Legend - Movie Review: Balakrishna's Grand Ugadi Treat

Almost two years after the release of Srimannarayana, Nandamuri Balakrishna has made a grand comeback with his latest movie Legend, which has hit the screens across the globe today (March 28). The actor has teamed up with director Boyapati Srinu, who has earlier given him a big break with Blockbuster film Simha. The duo have together made sure that they rock the viewers again.

See: Legend Pictures | Cast and Crew Details

Legend is a romantic action entertainer with all commercial ingredients. Nandamuri Balakrishna's electrifying performance is the main highlight in the movie. Boyapati Srinu's gripping narration and punch dialogues, Devi Sri Prasad's melodious music and amazing background score, Ram Prasad's beautiful cinematography, Brahmanandam's comedy timing, Hamsa Nandini's item dance, Ram Laxman's action choreography, dance sequences and beautiful locales are its other attractions.

Boyapati Srinu has chosen a tried and tested story, but he has made it interesting with some surprising twists and turns. He has included all masala elements like action, romance, comedy, family drama, music and a few other stuffs. His engrossing narration coupled with wonderful performances and rich production values makes the movie a good entertainer for the Nandamuri fans.

Legend opens with the introduction of villain Jitendra played by Jagapathi Babu. Then it heads to Dubai, where the character of Balakrishna is introduced through a SUV chase scene in a desert. The director manages to engage the viewers with some action, comedy, romantic, family drama and songs sequences and punch dialogues in the first half of the movie.

With an emotionally-charged interval, Legend picks up the speed. Some political-charged punch dialogues, fights between Balakrishna and Jagapathi Babu and a few sentimental scenes keep you glued to the screen in the second half. The climax is also good, but predictable. The format of the film is somewhat similar to Simha. The film lacks freshness in the treatment of the subject.

Krishna (Balakrishna) is an NRI, who does not tolerate injustice against anyone. He is in love with Sneha (Sonal Chauhan). The couple comes to India to seek his grandmother's blessings for their wedding. But Krishna lands in a problem with Jeethendra (Jagapathi Babu), when he heads to save people in trouble in his native. Jeethendra has a rivalry with Krishna's brother Jai Dev (Balakrishna). The fight between the two forms the rest of the story.

Performance: As usual, Balakrishna has delivered a wonderful performance and it is his show all through Legend. He impresses the viewers with his unique dialogue diction, action and dance moves. Radhika Apte has also done her best and her chemistry with Balayya is good to watch on screen. Sonal Chauhan does not have much scope for performance, but she steals the show with her glamour. Jagapathi babu is another big asset of the film. Brahmanandam's comedy timing helps the director to add entertainment quotient. Rao Ramesh, Sitara and others have also done justice to their respective roles.

Technical: Legend, which has been made on mega budget of Rs 40+ crores, has rich production values. Devi Sri Prasad's music is the main attraction in the technical front. His song compositions are good and his background score is another big asset of the film. Ram Prasad has done wonderful picturisation, which is one among the main highlights in the film. Ram-Laxman's stunts are amazing. Other tech departments like dance choreography, editing and selection of costumes and locations have also delivered commendable job.

Overall, director Boyapati Srinu has made Legend in a typical Balakrishna's style. The movie has good performances, sound technical elements, interesting screenplay and punch dialogues. It is good masala entertainer and a grand Ugadi treat for Nandamuri fans. Continue to read Legend movie viewers' review.