Making
a
periodical
/
mythological
/
historical
film,
which
is
hitherto
not
seen
by
the
audiences,
is
easy
and
the
audiences
would
take
it
straight
as
the
story
is
moulded
on
the
celluloid
for
the
first
time.
Unless
the
people,
who
watched
are
thorough
on
the
story
and
history,
they
will
take
the
story
for
granted.
This
is
proved
right
in
case
of
Annamayya
and
Sriramadasu
and
they
became
blockbusters.
Though
Sri
Manjunatha
was
also
brought
out
by
the
same
team,
it
somehow
failed
at
Box
Office
to
certain
extent.
However,
while
bringing
out
a
story,
which
is
already
seen
by
the
audiences
and
stood
as
an
all-time
classic,
the
entire
unit
should
be
very
cautious
because
people
would
start
comparing
each
scene.
JK
Bharavi,
instead
of
bringing
out
the
film,
on
the
same
lines
made
lot
of
changes
in
the
subject.
But
for
the
last
25
minutes
of
the
film,
the
remaining
part
is
boring
due
to
excessive
show
of
romantic
scenes.
Pundareeka
(Balakrishna)
is
the
son
of
a
great
devotee
(Vishwanath)
of
Lord
Krishna.
The
entire
family
including
Pundareeka's
mother,
sister,
brother-in-law,
and
paternal
uncle
are
all
devotees.
However,
Pundareeka
feels
like
emulating
Lord
Krishna,
who
resorts
typical
thefts,
moving
with
girls
and
enjoying
life.
He
takes
the
life
very
casually
and
just
enjoys
the
life.
He
doesn't
want
to
marry
as
he
treats
girls
like
dolls.
On
the
other
hand,
Lakshmi
(Sneha)
is
also
a
great
devotee
of
Lord
Krishna
and
is
the
foster
daughter
of
a
priest
(Balayya).
In
fact,
she
is
an
orphan
but
is
brought
up
by
him.
Once,
Lord
Krishna
(Balakrishna)
appears
in
her
dream
and
suggests
that
Pundareeka
would
be
her
husband.
When
Pundareeka
refuses
the
alliance
on
her
father's
word,
Lakshmi
settles
in
front
of
his
house
and
continues
to
pray
Lord
Krishna
to
change
the
mind
of
Pundareeka.
Pundareeka
used
to
spend
his
evenings
with
Amrita
(Tabu),
a
prostitute,
who
stays
in
the
neighbouring
village.
One
fine
morning,
the
Lord
Krishna
changes
his
attire
and
convinces
Pundareeka
to
marry
Lakshmi.
However,
on
the
first
night,
Pundareeka
takes
away
the
jewellery
from
his
wife
and
gifts
them
to
Amrita.
Later,
Lakshmi
prays
the
Lord
again
to
change
her
husband's
mind,
and
Krishna
comes
to
her
rescue
again
and
unites
Pundareeka
with
Lakshmi.
Realising
that
Pundareeka
is
slipping
from
their
hands,
Amrita's
mother
(Y
Vijaya)
hatches
a
plan
and
swindles
his
entire
property
after
some
medication.
Due
to
the
effect
of
medication,
Pundareeka
drives
away
all
his
family
members
out
of
home.
Then
Amrita's
mother
necks
out
Pundareeka
from
that
house.
Pundareeka
challenges
that
he
would
bring
another
beautiful
girl
than
Amrita
and
goes
in
search
of
her.
In
the
process,
he
meets
three
beautiful
girls
in
the
ashram
of
Mrikanda.
Though
they
reveal
that
they
are
the
personifications
of
great
rivers
Ganga,
Yamuna
and
Saraswati,
Pundareeka
tries
to
grab
them
out
of
lust.
When
they
go
inside
Mrikanda's
ashram,
Pundareeka
goes
inside
and
attempts
to
kick
the
sage.
As
a
result,
he
loses
both
his
legs.
After
realising
the
mistake,
Pundareeka
pleads
for
a
remedy.
Mrikanda
says
Pundareeka
can
get
back
his
legs
only
after
serving
his
parents.
Pundareeka
then
goes
in
search
of
his
parents
and
finds
them.
He
gets
back
his
legs
after
they
pardon
his
mistakes.
While
serving
his
parents
Lord
Krishna
visits
his
home
but
Pundareeka
tells
him
to
stay
there
till
his
parents
go
to
sleep.
Lord
Krishna
turns
an
idol
and
stays
there.
