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Film: Any Body Can Dance
Starring: Prabhu Deva,Ganesh Acharya,Kay Kay Menon,Salman Yusuff Khan,Dharmesh Yelande
Director: Remo D'Souza
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala,Siddharth Roy Kapur
Banner: UTV Spot Boy
Music: Sachin-Jigar
Rating: 2.5/5
"Indians don't have a mind to think," mock-whispers Kay Kay Menon, playing the sort of slimeball you thought went out of style with Prem Chopra.
Menon, who once was a formidable actor, hams it to the hilt as a kind of Mogambo of the dancing world who thinks dancing is for big bucks, and also for big... well you know the "f" word that rhymes with bucks.
Prabhu Deva, God bless his "sole", is the other polarity. He dances because... well, he has to. He imparts his skills to a ragamuffin bunch of street kids who seem to have auditioned for Breakin' that street-smart film about using breakdance as a form of selfexpression that came way back in 1984.
Indeed there is something very 1980s about Tushar Hirnandani's screenplay which pitches the idea of Good Dancing Versus Bad Dancing with a heartwarming sincerity.
Movie plots based on dancing and dancers are rare these days. Choreographer-turned-director Remo d'Souza has hit upon a winning idea.
Being a choreographer he is able to weave the characters into a web of dance-related episodes that culminate in that grand do-or-die competition that we have been witnessing in one form or another since the time movies came into being.
It could be Rocky Balboa in the ring. Or the raring-to-go students from Prabhu Deva's makeshift dancing school in this film...Heck, anybody can dance as long as the music is right.
Remo d'Souza's film glides in expected but never dull ways. It winds its way through a series of self-consciously constructed road-blocks for the sincere dance teacher and his students who learn, the hard way, that dance is for one's own pleasure and not to show off.
Ironically this philosophy of dance as a form of self-expression hardly fits into the the framework of cinema where the very nature of the medium invites the maximum appreciation.
What sees "ABCD" through is its sincerity of purpose. Director d'Souza intends to do a "dance film" with a sturdy plot to hold up the choreography.
In that endeavour the film doesn't slip up at all. The fact that it has Prabhu Deva at the helm certainly helps to keep the show on the road.
As an actor, Prabhu Deva is restrained and effective in bringing out the idealism and discipline of a dance teacher. His thick Tamil accent is justified by the character's origins being nailed to Chennai. You know when this guy explains the essence of dance to his students he isn't faking it. But it's when the choreographer-dancer's takes the floor that we're really floored.
When Prabhu dances time freezes. The long pre-interval episode where he puts up what could only be termed the Grand Prabhu Deva Tour de Force is the film's high-point. You won't be poorer to leave at that point.
The youngsters who play Prabhu Deva's students are passable in their acting skills.But I suggest they should just focus on dancing as a career. The actor who plays the dopey-dancer Chandu (Punit J Pathak) corners much of melodrama in the second half.
Honestly, the film just needed to get on with the dancing and leave the mapping of a back-story for the dancers to another time, another place.
For this one, all we needed was what B.Subhash recommended in the 1980s. Dance Dance....I almost expected Mithun Chakraborty to show in support of Prabhu Deva's shimmying shishya-log.
If you know how to dance or if you've ever desired to dance ABCD is the film for you. With Prabhu Deva's astonishing virtuosity on the dance-floor to guide the characters' and the film's destiny and to provide a centifrugal scinitillation to the proceedings, there is little reason to quibble over the content.
Sachin-Jigar's music and songs though adequate could have been more dynamic. Watch out for the number accompanying the end-titles where dancing legend Saroj Khan joins Prabhu Deva, Ganesh Acharya and Remo d'Souza.
That's this innocent and earnest film's paisa-wasool moment.


