Shakti – Movie Review

Touted as the highest budget film on the Telugu screen with a whopping Rs. 45 crore, shot in a record number of locations, the most-awaited film of Junior NTR's Shakti has hit the screens today. Unfortunately, neither the production values nor the story has done justice for the money spent on the film. Read on for Shakti review.

Story:
Mahadevaraya (Prabhu) is the Union defence minister and his father (SP Balasubrahmanyam) is from Rayala"s dynasty. Their forefathers give them a miracle sword and a Jwalamukhi (a diamond), which help them open the Maha Shakti Peetham, the highest powerful place than the Ashta Dasa Shakti Peethams across the country. The road to the temple is invisible so as the temple. It will come to light once in 27 years and the invisible temple is being safeguarded by one Rudra (NTR). Some Egyptians wanted to get the Trishulam in the temple to revive the lives of the mummies of their forefathers and become supreme. An Egyptian Pharaoh Mukhta (Sonu Sood) decides to bring the Trishulam at any cost and dies in the hands of Rudra and Rudra dies in the hands of Janakiram (Jackie Shroff), who was the minister with Mahadevaraya"s father. He snatches the powerful sword and kills Mahadevaraya"s parents too. However, the diamond remains with Mahadevaraya. What happens next should be seen on-screen.

Performance:
NTR as Shakti is okay. He has maintained good comedy timing and has done some impressive dances though the tunes are not that melodious. However, the second role (Rudra) played by him did not suit him at all. Ileana has just filled the glamour slot. Neither, she had any scope to perform nor has anything to do with the film. Manjari Phadnis, who played the wife of Rudra is also wasted, as she too had no role to play but to give birth to Shakti. Despite a huge star cast like Sonu Sood, Jackie Shroff, Sayaji Shinde, Prabhu, the director has failed to make use of any of their talents. SP Balasubrahmanyam"s role is little better, as he narrated the story in a perfect voice instead of taking a voice over by some others. Pooja Bedi is atrocious, as she failed to emote at all. Daniel"s character is superfluous and no human being could do such things. Comedy department has taken a backseat in the film.

Technical:
When it comes to the technical crew, Mani Sharma should be blamed first for giving such a poor audio for such a high-budget film. Neither the songs have the melody to listen, nor their presentation on the screen. The choreography of songs is also unimpressive. Dialogues by Satyanand are unimpressive. Cinematography by Sameer Reddy is good as he could capture the beauty of various locales of the shooting. Editing by Praveen is average. Director Meher Ramesh should take the blame for the poor narration of the film and the exaggerated storyline

Remarks:
The audiences just can"t understand how the director has convinced a senior producer like Aswini Dutt or a seasoned artiste like NTR on the link between Egyptians and Shakti Peethams in India. In just one word, Meher Ramesh has made the audiences in toto 'April Fools" on the 'All Fool's Day".

Cast: NT Rama Rao, Ileana, SP Balasubrahmanyam, Prabhu, Vinodkumar, Nazar, Sonu Sood, Sayaji Shinde, Daniel, Brahmanandam, Jackie Shroff, Krishna Bhagwan Ali, Venu Madhav, Pruthvi, Srinivas Reddy, Pooja Bedi, Manjari Phadnis, Manju Bharagavi, Pragati and others.
Credits: Music – Manisharma, Dialogues – Satyanand, Cinematography – Sameer Reddy, Editing – Praveen, P, Producer – Aswinidutt, Story, screenplay and direction – Meher Ramesh.
Banner: Vyjayanti Movies
Release date: April 1, 2011