BALADHOOR
Director:Suresh
Producer:Uday Shankar Music:K M Radhakrishnan Cast:Ravi Teja, Anushka, Krishna, Chandra Mohan, Pradeep Rawat
This is a typical family drama that we have seen umpteen times laced with same old sentiment scenes, masala songs, unnecessary action sequences and silly family melodrama.Director Uday Shankar’s only claim to fame is his debut movie - Kalisundam Ra. Since then, he has been rehashing similar themes that fails to impress. Baladoor is no exception as he presents a clichéd storyline with even more morbid narration.

RAKSHA - RGV PICTURE
The great debate between science and superstition continues, and Ram Gopal Varma's (RGV) new film Raksha examines the consequences of brushing away the supernatural as silly.Whether you're superstitious or not, you may have heard tales/ experiences concerning black magic. Who can honestly resist stories of 'what happened to a friend of a friend of a friend' when black magic is involved?
Phoonk, one of RGV's finest works, holds your attention all through, we now have to wait for Raksha to see if the same effect can be conveyed to Telugu audiences. If only for the controversial ending

SHOWRYAM
Director:Siva,Music:Manisharma,Cast:Gopichand, Anushka, Poonam Kaur, Manoj K Jayan
A young man comes to Kolkata on a covert mission and he is frantically searching for a girl, who is the target of the villains. What's the connection between the two different searches for the same girl?This forms the crux of Souryam. A mass masala indulgence, the story starts with Vijay (Gopi) coming from Hyderabad to Kolkata and joining a college. He tries to get closer to Divya (Poonam Kaur). He saves her whenever she is in trouble and in the meantime he also makes friendship with Shweta (Anushka), who starts teasing him initially, but falls flat to him after knowing the intention of the hero coming to Kolkota.

AVAKAYABIRYANI

Director:Aneesh Kuruvilla,Music:Manikanth Kadri,Cast:Kamal Kamaraju, Bindu Madhavi, Rao Ramesh
The movie runs very slowly and tests the patience of the mass audience to a great extent. However, the so-called class audience might find some entertainment. One might feel the sense of watching an art film, or a documentary aimed at promoting religious tolerance.The story is routine, but the director could run the mill in somewhat different way. However, the wheel turns and turns just to stop at the expected pace and point. The film badly lacks punch in the dialogues department. The comedy is also missing, but for a few doses then and there. The accent of Rao Ramesh in perfect coastal tinge in a hardcore Telengana belt comes as a slap to the rational audience. Though the film is the product of a Sekhar Kammula house, its commercial success is doubtful.

ASTACHEMMA
Director:Mohanakrishna Indraganti Producer:P. Ram Mohan Music:Kalyani Mallik Cast:Nani , Swathi, Srinivas Avasarala (debut), Bhargavi, Tanikella Bharani
This complete family entertainer is inspired from Oscar Wilde and is fun to watch due to the cute subject. A completely dialogue-based comedy coupled with good performances, music, and lyrics, keeping audience through the twists nevertheless. The first half is more enjoyable than the second half that has numerous twists.Lavanya (Swathi) is a die hard fan of Tollywood hero Mahesh Babu, so much that she becomes hysteric on the day of his marriage with Namratha. She even sports a tattoo with his name on her arm! She rejects all proposals for marriage that her maternal aunt Mandira Devi (Jhansi) gets for her, but finally resolves to marry someone with the name "Mahesh" who looks like him!

ANDAMAINA MANUSULO

Director:RP Patnaik,Producer:SV Babu,Music:RP Patnaik,Cast:Rajiv, Ramya, Archana Gupta, Sunil, Gollapudi Maruthi Rao
Story is good and holds freshness, but the presentation is banal. There is no consistency in narration and the film gives a feel of that it is wrapped up suddenly. RP Patnaik's urge for variety and depth in his project is seen, but he couldn't bring out a convincing screenplay. He brought the comedy in the first half, while the same is not given importance in the second half.A 13-year-old girl's obsession for a post-graduate is not a new thing to the audiences. Anyways, this angle might become a bone of contention to the family audiences. RP's Music and songs are a saving grace. He took good care with the music front. Picturisation of songs and the locations are simply superb. The much publicized song with the participation of 10 music directors – Idhi Prema Prema Prema – is a good watch. Dialogues are mediocre. Cinematography is a plus point.

ATHIDI

Director:G. Surender Reddy,Producer:Krishna Productions,Music:Mani Sharma,Cast:Mahesh Babu, Amrita Rao, Asish Vidyarthi, Venu Madhav, Sunil, Brahmanandam, Nazar, Rajiv Kanakala
First half is completely devoted to lighter-vein scenes – from a family tragedy to smooth sailing with a romantic streak. But, the audience clearly sense that they are provided least or nothing that might connect them to any exciting entertainment. In the second half, he brings in the comedy thread with Sunil and Brahmanandam. Venu Madhav's comedy in the first half (in the beginning) is just forgettable. Coming to the climax, the weak villainy has played the main villain against the movie. Director Surender could not balance the dual shades of the villain as a police officer and as mafia don (on the lines of a Dawood) with his global mobile network. Showing him as an invincible villain, who could not be caught by the police has no justification when we compare the scenes involving his bad tricks.