Film: Mirchi
Starring: Prabhas,Anushka,Richa Gangopadhyay,Brahmanandam
Director: Koratala Shiva
Producer: V.Vamsi Krishna Reddy, Pramod Uppalapati
Banner: UV Creations Banner
Music: Devi Sri Prasad
Rating: 3/5

Story
Jai (Prabhas), an architect happens to save Manasa (Richa Gangopadhyay), who comes to Italy for studying MS. Manasa falls for Jai but the former informs that they cannot be happy due to her family background. Jai decides to change Manasa’s family mindset and he does it after flying to India. The family members get impressed with Jai and they give nod for the wedding. Just then Jai reveals his flashback. What is his flashback and why did he enter their family forms the crux.
Performances
Prabhas is handsome, charming and energetic in the film. He carried off the film on his shoulders right from the word go and his act takes him to another level. The Young Rebel Star excels in dances and action sequences that are brilliantly captured while he is equally good in emotional scenes.
Anushka is too good in village-belle attire besides being a confident performer. Her smoldering looks along with her eye-catching dances will get her good response. Anushka has less screentime but her scenes with Prabhas had worked well.
Richa Gangopadhyay is glamorous and is okay performance wise. Brahmanandam, Raghu Babu are hilarious, Nagineedu is convincing, Subbaraju and Sathyaraj were good, Nadhia is magnificent in her brief role.
Technical Analysis
Devi Sri Prasad’s soundtrack is one of the assets of the film, while as per the picturization ‘Kaatuka Kallu..’ is one of the best shot songs with great chemistry between Prabhas and Anushka. Dialogues are very impressive with good punchliners. Screenplay is predictable, direction could be better, editing isn’t smooth, Action choreography is brilliant. Production values are lavish.
Analysis
Prabhas pulled off the role with great ease and the result of Mirchi would be quite better if an experienced director as wielded the megaphone. Action sequences are one of the highlights of the movie along with music. The first half is entertaining at times as there isn’t much of the story, with only Prabhas rocking the show along with Brahmanandam and Richa filling the space with songs. The film had interesting elements in parts but the predictable screenplay with flat narration in emotional scenes doesn’t work. Mirchi reminds us of many other Telugu films like Brindavanam, Student No.1, Dammu, Sankham et al. However, interval raises the tempo with a good action packed sequences and the second half is comparatively better while the flashback episode is the life of the story. Scenes between Prabhas and Anushka are well-shot and their amazing chemistry can be seen in Kaatuka Kallu song.
Overall, Mirchi has good dialogues, excellent action sequences, decent comedy and neatly pictured songs and above all, Prabhas rocked the show entirely. At the Box-Office, Mirchi will collect big for its ample commercial mass elements.
Final Verdict
Prabhas rocks the show in this decent yet formulaic commercial entertainer!!!
Film: Kadali
Rating: 1.75/5
Banner: Madras Talkies
Cast: Gautham Karthik, Arvind Swamy, Arjun, Thulasi Nair, Lakshmi Manchu, Ponvannan, Kalairani, Singampuli and others
Music: A R Rahman
Cinematographer: Rajeev Menon
Editor: Sreekar Prasad
Screenplay, direction: Mani Ratnam
Producers: Mani Ratnam, Manohar Prasad
Story
Sam Fernandez (Aravind Swamy) and Berchmans (Arjun) partake training sessions in a Christian missionary for priesthood. However, with a difference in an argument, the two gets separated with Berchmans getting kicked out of the church and eventually choose different paths. Years after, Sam turns out to be a Church Father and Berchman ends up as criminal millionaire. Sam turns the guardian for the young orphan Thomas (Gautham Karthik) who goes head over heels for Beatrice (Thulasi Nair), daughter of Berchmans. The rest of the story how Thomas wins his love forms the crux.
Performances
Gautham Karthik looks promising and he shows loads of energy with his convincing and impressive performance. He has danced well and his chemistry with Thulasi Nair was good. Despite his not so great characterization in the film, he makes us notice his performance with his efforts.
Thulasi Nair looked good but she has very little scope for performance. She is impressive and the song sequences featuring her have come out well.
Aravind Swamy and Arjun had good amount of roles in the movie and their performances are brilliant. The two actors have done their roles with such ease. Lakshmi Manchu is brief.
Technical Analysis
Just like every Mani Ratnam film, Kadali is also technically sound film. Rajiv Menon's cinematography is absolutely stunning and as asset for the film. The beaches and the sea are brilliantly captured while the songs picturisation are a great watch. AR Rahman’s musical scores are pleasing while the background score is impressive. Sreekar Prasad editing is crisp while art direction is good. Dialogues are mediocre with heavy Christianity words been penned.
Analysis
Being the ace director Mani Ratnam’s film, Kadali is surrounded with huge expectations. Instead Kadali my not reach your hopes if you expect to watch the film on the range of Roja, Bombay, Geethanjali et al. Kadali is all bout good vs bad and the central characters are essayed by Aravind Swamy and Arjun. In fact the two prominent stars got more screentime and importance than the debutant actors, where the love story is interwoven between these two prominent characters Sam and Bergman in the backdrop of sea.
The initial hour of the movie is excellent and the Thomas characterization as the innocent child was heart-wrenching, but as the story progresses Mani has shown the struggle between the good and bad. The story moves at a very slow pace and it’s only in the second half the love story takes off. Aravind Swamy has tried to pull off the film in the first half but the characterization lacks the needed depth and it isn’t convincing enough. While the narration holds your interest at times, the slow pace and the sloped screenplay frequently tests your patience.
Final Verdict
Technically Brilliant, but content wise an average fare…

