Lakshmi's NTR - Movie Review

Krish directed two parts of ‘NTR’ Biopic had shown NTR’s life incomplete to avoid uncomfortable part of his last days. Ram Gopal Varma’s “Lakshmi’s NTR” solely has focused twilight years of NTR after he lost power in 1989 to his last breath in 1996.

What this film has shown….

1. That NTR was left alone by his family members, he was leading secluded life without care and affection until the entry of Lakshmi Parvathi

2. How Lakshmi Parvathi became his soul mate, his caretaker and how their bond flourished.

3. NTR’s sons and daughters fighting with his father over Lakshmi Parvathi

4. Lakshmi Parvathi’s life with her husband and convincing him to divorce her so that she can be NTR’s wife

5. NTR declaring his decision to marry Lakshmi Parvathi on the stage of success celebrations of “Major Chandrakanth” movie in Tirupathi.

6. NTR coming back to power in 1994

7. Naidu plotting the coup against his father-in-law

8. NTR receiving chappals hurled at him by his own party leaders in Viceroy episode

9. His agony after losing power to his son-in-law

10. His death

As the title suggests, it narrates the story of NTR’s later life from the perspective of Lakshmi Parvathi. The film glorifies her. In real life, she faced many accusations but in the film, she is shown here as selfless woman who devoted to the ‘seva’ of her swamy NTR.

The film begins with Lakshmi Parvathi entering into the house of NTR after he lost power in 1989 with the purpose of writing his life story. NTR found solace in her, got attracted to her command on the language of Telugu and maturity. Soon, they developed a formidable bond between them. This is shown like a love story of a matured couple with sluggish pace. Why NTR sought a companion at that age is clearly established by the sequences. The later part is devoted to the political conspiracies, the August coup (1995) and the emotional turmoil of NTR.

By and large the film recounts the real events but it is also completely one-sided movie like NTR Biopics were. The NTR Biopics made by Krish glorified NTR and did bhajana, while “Lakshmi’s NTR” completely projects Lakshmi Parvathi as selfless woman.

However, what RGV and other director Agasthya Manju get it right is the major events in NTR’s later life. The film also makes Chandrababu Naidu (current AP Chief Minister) the villain. It is he who staged coup. The film also boldly points out the roles played by Ramoji Rao and other personalities. In one way, this is boldest political movie. But it also is one-sided. How you view the political events depends whether this movie is truthful or not.

Coming to the performances, Vijay Kumar, a theater artiste from Eluru, sinks teeth into the character of NTR. He has got the body language of NTR right. Gaikwad has done prosthetic makeup for him perfectly. Yagna Shetty as Lakshmi Parvathi has done justice to the role. All other roles are played by newcomers.

Background music by Kalyani Malik is major plus point to this movie. He has given soulful touch to the movie. Technical and production values are of low standard.

The dialogue writing is of old-style. RGV and Agasthya have shown dare in depicting some political events. Agasthya's work in second half is good.

Bottom-line: “Lakshmi’s NTR” that focused on later life of legendary actor and politician late NT Rama Rao is fairly faithful to the political events of 1989 to 1996. While the film paints Chandrababu Naidu as villain in NTR’s life, it also goes extra length to show Lakshmi Parvathi as a woman sans blemishes. It is an okay political movie with slow narration.