At
this
juncture,
Pundareeka
learns
that
Lakshmi
is
on
death
bed
and
goes
to
see
her.
Learning
that
his
wife
is
not
allowed
inside
the
temple,
Pundareeka
prays
the
Lord
to
give
the
darshan
and
the
latter
appears
to
Lakshmi.
After
watching
the
God,
Lakshmi
passes
away.
On
request
from
all
his
eight
wives,
Lord
Krishna
agrees
to
give
life
to
Lakshmi,
on
a
condition
that
the
request
should
also
come
from
Pundareeka.
But,
Pundareeka,
instead
of
requesting
to
give
his
wife
back,
appeals
to
take
him
to
his
wife
and
Pundareeka
also
joins
Lord
Krishna.
PLUS:
No
doubt,
Balakrishna
gave
an
excellent
performance.
However,
neither
the
cinematographer,
nor
the
director
nor
the
make-up
man
could
show
him
as
a
young
man.
The
elderliness
could
be
easily
seen
in
Balakrishna.
He
failed
to
appear
like
a
young
man.
Moreover,
the
overdose
of
romanticism
spoiled
the
spirit
of
the
movie.
Sneha
is
okay
in
the
role
of
Lakshmi.
She
sports
the
girl
next
door
role
as
usual.
She
too
looks
romantic
in
a
song.
Tabu
has
played
the
role
of
a
prostitute.
She
has
really
done
a
fantastic
job
in
her
character
and
proved
a
perfect
fit.
Though
she
appears
very
romantic
in
the
film,
her
character
ought
to
be
like
that
and
there
is
a
point
to
argue
that
it
is
vulgar.
Vishwanath,
Balayya
and
others
have
done
justice
to
their
characters.
MINUS:
A
senior
director
like
Raghavendra
Rao
has
taken
the
second
role
of
Balakrishna
very
casually.
Though
Lord
Krishna
role
is
also
played
by
Balakrishna,
the
characterisation
is
very
poor.
The
entire
troupe,
Lord
Krishna
and
his
eight
wives
characters
are
very
poorly
moulded
on
the
screen.
The
audience
would
get
a
feel
of
watching
a
stage
play
and
the
dialogues
are
very
cinematic
and
dramatised
way.
LB
Sriram's
character
as
Narada
is
atrocious.
Words
like
Anta
Scene
Ledu
in
general
films
are
translated
like
Manaku
Anta
Sannivesam
Ledu
are
in
poor
taste.
JK
Bharavi
did
not
work
whole-heartedly
for
the
film.
The
comedy
track
picturised
on
Sunil
and
Brahmanandam
failed
to
evoke
laughter.
REMARKS:
The
original
Panduranga
Mahatmyam
remained
a
classic
due
to
excellent
characterisation
of
all
the
roles.
The
original
film,
which
was
a
devotional
film
in
nature,
had
only
20
per
cent
romance
and
80
per
cent
devotion.
Moreover,
the
film
was
made
when
the
late
NTR
was
in
prime
age
and
he
appeared
very
romantic
in
the
film
and
the
glow
of
devotion
could
be
clearly
noticed
in
the
latter
part
of
the
film.
But
in
this
film
the
romance
percentage
is
70
and
the
devotional
percentage
reduced
to
30.
The
extension
of
the
film
with
the
Lord
Krishna
waiting
for
a
request
from
Pundareeka
spoiled
the
mood.
As
is
said
earlier,
but
for
the
last
20-25
minutes,
the
film
has
nothing
much
to
talk
about.
Cast:
Balakrishna,
Sneha,
Tabu,
K
Vishwanath,
Mohan
Babu
(special
appearance),
Balayya,
Prasad
Babu,
Sameer,
Sunil,
Dharmavarapu
Subrahmanyam,
Ali,
Anant,
LB
Sriram,
Jr
Relangi,
Brahmanandam,
Jenny,
Siva
Parvati,
Sana,
Archana
(Veda),
Suhasini,
Meghana
Naidu,
Y
Vijaya,
Apoorva,
Sireesha,
Bhargavi,
Neethu,
Baby
Kavya
and
others
Credits:
Story
and
dialogues
–
JK
Bharavi,
Camera
–
Jayaram,
Editing
–
Srikara
Prasad,
Music
–
MM
Keevarani,
Producer
–
K
Krishnamohana
Rao,
Screenplay
and
direction
–
K
Raghavendra
Rao.
Banner:
RK
Associates
Released
on:
May
30,
2008