Rating: 1.75/5
Banner: Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra
Cast: Ram, Kriti Kharbanda, Prakash Raj, Prabhu, Abhimanyu Singh, Ajay, Raghu Babu, Ali and others
Dialogues: Surendra Krishna
Music: G V Prakash Kumar
Cinematographer: A Venkatesh
Editor: Marthand K Venkatesh
Story, direction: Bhaskar
Producer: BVSN Prasad
Release date: 01/02/2013
Bhaskar who is known for his family treats like ‘Bommarillu’ ‘Parugu’ decided to change tracks and get into mass masala. As a result, he teamed up with Ram and came with this treat. Is it good enough, let us see

Story
White (Ram) aims to take over the Mirchi Yard from his childhood and makes his living there by winning the respect and hearts of traders. Adhikeshavulu (Prakash Raj) is the chairman of the mirchi yard while White falls in love with his daughter Sandhya (Kriti Kharbhanda) and in few circumstances Sandhya gets engaged to White with which Adikeshavulu has to agree to his wedding. Meanwhile, a twist gets unfolded which deals with the past of White and Adhikeshavulu. What is their past and Will White’s aenda gets fulfilled forms the crux.
Performances
Ram yet again does an energetic role in the movie. His dances are a great watch and he looked dashing throughout the movie.
Kriti Kharbandha is quite glamorous in the film and she has done her role well as Sandhya. Her chemistry with Ram worked well.
Prakash Raj gave his best shot and and enacts his role with graceful ease, although his nude scenes are a bit irritating, Prabhu gets a significant role, Raghu Babu, Kishore Das brings in some laughs while the rest of the cast Ahuti Prasad, Abhimanyu Singh, Ali, Jayaprakash Reddy and others were adequate.
Technical Analysis
Cinematography is good, all the songs are well-shot in the beautiful locations. Mani Sharma’s background score is appealing. Dialogues are fine. Bhaskar’s direction is bad, while there are lots of loopholes in the screenplay. Editing could have been better. Production values are standard.
Analysis
Ongole Gitta is a routine mass entertainer and the subject is not new to Tollywood. The storyline is old-fashioned with too many cliches while the execution falters with slow pace. Director Bhaskar who has good number of hits earlier disappoints big time with Ongole Githa. The film lacks native feel and lots of Tamil flavor has been incorporated despite being a straight Telugu flick. Be it the characterizations, taking, music we in fact get a doubt if we are watching a Telugu flick. Prakash Raj gaining more screen time than protagonist, going nude not once but many times wouldn’t be liked by audiences. It looked like the lead characters role is sidelined with no significance while Prabhu, Prakash Raj gets more screen.
Ram’s character initially was designed well and it justifies the title as the protagonist loves taking risks, challenges with loads of bravery. The love story between the lead pair is cute but as the film progresses, the slow paced narration tests your patience. The climax is abrupt and extremely predictable.
Final Verdict
Old-fashioned storyline and unexciting screenplay results Ongole Githa as a below average fare…

Mirchi ALL Digital in USA from Feb 7th



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