ALLARE ALLARI

Director:Muppalaneni Siva,Producer:SA Basheed,Music:Chakri,Cast:Venu, Allari Naresh, Parvati Melton and Mallika Kapoor
Screen chemistry between Venu and Parvati Melton is superb and the same is the case with Naresh and Mallika Kapoor. In fact, it is Telengana Sakuntala who steals the limelight from start to finish. The entire film revolves round her. Her mannerisms and body language are noteworthy. Dharmavarapu, Krishna Bhagwan, Kondavalasa, and Duvvasi have given adequate performance.Music by Chakri is a major asset to the film. Though the numbers are not situational, they are well canned. Comedy plays a major role in the film. But, the director failed to match the scene with its mood, thus weakening its impact on the audience. The crackers blast scene between Raghu Babu and Telengana Sakuntala is simply hilarious and remains the real rib-tickler.

AATA

Director:VN Aditya,Producer:MS Raju,Music:Devi Sri Prasad,Cast:Siddartha, Ileana, Jaya Prakash Reddy, Munna, Sunil, Brahmanandam
The film has shades of films like The Duchess and the Dirt water Fox and our own Pawan’s Gudumbha Shankar . But the film works due to the live wire performance of Siddharth who is a bundle of energy. Ileana has a well etched out role and this time cameraman Chota K.Nadiu gets credit for taking trouble of making her look good especially in close-up shots. She has come out with a decent performance apart from looking glamourous with her hour-glass figure.New villain Munna (has done a few Malayalam films) looks fresh and does both the cartoonish and villainy with elan. Jayaprakash Reddy appears as the Home Minister delivering hilarious dialogues in Nellore accent, Sunil as his relative, Sayaji Shinde and Anooradha all does justice to the supporting cast.

ADAVARIMATALAKU ARDHALE VERULE

Director:Selvaraghavan,Producer:NV Prasad & Sanam Naga Ashok Kumar,Music:Yuvan Shankar Raja,Cast:Venkatesh, Trisha, Sreeram, Kota, K Viswanath
The first half is totally city based and post interval the story takes a U turn and shifts to the village milieu. Venkatesh is there in every frame and he is likable as Ganesh. Trisha looks good, has a meaty role and she does her best. Kota proves once again that he can shine in any kind of role, while same cannot be said about K.Viswanath. Sriram has an insipid role while Sunil and Suman Shetty makes special appearances. Yuvan Shankar Raja’s music is pleasing especially the number.
On the downside, AMAV is slow, predictable, lacks originality with entertaining factors missing. There are plenty of continuity problems and some of sick toilet jokes were totally unwanted. On the whole, Adavari Matalaku Arthale Verule will not disappoint, if you are a Venkatesh fan.

ATTILI SATTIBABU LKG

Director:EVV Satyanarayana,Producer:EVV Satyanarayana,Music:Sri Krishna,Cast:Allari Naresh, Vidisha, Kousha, Brahmanandam, Dharmavarapu
Allari Naresh played the role of Attili Sattibabu with élan and he dominates the screen from start to finish. His mannerisms and dialogue delivery are good. Heroine Vidisha is superb in dance sequences and proved her mettle as a good dancer. She also has enough scope to display her talents. Another heroine Kausha is just average, but surely provides oomph. Abhinaya Sri is overexposed playing the infamous yet highly comical Mangatayaru Tiffin Centre role. Krishna Bhagwan, Brahmanandam, Raghu Babu and Sunil provide enough laughter.Story, screenplay and direction by EVV Satyanarayana have a combined effect on the audience. Unlike his previous flicks, EVV depended much on the sentiments here. The first half runs completely with comedy and the second half is loaded with sentiments. On the downside, there is no logic in the story and Abhinaya Sri episode is crude. Music by debutant Sri Krishna is just average, while camera by Jayaram is good. He captured the beautiful locations of Cambodia in the song.

ANUMANASPADAM

Director:Vamsi,Producer:Satish Tati, Jai Arnala,Music:Ilayaraja,Cast:Aryan Rajesh, Hansa Nandini, Jayaprakash Reddy, Tanikella Bharani
They make a move towards the forests in a hired vehicle and enter the same. Having risked their lives, the treasure-hunters swoop on the trove. All of a sudden, the team members get killed one after the other. What happens next forms the rest of the film.Though the story that he has attempted is unique, what stands out is Ilayaraja's music. From start to end the music adds flavor to this film. It would not be wrong to say that without the excellent background score, the film would have fallen flat.The first half drags but just before the interval the film picks up tempo and become s an edge-of-the-seat thriller. Vamsi has ably held the suspense till the end, and that's were he scores largely. Placements of songs are simply perfect. Camera work by P G Vinda is splendid, though he fails with the day for night effect.

