Rating: 3.25/5
Banners: Teja Cinema, Photon Kathaas
Cast: Nani, Samantha, Krishnudu, Anupama Kumar, Ravi Raghavendra, Vivek Pathak and others
Music: Ilaiyaraaja
Cinematographer: Manoj Paramahamsa
Editor: Anthony
Story, screenplay, direction: Gautham Menon
Producers: Gautham Menon, Reshma Galata, Venkat Somasundaram, C Kalyan, C V Rao
Release date: 14/12/2012
Banners: Teja Cinema, Photon Kathaas
Cast: Nani, Samantha, Krishnudu, Anupama Kumar, Ravi Raghavendra, Vivek Pathak and others
Music: Ilaiyaraaja
Cinematographer: Manoj Paramahamsa
Editor: Anthony
Story, screenplay, direction: Gautham Menon
Producers: Gautham Menon, Reshma Galata, Venkat Somasundaram, C Kalyan, C V Rao
Release date: 14/12/2012
Gautham Menon known for his heart squeezing romantic tales is back and this time he teamed up with the natural talent Nani. Let us see how good this is
Story
Varun Krishna (Nani) and Nithya (Samantha) are friends since childhood and though life takes them different ways they still keep in touch. When they enter the teens they start liking each other and it matures into love by the time they reach 24. But that’s when real life starts and Varun begins to realize that responsibilities and commitments are also part of life. This strains his relationship with Nithya and they split. However, love when it grows gets stronger by the day so does it keep Varun and Nithya away from each other? This forms the rest of the story.
Varun Krishna (Nani) and Nithya (Samantha) are friends since childhood and though life takes them different ways they still keep in touch. When they enter the teens they start liking each other and it matures into love by the time they reach 24. But that’s when real life starts and Varun begins to realize that responsibilities and commitments are also part of life. This strains his relationship with Nithya and they split. However, love when it grows gets stronger by the day so does it keep Varun and Nithya away from each other? This forms the rest of the story.
Performances
Nani has adapted himself into the character and he has suited well from the school boy to the grown up matured adult. His body language was a bit stiff but his brilliance is seen during the climax episodes.
Nani has adapted himself into the character and he has suited well from the school boy to the grown up matured adult. His body language was a bit stiff but his brilliance is seen during the climax episodes.
Samantha is all over the film. Yet again, her character is filled with soul and given her cute looks she has merged herself into it completely and scores wherever possible.
Krishnudu is the ice breaker in the film. His dialogue delivery, his body language and his comedy brings good amount of smiles. Though his role is brief he made his presence felt strongly.
Ravi Raghavendra was regular, the actor who did Nani’s father’s role was dignified, Anupama Kumar was apt, Vivek Pathak is neat. None of them really had scope to offer.
Highlights
- Music
- Nani, Samantha Performance
- Second half
Drawbacks
- Cinematography
Analysis
Every filmmaker has his/her own style of storytelling and it is natural that audience eventually turns into fans for that person. Gautham Menon also belongs to that school but there is uniqueness in him.
Every filmmaker has his/her own style of storytelling and it is natural that audience eventually turns into fans for that person. Gautham Menon also belongs to that school but there is uniqueness in him.
Every film of his, be it action or romance genres, runs like a poem. There is a classical touch in his scene compositions, the camera angles and above all, the intensity shown between the lead pair.
So, it takes a different mindset to understand the flavor of Gautham. And to those who understand it, his films become symphonies. The other important aspect about him is the maturity level in the script. It might just be a romantic tale but the sensibilities in the characters are quite grown. Coming to this film, not all ingredients of Gautham Menon have worked here.
The biggest damage has been done by the background score. With due respect to the musical maestro, such subjects require tremendous support from music to drive the emotion but that didn’t happen here.
Also, Gautham was not that successful in showing the evolution of love with the required intensity.
The first half is quite okay and it just passes off without much effect. The second half shows some energy but then the same fluctuations exist. But Gautham always saves the best for his last so as the film progresses it picks up the momentum and climax strikes the target.
Overall, this is not as heart squeezing or gut-wrenching like Gautham’s earlier entertainers but it does ooze the juice of romance now and then.
And to see on the right side, the phase of school wherein the girl is focusing on studies and other activities while the boy is trying to gain her attention to the phase wherein the boy becomes the girl’s world and then the boy getting into the career tension, ego growing with age has been shown meticulously by Gautham. To those who seek entertainment and time pass will find this film not going anywhere. This is because the problems revolve around only two characters and it takes only one sorry to set everything right but that takes years to come out. That’s what is shown by the director.
It may not be a surprise to see mixed reactions from audience. In terms of commercial success, few doubts are there because it appeals only to one section of audience.
Bottomline: Watch it
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He began as an assistant director, before switching careers with a stint as RJ at World Space Satellite in the city. It was only in 2008 that Naveen Kumar Ghanta, better known as Nani, became an actor with the movie, 'Ashta Chamma'.
Now, 10 movies old, Nani is also known to Tamil audiences, thanks to last year’s 'Veppam', where he played an engineering student. Next up is S S Rajamouli’s big budget 'Eega', which is also being released in Tamil, and is scheduled to hit the screens this month. The actor hopes it will mark a turning point in his career.
More from the actor:
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| Eega Movie Snap |
You play a housefly in the movie. How challenging is it?
I am there for a very short period in the movie, almost 20 minutes. I play a boy who is sweet, innocent and loves a girl madly. Then I die and become a fly to take revenge on the people who killed me.
Why a fly and not a more physical creature, like an elephant or a monkey?
We consider the fly to be the weakest creature. We squash it and kill it. According to human beings, a fly can never take revenge. But in this movie, the fly is the hero.
Is it true that the film has been inspired by Hollywood’s 'The Fly'?
From the time we announced the movie, people have been asking me this. So I watched the movie and I can tell you that Eega has got nothing to do with it.
Since the script has been written by Crazy Mohan, what can we expect?
This is a revenge story but at the same time, not very serious. To have Rajamouli and Crazy Mohan working for one banner is a killer combination.
How superior is 'Eega' going to be with reference to special effects?
This movie has been made with a budget of Rs 26 crores, of which seven crores of rupees was spent on special effects. It will be talked about for the next few years.
From assistant director to RJ and actor, the journey.
I used to hate being an RJ and would ask friends and colleagues to stop listening to my show. That said, I opened up a lot after being an RJ. Assistant direction made me love cinema.
Greatest fear: I’ve always wanted to be a director but wonder what it would be like to direct a film that nobody likes.
Fitness: I do not work out everyday. I do not think a six pack can make a film work, unless I am playing the role of a boxer.
Next up: I am in the Telugu version of Gautam Menon’s bilingual, 'Yeto Vellipoyindhi Manasu'. It is a love story. There is no competition or ego clash when it comes to me and Jiiva (the other hero). In fact we play a lot of pranks and have fun.
