Rajubhai - Review

Monday, May 21, 2007
A sigh of relief for Manoj and Mohan Babu
It is not new to the Telugu film industry to remake successful films from other languages. In this backdrop, a successful Tamil film Chithiram Pesuthadi is being remade as Rajubhai in Telugu with Manchu Manoj Kumar in the lead. It was Surya Kiron who watched the film and proposed it to Dr Mohan Babu, who agreed to produce the film with Manoj as hero. Manoj who made his screen presence with Donga Dongadi has tasted much success. His second film Sri was also a disaster. However, this time, he was able to bag almost a hit, but surely it is an above average film.

Raju (Manoj) has a mother and sister. However, his mother disowns him and he stays on the premises of a temple. Accidentally, he saves Santosh, son of Babaji (Dandapani), a local goon, from his rivals. Raju who doesn't have a job gets employment with Babaji and moves with his goons. Raju falls in love with a girl Anjali (Sheela) and on her advice decides to quit the work with Babaji and takes up sales of stuffed toys. Anjali once finds Raju in a red light area being bashed by police and hates him. Raju, upon failing to win the confidence, tries to meet her to explain his innocence. But by that time, Anjali's father (Bharani) commits suicide. This further irks Anjali. She doesn't even listen to Raju's mother, who tries to convince her. With failure in his love, Raju again joins Babaji's gang. However, he finds that Santosh is in love with Anjali and wants to marry her. But Anjali's marriage is fixed with some other boy (Santosh Pawan). By showing muscle power, Babaji wants to perform Anjali's marriage with Santosh. Raju, who loves Anjali, wishes her a peaceful life and ensure her marriage with a boy of her choice, turns against Babaji. But Anjali mistakes Raju. However, she finds the truth that Raju saved Anjali's father from police and became a scapegoat to save their family prestige. In the climax, Raju gets stabbed by Babaji. Finally, Babaji realises that it is Raju who loves Anjali and wishes her welfare and admit him to a hospital and saves his life. The film ends on a happy note with the union of Anjali and Raju.

Plus:

The storyline is the highlight of the film. There is no particular villain in the film, though a character appears like a villain. It is the situation that turns villain and causes differences between the hero and heroine. Manoj has improved his body language a lot and performed extremely well. He showed good ease in action scenes and dances. Though a novice, Sheela is glamorous and also has performed well. Bharani, Giribabu, Dandapani are at their best. The songs are melodious and choreography of some songs are good. Action scenes are also done in a stylish manner.

Minus:

The movement of the story is a little slow. The pathos songs were not etched well. The screenplay is too slow and the comedy track with Brahmanandam, Ali, and MS Narayana fails to evoke laughter. The suicide of Bharani is not convincing and it should have been avoided. The kidnap of the villain's son and his subsequent release is also not properly established. The climax is also quite unconvincing, as the director tries to show that there is no villain in the film and the situation itself turns a villain. It is not that easy for the goons to turn gentleman and it is too cinematic.

Remarks:

In the backdrop of two failures, Manoj can heave a sigh of relief with an above average to hit film to his credit this time. Telugu film industry had another beautiful girl as heroine and one has to wait and watch how long she could stay in Telugu films. The role played by Dandapani reminds us of Kota Srinivasa Rao and the latter would have been better than the Tamil artiste. Production values of Lakshmi Prasanna Pictures is good. Music by Yuvan Shankar Raja has good mass beat and choreography of a couple of songs is excellent. Camera by Prasad Murella is okay.

Cast: Manchu Manoj Kumar, Sheela, Dandapani, Tanikella Bharani, Giribabu, Rajiv Kanakala, Sunil, Brahmanandam, Suman Setty, MS Narayana, Ali, Mallikarjuna Rao, Santosh Pavan.

Credits:
Producer - Dr Mohan Babu M
Banner - Sri Lakshmi Prasanna Pictures
Director - Surya Kiron
Story - Miskin
Dialogues - M Ratnam
Music - Yuvan Shankar Raja
Camera - Prasad Murella
Editing - Gauthamraju
Action - Action Prakash, Ram-Lakshman
Lyrics - Suddala Ashok Teja, Ramajogaiah Sastry
Presents - Smt M Nirmala Devi

Rajubhai Stills

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