ANNAVARAM

Director:Bheemineni Srinivas Rao,Producer:N V Prasad and Paras Jain,Music:Ramana Gogula,Cast:Pawan Kalyan, Asin, Sandhya, Lal, Venu Madhav
The film is scene-to-scene remake of the original as the first half focuses on sentiments and post interval the story peters to be an action drama where Pawan does his best trying to make his fans go into frenzy. The sister sentiment drama has not been worked out well but Sandhya’s bewitching face and expressions makes it up. Remember Mahesh Babu’s Arjun and last week’s NTR’s Rakhi had a similar story on brother- sister sentiments?Pawan Kalyan looks nice and it is one-man show for him. Asin is there just for songs and the romance is not etched properly. The villain Lal is just okay and Venumadhav’s acting is refreshing. Sandhya and Shiva Balaji have done a good job. Music by Ramana Gogula is biggest flaw in the film as there is not even one hummable number. Technically Sriram’s cinematography and Vijayan’s action sequences can be lauded. Director Bheemini Srinivasa Rao has just followed the original, so we cannot give him much credit.
ANDHALA RAMUDU

Director:P Lakshmi Narayana,Producer:Mega Supergood Films Pvt. Ltd,Music:S.A.Rajkumar,Cast:Sunil, Arti Agarwal, Akash, Kota Srinivasa Rao
The screenplay is written for audience who does not care for sense or logic. . Still the film succeeds due to Sunil the one-man entertainment troupe. His ability to bring Ramudu vibrantly to life with all the nuances of pathos, tenderness and humour is reason enough to see the film. Sunil’s dancing is another bonanza for his fans. Aarthi is just ok, while Venu Madhav is adequate. On the technical side Sameer Reddy’s camera is eye catching though S.A.Rajkumar’s music is a rehash.

ASHOK

Director:Surender Reddy,Producer:Valluripalli Ramesh,Music:Mani Sharma,Cast:NTR, Sameera Reddy, Sonu Sood, Prakash Raj, Venumadhav
Those going to watch this film should go into the theatres with an important caveat in mind: Not for the sensitive or sensible. Director Surender Reddy thinks he is Quentin Tarantino! He employs cut and fast flashbacks style using a super 35 camera to get fights done up in close-up’s a brownish tint inserts, numerous hand-held shots and hallucinogenic effects. But where is the story and screenplay Reddy garu?There is nothing wrong with cogging an idea as long as it is nourished and executed with panache in an Indian content. But Surender Reddy wears his western influence on his sleeve. Still the plus points in the film are the car chase and the action scenes prior to interval which has been well taken by cameraman Senthil Kumar. Two of the songs by Mani Sharma are peppy especially the “Gola Gola…” number. NTR looks bloated but dances like a dream.

ALLARI PIDIGU

Director:Jayant C Paranji,Producer:MRV Prasad,Music:Mani Sharma,Cast:Bala Krishna, Katrina Kaif, Charmy, Punit Issar
There is no basic story or plotline as the whole film depends mainly on the hero’s image laced with lots of glamour in skimpy clad girls, songs in Swiss Alps and hideous looking studio sets and everything including dialogues is predictable and banal. Hello, where was the screenplay? What was the last one-hour of the film leading to? Allari Pidugu is all sound and no fury. The only saving grace are the hummable tunes of Mani Sharma.As for the performance, of leading ladies and others we will quote the Giri character- “No Comments”! Ultimately your heart goes out to Balayya who despite all odds has a pleasing screen presence. But the actor has to choose his scripts with far more care in future.

BANGARAM
Director:Dharani, Producer:A.M.Ratnam,Music:Vidyasagar,Cast:Pawan Kalyan, Meera Chopra, Ashutosh Rana, Reema Sen, Trisha
Technically Bangaram is shoddy. The village in Kurnool is full of ‘rising sun’ and ‘two leaf’ symbols of DMK and AIADMK of Tamilnadu in the background while the characters speak Telugu! The technical values right from Gopinath’s camera to editing and sets are all below average. And why was so many graphics in the first Jai Shambo… song? Vidyasagar has proved once again that he just cannot deliver the goods in Telugu as songs are unimpressive and the re-recording is jarring.Still curious about the performances? Pawan Kalyan seems to have lost interest in the project half way through, as he sleep walks and his fans are just not going to be happy. Meera Chopra and Reema Sen passes muster, while Sanusha is good. The comedy track of Ali-Shakeela-Venu Madhav is irritating while Ashutosh Rana is impressive. The best scene in the film is when the villain bury Pawan Kalyan with only his head visible (a la Franko Nero) a herd of cows stomp in. On the whole, there is neither sense nor style in this helter-skelter endeavour.

BHADRA

Director:Boyapati Srinu,Producer:Dil Raju,Music:Devi Sri Prasad,Cast:Ravi Teja, Meera Jasmine
The basic problem of Bhadra is that it is a poor clone of Okkadu and there is hardly anything new in presentation and packaging. The music of Devi Sri Prasad is a major let down. Ravi Teja has worked hard and is adequate.Meera lacks glamour and is a miscast in the film. Pradeep Rawat as villain does the same act he did in Sye. Prakash Raj, as usual is super in that cameo role. On the whole Bhadra is stale and disappointing.