking charge of Janatha Garage, and getting drawn into family issues. The second half has some good scenes though like “GHMC Episode”, “Mohanlal collapsing when he realizes that nobody is coming to him”, and “the climax”. These two or three scenes that stand out in this predictable drama.

There are also traces of “Prasthanam” movie - the angle of Mohanlal, NTR and Unni. And the climax scene is completely outdated. In fact, it is straight out of 'Kondaveeti Simham'.

NTR has once again come up with fine performance. He has played two sides of his character so effectively - as cool guy Anand, the student, and also the hot blooded youngster who can go at any length to save his uncle. Some of his scenes with the power house performer Mohanlal are clap worthy. Mohanlal, who recently acted in a straight Telugu film ‘Manamantha’, is pillar to the movie. His gaze and eye movements convey vivid expressions. He is the strength to the movie in every way.

The film has umpteen numbers of actors but none of them make much impact. Both heroines Samantha and Nithya Menen are mere props for some songs. Both their roles are poorly written. Villain Unni Mukundan pales in front of NTR. Sachin Khedekar is okay. In a single scene, Rajeev Kanakala steals the show. The GHMC episode is highlight of the movie and he featured in that scene.

Well-known cinematographer Thiru in his debut work in Telugu has lent good visuals. Art work is perfect and much of the film is shot indoors in set environment. Music by Devi Sri Prasad is average. Of the songs “Pranamam Pranamam” (with superb lyrics by Rama Jogaiah) and “Rock It on Bro” stand out. Sharper editing of the movie is needed as the pace of the movie is pretty slow and also lingers on unnecessary scenes. Fights by Anal Arsu are okay.

As writer and director Koratala Siva has failed to come up with engrossing script and narration. His ideas are okay but all scenes reek of predictability and seem outdated. He shines only in couple of scenes.

Bottom-line: NTR’s fine performance and Mohanlal’s charismatic presence make the movie an average fare despite lethargic pace, predictable script and narration devoid of any high moments.