Nannaku Prematho - Movie Review

What’s it about!

A young entrepreneur Abhiram (NTR) lives in London with his father and two brothers. When his father Ramesh Chandra Prasad is diagnosed with cancer and doctors say he would not live more than a month, he reveals his last wish to his sons. Long back, he was cheated by crook businessman Krishnamoorthy (Jagapathi Babu). Abhiram comes to know how Krishnamoorthy brought bad name to his father and made him run away from his place. Abhiram vows to bring down Krishnamoorthy’s empire and fulfill his father’s wish.

Analysis
There seems to b a reason why NTR has chosen Nannaku Prematho be his 25th movie as hero - he wanted to come out from his comfort zone of mass movies and be known for stylish performance too. Sukumar has come up with a simple story but he has focused on presenting NTR in ultra new look and has also changed his acting style.

Plot wise, the story is very simple one. The theme is revenge. Basic plot reminds us of Jagapathi Babu starrer Athade Oka Sainyam (2004) but what makes this film different is Sukumar’s classy presentation and NTR’s delightful performance. To a simple revenge drama, Sukumar has added an emotional angle. Unlike other mass hero movies, revenge drama is not centered on killing the villain or bloodshed. Here it is all about mind games, the cat and mouse game between two intelligent persons - the protagonist and the antagonist.

Sukumar’s writing is top class in the first half of the movie. But he loses the grip in the second half once the mission is revealed. Since the second half is more about revenge, with no big surprises, the slow pace and excessive runtime is inexcusable.

The movie is NTR’s show all the way, his controlled performance, his makeover, his suaveness are the strength. NTR has given absolutely marvelous performance, very restrained and stylish. This is his best appearance so far.

Some episodes – mind games hero plays – seems to have taken from Hollywood movies. Especially the scene where hero gives a lecture inspiring his colleagues reminds us the scene of Leonardo DiCaprio doing the similar one in “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013). And stealing the money scene is taken from "The Italian Job" (2003).

The highlight scenes are – interval bang, the emotional death sequence in the last, the playfulness between Rakul and NTR.

On the down side, the movie is too lengthy, and second half is not that gripping. There are also so many illogical scenes and errors. In one crucial scene, there is confusion about September and November.

Rakul Preet Singh is very glamorous and has also got a meaty role. For the first time, she has dubbed her voice and her Telugu is good. Rajendra Prasad as the father is perfect. What a stylish villainy we have seen from the handsome actor Jagapathi Babu, there is suaveness in his portrayal of the negative role.

Vijay K Chakravarthi who filmed such beautiful movies like Bommarillu has cranked the camera wonderfully. With some superb framing and composition, he has lent the movie rich look.

Devi Sri Prasad’s music blends so well with the movie’s theme as songs are more of a situational except “Love Debba” which comes at wrong place. Navin Nooli’s editing is neat but he should have trimmed the movie.

Dialogues are pretty good. “Oopriki Oopiri Allukuntoo Batikesta..” is one such good dialogue. As writer and director Sukumar has proved that he makes even commercial entertainers in a different and classy way. He should be commended for making a different revenge drama minus bloodshed and presenting NTR in different way. He is sensible filmmaker.

Bottom-line: Nannaku Prematho is classy revenge drama. NTR’s performance and class act, Jagapathi Babu’s villainy and rich look are its strength.